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Technical Descriptions

Mechanism and ProcessLESSON 5

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OBJECTIVES

Distinguish description of mechanism

from description of a process.

Appreciate the need for writing technical

description.

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Technical Description

Is widely used in Technical writing.

It provide readers with precise

details about the physicalfeatures, appearance, or

composition of objects,mechanisms, and processes.

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Technical description combines words

and visuals to create a picture aclear mental image of a product or

a process. It is an instructional piece

of writing that teaches the reader

the physical qualities, dimensions,

materials, and use of mechanism.This should be a clear and accurate

word picture.

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Technical description can be a part

of a larger written work or it canbe complete in itself. In most

cases it will be a particular

section of a larger work such as

an operations manual or

technical report, sales literature,manuals, magazine articles, and

brochures. (Shelton,1994)

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As you plan what is to be included

in your descriptions in your

document, you need to consideryour readers knowledge of the

subject and what they need yourinformation.

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Technical Description can be

divided into two basic types.

The description of mechanism

The description of a process

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Technical description of

mechanism

- can be about everything from

new machines, devices,

equipment consisting of moving

identifiable parts that worktogether as a system.

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Examples:

Compact disc player

Flashlight

Lawn mover

Overhead projector

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Technical description of a

process

- Can be about everything from

processes that are controlled and

manipulated by people to natural

process that may be virtually

uncontrolled but neverthelessobserved and monitor by people. It is

an activity that takes place over time.

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Examples:

Formation of the Earth

How steel is made

How plants perform

photosynthesis

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Technical description of

mechanism

Technology involves physical devises

called mechanisms. A description of

mechanism is an assembly of

movable parts having one part fixed

with respect to a frame of referenceand designed to produce an effect. It

is designed to convey to the reader a

technical understanding of the

function, appearance, and operation

of a particular object.

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In a description of mechanism, the

detailed discussion of thephysical aspects of a thing is

emphasized. This means

discussing things like color, shape,

weight, height, width, thickness,

texture, density, contents, andquantifiable details such as

numbers.

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Structure of Mechanism

Descriptions

1. A title or section heading

If the description of mechanism

is to be a separate document,

give it a title. If the description is

to be a part of a longerdocument, give it a section

heading.

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2. Introduction

Plan the introduction to your

description carefully. Make sure it

does all of the following things that

apply to your particular description:

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a. What is it?

b. What is its function?

c. What does it looks like?

d. How does it work?

e. What are its principal parts?

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Remember.

You may not need all of the

elements, and some of them can

be combined neatly into singlesentences. The introduction

ought to be brisk and to thepoint.

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3. Discusion

The Part-by-Part Description

Just like the introduction, treat

each major part as a separate

item.

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Part 1

Define the first part with a technical

definition, adding extensions as needed

to deal with theory or operating

principles.

Describe the parts shape, color, material,finish, texture, and size as well as other

physical attributes appropriate for the

mechanism and its function. You may add figures, diagrams, and

photographs as necessary.

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Part 2 For each remaining part, repeat

the pattern of defining,

describing and transitioningestablished for Part 1.

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The Conclusion

At some point in a description, often atthe end, it is useful to summarize the

operation or process associated with

the object youre describing. Acommon technique for concluding

descriptions of mechanisms and

some objects is to describe briefly

how the parts function together.

Give a sense of finality to the paper.

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Example of a technical description of

a mechanism.

Rayovac Workhorse Flashlight

The Rayovac Workhorse is a hand-sized plastic flashlight, easily

portable, which will fit into most

automobile glove compartments.(See Figure 1)

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The Workhorse's overall length is 6

inches, with a diameter of 2 inches

at the head of the flashlight,tapering to 1-1/4 inches in

diameter at the batterycompartment. The body of the

Workhorse, basically cylindrical in

shape, is of matte black, high-

impact plastic, ribbed for a secure

handgrip.

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The Workhorse flashlight consists

of two major parts: (a) the body,containing the battery

compartment and the switch, and

(b) the bulb assembly, containing

the reflector, the bulb, and the

connector. The flashlight ispowered by two 1.5 volt size C

batteries.

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Figure 1. Rayovac Workhorse

Flashlight

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Body

The body of the Rayovac Workhorse

Flashlight is 5-5/8 inches, with a

diameter of 2 inches at the screw, or

head end, tapering to 1-1/4 inches atthe battery compartment. The interior

of the screw end is threaded, allowing

for connection with the bulb assembly.(See Figure 2 for an illustration of the

complete flashlight assembly.)

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Battery compartment. The battery

compartment holds the batteries,the power source for the flashlight.

The compartment is cylindrical, 3-1/2

inches long and 1-1/4 inches indiameter, with a coiled metal spring

on the interior of the closed end, and

a 1/4-inch wide strip of gold-colored

metal running along one interior side

of the compartment.

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The compartment holds two 1.5-volt C

batteries, in a stacked position, withthe negative end of the lowermost

battery in contact with the spring,

and the positive end of thelowermost battery supporting the

negative end of the uppermostbattery. The open end of the battery

compartment closes with the

insertion of the bulb assembly.

S it h Th it h t th fl hli ht

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Switch. The switch turns the flashlight on

and off. the flashlight switch is located on

the body of the Workhorse 1-1/2 inchesfrom the screw end. The switch is of

round white plastic, designed to be

activated with the thumb of the handholding the flashlight. When the switch is

pushed forward, towards the larger endof the flashlight, the light turns on. When

the switch is returned to the original

position, the light turns off.

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Figure 2. Components of the Rayovac

Workhorse Flashlight

lb bl

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Bulb Assembly

The bulb assembly of the flashlight consists

of the reflector, the bulb, and theconnector. When fully assembled, the

bulb assembly is 2 inches long, with adiameter of 2 inches at the reflector end

reducing to 3/4 inch at the contact end of

the connector. The bulb assemblycompletes the flashlight by screwing into

the end, or head end of the body of the

flashli ht.

R fl t Th fl t ifi d j t

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Reflector. The reflector magnifies and projects

the light generated by the battery-powered

bulb. When viewed from the larger end, the

reflector consists of a transparent flat plastic

cover over a chrome-colored reflective plastic

concavity with a central hole. The elementsare permanently attached together and

housed in a matte black plastic. The reflector

screws into the connector on one end, andthe midsection of the reflector provides the

main screw for attachment to the flashlight

body.

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Bulb. The light source for the Workhorse is a

glass bulb, 1/2 inch long, permanently fused

onto a cylindrical metal base 1/2 inch longand 3/8 inch in diameter. The bottom of the

metal base has a protrusion, providing the

electrical connection between the bulb andconnector. The bulb itself contains a metallic

filament, one-half the length of the glass

portion of the bulb, surrounded, at a pointhalfway up the length, by a clouded white

plastic-like material.

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Connector. The connector connects the

reflector and bulb to the battery power

source. The connector is of black plastic,ringed with a metallic collar 3/8 inch wide.

The closed end of the connector is mounted

with a 5/6 inch-square gold-colored metalstrip. The metal strip facilitates the connection

between the bulb and the batteries. The open

end of the connector is threaded to allowjoining with the bulb and reflector.

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When fully assembled, the Rayovac

Workhorse Flashlight is a sturdy

easily held tool providing light

sufficient for regular outdoor andemergency use. The compact size

makes the flashlight easily portable,

and batteries and bulb are readilyaccessible for replacement.

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Technical Description of a Process

A process description is an explanation of how

a series of actions leads to a specific result. It

explains how things work or made. Process

description differ from instructions and

procedures since they are not intended to

guide readers in performing actions, but onlyunderstanding them. It is written as a

narrative, without listed steps or commands,

describing four possible types of actions.

Actions that occur in nature such as how diamonds

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Actions that occur in nature, such as how diamonds

form, how liver functions, or how typhoon

develops.

Actions that produce a product, such as how coins

are made, how hollow blocks are made.

Actions that make up a partial task, such how gold

is mined, how blood is tested for cholesterol levels.

Actions in the past, such as how Egyptians built the

pyramid or how the walls of Intramuros were built.

It can be carried out by people, by machines, or by

nature. It simply describes the stages of an action or

a system.

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Structure of a Process Description

1. A title or section headingIf the process description is to be a

separate document, add a title. If the

description is to be a part of a longer

document, add a section heading. Write

a title that clearly indicates the subjectand whether the description is general

or particular.

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2. The introduction

Include in the introduction enoughdetails about the process so that the

readers understand the principles

underlying it and the conditions underwhich it takes place. Define the process

and provide an overview. Explain what it

functions, where and when it takes place,

who or what performs it, how it works.

3 The Step-by-Step description of the

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3. The Step-by-Step description of the

process

Explain the stages of the process in theexact sequence in which they normally

occur. Describe each stage by defining it

and explaining hoe it fits the overallprocess, noting any dangerous or special

conditions, describing exactly how it

occurs, who or what does the action, and

stating the results at the end of a

particular stage.

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4. The Conclusion

Explain the expected results of the

process, what the results mean, and

how this process influences orinteracts with others.