Assignment Description - Mechanism Description PDF

Preview

Summary

Assignment Description - Mechanism Description...

Description

Assignment Description: Mechanism Description ENCS 282 – Technical Writing and Communication In this assignment, you will prepare a mechanism description that explains the technical make-up of an object or system. A key goal in the description is to help the reader to accurately visualize the object. Imagine the reader is educated but not an expert in the domain. Remember that the reader will likely want answers to the following key questions: • • • •

What is it? What is its function? What does it look like? What are its principle components?

Organization of the mechanism description cannot be random. Choose one of following approaches to describing your object or system: Visual walkabout. Describe the object in the order of a single visual sweep. You could work from top to bottom or around the object without jumping. System breakdown. Identify parts based on the relationships between those parts. This approach considers connections and interactions between components. (Note: This approach could be used to describe the conceptual layout of an application which passes information between various components in the system.) Core-to-periphery. Identify the most important attributes before moving to less significant ones. In your description, pay careful attention to the following details: • • • • •

Dimensions: marked on the diagram and noted in the description Shapes: described to help the reader locate and visualize components Position: written precisely (example: “immediately to the right…”) Colour and texture: described only if these are significant Purpose and function: noted for the object or system as a whole and for individual components

Visuals Visuals are an essential complement to any mechanism description. Therefore, you should include and actively refer to an appropriately labelled figure.

Style • •

Write short, focused paragraphs. Use a direct, conversational tone, without colloquial language.

Length: approx. 750 words / 3-4 pages including embedded figures...