Technical Description Assignment

This assignment will check your understanding of the content and design of a technical description. Use what you learned in class and from the readings to create the description.

What should I write?

Scenario

Imagine that the marketing manager at your group project client's company has asked you for a detailed description of the parts of the device you are working with for your client project. When developing your description, pay particular attention to the physical detail of the device parts and how the device is used.

Audience

The marketing manager of your client's company and the possible end users

Specifications

• 2-4 pages in length (including visuals)
• Single spaced with appropriate headings and space for the text to breathe
• The description must use NEW language to describe the parts of the device. In other words, do not use anything from the website or current user manual. If you have a difficult time generating original content, re-read Technical Descriptions: Content and Design
• Include at least one visual (but more are better than one)
• The visuals and graphics must support the text. If photos are to be used, they must be taken by the student. Other graphics may be acceptable (with the exception of clip art)
• Do not use photos from the company web site without explicit permission

Things to remember

• Provide a technical description of the device, not a process analysis.
• Tailor the description to the end-user of your work and the marketing manager. In other words, think about what both a marketing manager and an end user would know about the device and how it is used and what they would not know about the device and how it is used before you develop the technical description.
• Be exact and thorough in your description. Do not write a surface description only; include plenty of details. Be sure to consider the information needs of the end-user.
• Include visuals and graphics that supports the textual discussion in your description. You can use photos from the client meeting (feel free to photoshop them), or you can take your own if you have access to the device. You can use other types of graphics as well (drawings, etc.) but no clip art and no photos from the web unless you have authentic permission to use them.