Writing Reader- Focused Definitions and Descriptions C H A P T
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What Are Definitions Versus Descriptions? How Do You Prepare to
Write a Definition or Description? What Are the Types of
Definitions? How Do You Write an Extended Definition? What Are the
Types of Descriptions? How Do You Write Descriptions for Technical
Marketing Materials? Where Are Technical Definitions and
Descriptions Commonly Found? Presentation Overview
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What Are Definitions Versus Descriptions? Definitions tell
readers what something is; it can be as simple as a word or
sentence or as complex as several paragraphs. Descriptions create a
picture using words and graphics. Descriptions in technical
communication provide information on a product or a process for
readers who need to know about it or to use, produce, or possibly
purchase it.
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What Are Definitions Versus Descriptions? Definition: what
something is Description: what something is like
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Definition of the Global Positioning System The Global
Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S. space-based radionavigation
system that provides reliable positioning, navigation, and timing
services to civilian users on a continuous worldwide basis (The
National Space- Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Office).
Description of the Global Positioning System Free to allit only
requires a GPS receiver to be used Accurate because it pinpoints
the exact latitude, longitude, and altitude of a GPS receiver
Reliable because it works anytime, anywhere, as long as the GPS
receiver has a clear view of the sky What Are Definitions Versus
Descriptions?
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Find out about your readers. Anticipate and answer their
questions. Plan for precise language. Design the visual
information. How Do You Prepare to Write a Definition or
Description?
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Their present knowledge of what you are defining or describing
Their purpose and the context in which they will be reading your
definition or description Their place inside or outside of your
organization The different groups reading your definition or
description The level of technical terminology they will understand
or expect Find Out about Your Readers
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Anticipate and Answer Their Questions Reader Considerations
General Approach to Anticipating and Answering Their Questions
Their present knowledge of what you are defining or describing
Focus on what they dont know rather than on what they do. Their
purpose and the context in which they will be reading your
definition or description Provide the appropriate type of
information (theoretical versus practical) and level of detail
according to their purpose.
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Anticipate and Answer Their Questions Reader Considerations
General Approach to Anticipating and Answering Their Questions
Their place inside or outside of your organization Provide more
background information and less technical information to those
external to your organization or to those in administrative versus
technical positions. The different groups reading your definition
or description Write to the readers with the lowest level of
technical knowledge, or compartmentalize the document containing
your definition or description for different groups.
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Anticipate and Answer Their Questions Reader Considerations
General Approach to Anticipating and Answering Their Questions The
level of technical terminology they will understand or expect
Freely use technical terminology they have come to understand and
expect. Either define or avoid technical terminology they will not
understand or expect.
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Use precise Measurements, weights, and dimensions Locations and
spatial relationships Positions Plan for Precise Language
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Not Precise Our pool tables are built to last. Precise Our pool
tables are constructed with Solid hardwood Oversized, 1 thick
Italian slate Durable leather pockets Top-of-the-line Simonis cloth
Plan for Precise Language
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Plan the visual information you want to use early in the
process. Consider using Line drawings Diagrams Flowcharts
Photographs Design the Visual Information
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Parenthetical definitions Sentence definitions Extended
definitions What Are the Types of Definitions?
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A brief definition appearing in parenthesis immediately
following the word being defined Example A double hit (hitting the
cue ball twice during a shot) is an illegal stroke. Parenthetical
Definitions
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A definition that is the length of a sentence and contains
these formal elements: Term Class or genus Differentia Sentence
Definitions TermClass or GenusDifferentia The break isthe shotthat
opens a game of pool. Diamonds aremarkersatop the table rails that
can be used as reference points for aiming shots.
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An explanation of a term, concept, or process, usually one or
more paragraphs in length. Example Eight-ball is a game played with
a cue ball and 15 object balls. Balls 1-7 are solids; balls 9-15
are stripes. The first of two players breaks to begin play. If one
or more object balls goes in on the break, he or she continues play
by choosing a solid or striped object ball and calling the pocket
that the ball will go in after the shot. Play alternates when a
player fails to pocket a called ball. Once a player pockets either
all solids or all stripes, he or she must pocket the 8-ball to win.
Pocketing the 8-ball before this point (except for on the break)
results in a loss. Extended Definitions
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1.Start with the basic definition. 2.Extend using one or more
of the techniques on the following slides. How Do You Write an
Extended Definition?
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ExampleAn illustrative item or case PartitionThe division of an
item into its individual parts Principle of Operation An
explanation of how something works Comparison and Contrast A
comparison between something familiar and something unfamiliar
NegationA description about what something is not
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How Do You Write an Extended Definition? HistoryHistorical or
background information EtymologyThe derivation of a word
StipulationThe restriction of the meaning of a word for a
particular situation GraphicsA visualization
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Descriptions of a process, or an action that brings about a
result Descriptions of a mechanism, or a machine with parts that
work together Descriptions of an object, or a single item What Are
the Types of Descriptions?
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How Do You Write Descriptions for Technical Marketing
Materials? Persuasive Language Accurate, Honest Information
Slide 23
Definitions Textbooks Instructions and manuals Reports
Specification sheets Descriptions Instructions and manuals
Proposals Reports Web pages Brochures Specification sheets Where
Are Technical Definitions and Descriptions Commonly Found?
Technical marketing materials