Technical Description

As your textbook explains: “Technical descriptions are detailed explanations of objects, places, or processes ... Descriptions appear in almost every technical document” (Johnson-Sheehan, 2015, p. 129). These descriptions can be used to describe a device to clients, to test for quality control of a product, or even to aid in sales.

 

Instructions 

Unlike technical descriptions, instructions are created not merely to describe but also to explain how something works. As a form of technical communication, instructions “help people complete simple and complex tasks ... [by] describ[ing] how to perform a specific task. They typically describe how to assemble a product or do something step-by-step” (Johnson-Sheehan, 2015, p. 160).

 

Proposal 

The proposal is a group assignment designed to encourage collaboration, logical reasoning, and effective decision making. As a group you will develop an unsolicited proposal that either pitches a new idea or promotes a product. Johnson-Sheehan (2015) argues that “proposals are the lifeblood of the technical workplace ... effective proposal writing is a crucial skill in today’s technical workplace” (p. 199). This assignment provides you with the added bonus of developing effective team management and collaborative skills during the process.

 

Survival Guide 

The survival guide is the culminating project in this class; it is a place to showcase and reflect on all the work you completed throughout the course. The survival guide will provide you a space to display your research and previously completed assignments within a professional yet creative format that will be informative and engaging. Furthermore, it will give you an opportunity to reflect on the course and to draw conclusions about the knowledge and skills you have developed and honed. You have two options for putting together your survival guide: print or digital.