Module 02

Module 02: Basic Technical Writing Techniques

Posted by: Angelita P. Oblianda

Sources: Technical Writing and Reporting by J.I.L. Igoy, Ph.D. et al.

              Interactive Technical Writing by P.C. Villamarzo, J.G. Relis and E.E. Cruz

              Technical Writing notes c/o Ms. Illoran

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Introduction 

              Some author call this process in Technical Writing; others call it dominant pattern. For the purpose of this module, I shall call this basic technical writing technique. You often meet this in your different subjects, its just that, you do not have the knowledge, if it is also one of the techniques in Technical Writing.

              Let us discuss the common technique in detail.

A. DEFINITION

              There are several words and phrases that we need to understand to comprehend a given text. Some may be relatively familiar or easy but when used in science, mathematics, or any other related fields, they may acquire different meanings. Some may be totally unfamiliar to us. Others are the big words, which have simpler counterparts, yet these big and more difficult words are preferred by those who like to impress other people with their mastery of the language. These are the technical terms in the various fields of disciplines and professions. Technical terms should be defined in technical writing because of the unfamiliarity of a great number of these terms. The problem of definition may be avoided entirely if the writer knows how to use simple and familiar terminology. Definition as one of the special techniques in technical writing exemplifies the meaning of a term. It could be stated formally or informally.

              In summary, these are the words that you need to define:

        a. simple words with special meaning in science or any other technical field

        b. technical terms

        c. difficult or high sounding words

                                                2 Types of Definition

1.FORMAL DEFINITION

            
            It focuses special attention on a term. If the writer finds the formal sentence definition, more effective than the informal definition, the technique of formal definition must be employed. 

        Formal Sentences Definition

                 It has three parts: term, genus, and differentia

a.       Term – the concept defined

b.      Genus – the family to which the term belong

c.       Differentia – the specific characteristics of the species which sets it apart from all         

                              others of it  class

  EXAMPLE :

                  TERM                       GENUS                          DIFFERENTIA

              A triangle            a plane figure        bounded by three straight lines having three angles

 Extended Formal Definition

        A one-sentence definition sometimes is not in defining a complex or highly specialized term. A reader might be dissatisfied with this explanation, especially if it occurred in a report particularly concerned with the subject . He might very well ask what the term is not, where it is located, what its function is, what its effects are.

 Take the term “ozone” as an example.

A formal sentence goes like this:

“A bluish gaseous reactive form of oxygen that is formed naturally in the atmosphere and is used for disinfecting, deodorizing, and bleaching”.

           POINTERS                                                          TEXT

What ozone is                                    -which some people wrongly think is the refreshing               

                                                           air at the Seaside,is a poisonous type of oxygen .At

                                                           ground level, it  makes up less than one part per       

                                                            million of the air. However,

Location of Ozone                             -a thin layer of ozone about 24 kms, above ground level the

                                                           stratosphere, blocks outmost of the sun’s burning            

 Function of ozone                             - ultraviolet rays

 Effect of ozone destroyed                 - If these rays reached the ground, they would kill all

                                                           land animals and plants. That is why, this poisonous

                                                           gas shield is important. There is considerable concern

                                                           over reports of the possible destruction of this ozone

                                                           layer by the pollutants.

There are different ways by which we can expand a formal definition. Some of these ways are as follows:

     1. giving the uses or the functions of a term

Example:

     One of the organs we cannot live without is the liver, which is the largest organ in our body. It enables the body to function efficiently by filtering toxic substances from the blood. It is responsible for producing proteins, bile, and immune agents, without which, our body will not be able to combat infection and disease.

      2. giving the origin of the term

Example:

     The word placebo comes from a Latin word which means pleasing or acceptable. It refers to the desire of a person who seeks the help of the doctor to be healed.

     3. giving its causes and or effects, advantages or disadvantages

Example:

     Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, can cause headaches and intestinal and rinary problems when taken in excess doses. It can also increase iron absorption, a condition which can have adverse effects on people with certain blood disorders.

     4. illustrating or describing its appearance

Example:

     An organ is a large complex musical wind instrument with pipes, stops, and a keyboard.

     5. explaining what is not

Example:

     A good breakfast cannot be equated with just a cup of coffee and a cookie. Neither that it just consist of one serving of fruit and a glass of water. Nor should it be a bowl of rice and coffee.

    6. analyzing its parts

Example:

     The process of writing consists of four stages: getting ideas, getting started, writing drafts, and revising.

( Raimes, 1983) The first require the  writer to brainstorm with peers and other persons to generate topics to write on. The second requires him or her to start locating sources and taking down notes. The third is the writing stage itself. The last requires the writer to polish the initially produced manuscript.

     7. classifying it

Example:

     Theobromen belongs to a class of alka loid molecules known as methylxanthine found in cocoa beans.

     8. stating where it is from

Example:

     Stress is a term which was introduced in 1956 in the American vernacular.

     9. giving its collocations

Example:

     Stress has always been associated with changes, worries, pressures, and problems.

     10. giving examples

Example:

     Examples of lyric poems are sonnet, song, ode, simple lyric, and the elegy.

2. INFORMAL DEFINITION

        According to Mills and Walter, it does not require the application of an unchanging, rigid formula; rather, it is a “technique” that can be used only when the writer is certain that the term alone  and not the referent which is unfamiliar to the reader. It consists of one or more synonymous expressions substituted for the unfamiliar term used.

Examples:

            TERM                                                  INFORMAL DEFINITION                                      

         Broadcast                                                    report (synonym)

         Broadcast                                                 the transmission of sounds or images                    

                                                                                (synonymous phrase )

Here are some guides when you are writing using the Definition Technique:

1.Try to use simple terms. Do not define an unfamiliar term by using more difficult terminology which would rather confuse the reader.

2.If the term being defined is a noun, the word after should also be a noun. Do not begin you definition with when, what or where.  

3.In defining a term, avoid using the term itself or any of its derivative.  

4.Do not put the term you ae defining into two broad or too narrow a class.