Walkes 1008 Sem 2 1011
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES – CAVE HILL CAMPUS, FACULTY OF HUMANITIES
FOUN 1008 Rhetoric II: Writing for Special Purposes
Section 6 (M 10 – 11 CSR, W 10 – 12 S7) and Section 7 (M 11 – 12 TSR9, W 1 – 3 LR6)
Instructor: Ms. Carolyn Walkes
; 417-4579 or 417-4556
ASSIGNMENT FOR MECHANISM DESCRIPTION
Take a mechanism, which must be a specific item, place or organisational structure, and
break it down into its main parts in order to describe them. You should establish clearly
its physical features, function(s) and the relationship between its components.
Due dates:
First draft due Wednesday 16 February (two-hour session of Week Four). Bring two copies of the first draft to class.
Final draft due Wednesday 23 February (Week Five). Only ONE copy should be submitted.
Submission guidelines:
Place in the right side of a neat, unadorned two-pocket folder. Place all preliminary work (pre-writing, first and final drafts, peer commentary) in the left side. Put your name neatly (written or on a label) on the bottom right corner of the outside of the folder.
Requirements
In your choice of mechanism, the challenge is to think originally. Choose a mechanism that is local and requires some primary research to write about. You should have personal access to the mechanism. Other criteria are:
· The mechanism being described should have no fewer than three (3) main parts and no more than six (6) main parts.
· At least one (1) part of your mechanism should be complex (have subparts, that is, an assembly).
· You should describe only the external features of a physical mechanism. Do not
describe any parts that are not visible on the outside.
· Descriptions should include a minimum of two (2) well-presented and appropriate graphics, one of which should illustrate the entire mechanism, and one of which should illustrate the complex part.
· All graphics should be specific to the mechanism being described (make, model,
brand) and sources for graphics should be accredited.
· The word limit for descriptions is 750 to 1000 words.
· Both first and final drafts should be printed or typed.
· The assignment should have a clear introduction, body and conclusion. Use the
guidelines provided overleaf to achieve this.
· The mechanism chosen should have a process connected with it.
· The choice of mechanism should be approved by me, before or on Monday, 14 February.
Topics
You can choose any mechanism (subject to approval) that pertains to or is associated with the theme of “consumerism”. You can use any relevant definition of the term, but be careful that your choice of assignment topic reflects consumerism itself and not a related topic, e.g. employment. Choose a mechanism that you can pair with a related process.
Specific Guidelines for Describing a Mechanism
Like the general guidelines for writing technical assignments, these are meant only to provide guidance, not substitute for instruction. As such, the examples given are guides, not a template. The guidelines are divided into the elements of the introduction, the body and the conclusion.
The Introduction
Start with a clear thesis statement and give an overall description of the appearance and function of the mechanism. The parts to be described should be presented in a vertical list that ends the introduction.
1. Title – must be clear and limiting
E.g. Not “Bellsouth Cordless Telephone” but “Bellsouth’s 25-channel cordless Autoscan telephone”.
2. Audience – state intended audience
E.g. This description of an Ace bit brace is intended for a junior high school shop class instructional manual.
3. Purpose/Definition – say what the mechanism is for and define terms if necessary. You can explain the origin of the name is applicable.
E.g. The pressure cooker is an airtight, metal container which is used to cook food by steam pressure at temperatures up to 250ºF.
4. Overall description of physical characteristics – this is where you state general dimensions, shape, size, weight, texture, colour and so on. This is also where your first pictorial will come, a representation of the whole mechanism.
E.g. The K-D socket wrench is made of variable grades of steel. The handle is etched to provide a firm grip. The wrench shaft is 6½ in. long, and the head is 2 in. deep. It weighs 13 oz. Figure 1 show the K-D wrench and its overall dimensions.
5. Theory – if applicable, state the theory or principle behind the mechanism.
E.g. The functioning principle of an ordinary mercury thermometer is based on the property of thermal expansion possessed by many substances; that is, they expand when heated and contract when cooled.
6. Process/Operator – give an overview of how the mechanism works, and, if applicable, state who uses the mechanism (the operator). Avoid using the imperative voice that may sound like giving instruction. Use third person subjects and either the active or passive voice.
E.g. The stethoscope is designed to be used by doctors, nurses and trained paraprofessionals to convey sounds in the chest and other parts of the body to the ear of the examiner. The ear-pieces are placed in the examiner’s ears. The bell is held against the area of the body to be examined. The sounds are amplified through the tubing by the diaphragm assembly.
7. List of parts – the order of your list must have meaning (either functionally, spatially, chronologically, or in order of importance). You must describe each part in the order in which it was given here. Also, this list MUST always end your introduction.
E.g The K & E lead holder consists of five main parts: the casing, the push knob, the spring, the tube and the jaws.
The Body
The body should be a description of the functions and appearance/manifestation of each major part of the mechanism. You must describe the parts in the order in which they were presented in the vertical list. You must describe what each part looks like. This is done most effectively through the use of analogy. The reader must have a clear visual idea/image of each part of the mechanism from the description alone. The description cannot be dependent on the graphics to be understood.
When a part is complex or particularly important to the mechanism, the description of that part should be accompanied by a visual of the part. Visuals of exploded, selected or partial views may be appropriate.
In the body of your mechanism description, you are describing each part as though it is a minor mechanism description in itself. For each part, you will describe:
a) the purpose/function
b) the physical description.
Additionally, you may have to describe:
c) applicable theory statements
d) operator/usage
e) if an assembly, the list and further description of sub-parts.
The Conclusion
In the conclusion, you should evaluate the reliability, validity and usefulness of the mechanism and explain how it works as a whole. You may use this section to:
· Explain how the mechanism performs the function it was designed to serve. (This may also be included in the introduction under “Process”).
· Assess the efficiency, reliability or practicality of the mechanism in serving that function.
· Assess the inherent limitations, advantages and disadvantages of the mechanism.
· State alternate uses of the mechanism.
· If applicable, state its accessibility, availability and cost.
E.g. The Bostich B8 desk stapler is compact and lightweight, making it easy to store and to transport. The finish is scratch resistant and rust proof. It can be used as a tacker as well as a paper stapler.
Up to 20 pages of copy can be stapled at one time. The Bostich Standard stapler is recommended for larger volumes.
The recommended retail price is $8.95. Bostich staplers are available in most office supply stores.
Please refer to the note titled “Guidelines for Technical Writing Assignments on your eLearning page.