Description
Description entails more information about a subject or an object. The objective of description is to enable the audience to create a vivid image in their mind to which they can relate or can access when learning more about a subject or object. This mental image is usually of a person, place, event, familiar object, or action that is being described ( McMurrey 2). A descriptive text needs to be highly sensory to enable the audience to use their five senses to experience the subject or object. A person who knows nothing of the object can benefit from a descriptive text in that they can create an image they are familiar with to learn more about the subject. For example, a person who has never been to a place can get descriptions about the place, for Instance, telling them about the surrounding, the size and color of buildings nearby, and natural things like if there are trees, grass, yard, or landscape. This description can help the person get an idea of how the place looks like, and if they are trying to find the place, having such descriptions makes it easier.
Comparison
Comparison is very crucial in technical writing. Comparison can be defined as comparing two or more subjects or objects that need to be compared. Comparisons comprise differences and similarities between objects/subjects. There are two types of comparison in technical writing; short and extended comparisons ( McMurrey5). Short comparisons are usually precise and are used when comparing one thing to another(usually familiar) to help the audience understand the concept. Extended comparisons, on the other hand, are more complicated. They carry a lump sum of information on the subject. Being the main focus, extensive comparisons are usually one or more paragraphs whose main intent is to establish a comparison between objects. Extensive comparisons are informative and evaluative. Informative comparison establishes a comparison between a subject to something the audience is familiar with, while evaluative seeks to establish the merit of subjects under comparison in which the speaker recommends the best options to the audience. For example, the speaker can use comparison to show the audience why one phone brand is better than the other in terms of cost, durability, efficiency, network, and accessibility.
Classification
Classification can be defined as the process of breaking down complex information or problem into smaller components that can be easily managed by the audience. It entails taking a larger concept and dividing this concept into individual sections ( McMurrey7). When the writer classifies their information into smaller components, it is easier for the audience to comprehend the larger and more complex topics. When classifying the information or topics, the writer should create categories in a unique manner to present the complex topic. The reader can use these categories to get a fresh insight into the ideas the writer is presenting. Classification requires a source of discussion and comparison to enable the reader to distinguish between different classes. There is a short and extended classification; the former is the type of classification that has several sentences to a paragraph, while the latter has more information, a paragraph, or more to discuss each class. An example of a scenario where classification can be useful is when discussing complex topics such as mental health. It is important that the writer breaks down this topic into different sections that involve definitions, types, causes, symptoms, treatment, and recommendations, among other sections. These sections help the audience understand the topic better compared to when the information is presented as a whole lump sum information without sections.
Causal Discussion
Causal Discussion is used in technical writing to discuss the cause and effect of events. Causal discussion entails events and a description of the events. It is keen on why something/event occurs, what causes it, and what are the results of the event. Causal descriptions use transitional words to discuss the cause and effects of events ( McMurrey13). An example of how causal discussion is useful in technical writing is when providing a lengthy discussion on a topic that affects people or is intended to be educative to people. It is common that unless there are serious effects or benefits, people tend to ignore most information that does not affect or relate to them. Therefore providing a causal discussion enables the speaker to reach out to the audience and call on them by presenting what influenced or caused an event and what the event means to the people. For Instance, take a topic like Smoking; a causal discussion will entail some of the causes of smoking being idleness, peer pressure, and availability of products. The effects are lung cancer, among other effects. The audience will relate to this information and understand the topic better now that it has a connection and risk to their lives.
Extended Definition
Definitions are very important, especially when writing to non-specialists, and more importantly, extended definitions ( McMurrey 15). Extended definitions entail one or more paragraphs trying to explain a complex topic/ term in a simpler way. These terms may be ambiguous, confusing, or very complex to be understood by an audience unfamiliar with them; therefore the need to define them further. Even for simpler topics, the writer may find it necessary to discuss familiar terms; for Instance in a topic like Mental health the writer is bound to define and discuss the term mental health by providing basic information about the topic as a base for the discussion. Extended definition requires one to provide formal definitions for the terms, look for credible sources to draw the definitions from, and add short definitions mainly done in lay man’s language that the audience is likely to understand better. This structure is useful in technical writing as it provides the basis of the subject, familiarizing the audience with the topic and certain terms which they might find difficult to comprehend. For Instance, although many people might be familiar with a concept, the definition of terms might help the audience understand some terms that if left undefined they could not make sense to them and hence be ignored.
Process Discussion
Process discussion entails the description and narration of an event happenings. Process discussion involves happenings, operation and performance of certain actions. Process discussion combines contents and patterns of events in technical writing. An example of process discussion is instructions ( McMurrey 20). This structure provides the audience with a step-by-step explanation of how mechanisms work or how events happen so that they can understand it. Process discussion explains the formation and operations of things around us, whether natural or artificial. To easily explain a concept, a writer needs to divide the process discussion into steps and then discussing each step in a simple and easily understandable terms that the audience can comprehend. Process discussion may be useful in technical writing in topics that require a detailed information of how things work or are being formed. For Instance, to explain the process by which a company is formed from an idea to registration to becoming a certified business. This whole process is explained better in steps with each step explained further to allow the audience to grasp the information better without mix up that could lead to confusion.
Persuasion
Persuasion is defined as the communicative effort to convince or persuade people to think or act a certain way (McMurrey24). Persuasion is an infrastructure essential in reports and proposal writings. It enables the speaker/writer to persuade or convince people to do what the speaker intends. Persuasion involves the following tools; logical appeal, emotional and personal appeals. In addition to this, a writer can use ‘stylistic’ appeals that use language and visuals to convince the audience. Persuasion can also take another approach; Toulmin approach that looks at addressing rebuttals and concessions instead of going straight forward to provide a claim and prove ( McMurrey 24). In general, a technical writer needs to be well equipped with all the persuasion tools and approaches in order to convince the audience that they are knowledgeable enough and know what they are doing or saying. An example of where persuasion is useful in technical writing is when trying to persuade an employer for Instance to choose your resume out of all other applications. One has to be precise and persuasive enough to get the manager to like what is written in order to pick them.
Work Cited
McMurrey, David, “05.11: Information Structures”. Open Technical Communication. 36. Kennesaw State University, 2019.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/opentc/36
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