-
What is the item? You might start with a sentence definition.
-
What is the function of the item? If the function is not implicit in the sentence definition, state it: “Electron microscopes magnify objects that are smaller than the wavelengths of visible light.”
- What does the item look like? Sometimes an object is best pictured with both graphics and words. Include a photograph or drawing if possible. (See Chapter 12 for more about incorporating graphics into your text.) If you cannot use a graphic, use an analogy or comparison: “The USB drive is a plastic- or metal-covered device, about the size of a pack of gum, with a removable cap that covers the type-A USB connection.” Mention the material, texture, color, and other physical characteristics, if relevant.
-
How does the item work? In a few sentences, define the operating principle. Sometimes objects do not “work”; they merely exist. For instance, a ship model has no operating principle.
-
What are the principal parts of the item? Limit your description to the principal parts. A description of a bicycle, for instance, would not mention the dozens of nuts and bolts that hold the mechanism together; it would focus on the chain, gears, pedals, wheels, and frame.
|
-
What is the process? You might start with a sentence definition.
-
What is the function of the process? Unless the function is obvious, state it: “The main purpose of performing a census is to obtain current population figures, which government agencies use to revise legislative districts and determine revenue sharing.”
-
Where and when does the process take place? “Each year the stream is stocked with hatchery fish in the first week of March.” Omit these facts only if your readers already know them.
-
Who or what performs the process? If there is any doubt about who or what performs the process, state that information.
-
How does the process work? “The four-treatment lawn-spray plan is based on the theory that the most effective way to promote a healthy lawn is to apply different treatments at crucial times during the growing season. The first two treatments—in spring and early summer—consist of . . . .”
-
What are the principal steps in the process? Name the steps in the order in which you will describe them. The principal steps in changing an automobile tire, for instance, are jacking up the car, replacing the old tire with the new one, and lowering the car back to the ground. Changing a tire also includes secondary steps, such as placing chocks against the tires to prevent the car from moving once it is jacked up. Explain or refer to these secondary steps at the appropriate points in the description.
|