CHAPTER 3

Basic Techniques
in Technical Writing

Lesson 3
Description of Mechanism

Lesson Proper

What’s
with the
word? A mechanism is generally defined as any object or system
that has a working part or parts. Most often the term suggests
tools, instruments, and machines. But other examples of
mechanisms could be the human body and systems like the universe or a
city, which is composed of parts that work together like parts of a
machine. A technical man constantly works with mechanisms and always
needs to understand them; what they do, what they look like, what parts
they have, and how these parts work together.

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 Now, a mechanism description is a short report designed to convey to the reader a
technical understanding of the function, appearance, and operation of a particular
object. In one or two sentences, give the reader a quick overview of these three
elements, before you launch into separate sections with details.

This analyzes (that is, subdivides into components for further scrutiny) an object in
space. When you try to organize your major subsections, if no other obvious pattern
seems appropriate, you can always fall back on the more-important-to-less-important
strategy.

In overview, a mechanism simply refers objects, machines, or systems consisting of

smaller units while mechanism description presents more essential information about its
properties, composition, functions, and operations. Now, how would you describe a
mechanism especially when you present a prototype of your project, an innovation, or a
utility model?

A technical writer is not required to persuade the reader that

the object is wonderful, or valuable, or scary. But do mention
the details. While you shouldn’t say an object is “adorably
DON’T SELL cute,” you could mention that it “resembles a cartoon cow
THE OBJECT wearing a pink ruffled skirt,” and let your readers make the
value judgment for themselves.

A technical writer is not required to persuade

the reader that the object is wonderful, or valuable, or JUST DESCRIBE
scary. But do mention the details. While you shouldn’t
say an object is “adorably cute,” you could mention
IT
that it “resembles a cartoon cow wearing a pink
ruffled skirt,” and let your readers make the value
judgment for themselves.

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 WRITING THE MECHANISM DESCRIPTION

The outline below presents the usual format in writing

a mechanism description. This basic approach, with slight
variations, will work in most instances:

I. Introduction

A. Definition and purpose

B. Overall description (size, weight, shape, material)
C. Main parts Descriptive report
about a certain mechanism
II. Body: Description of Mechanism usually consist of three
major parts: 1)
Introduction/Presentati
A. Main part A (definition followed by detailed on or Overview; 2)
description of size, shape, material, location, and method of Specific Description of
attachment) B. Main part B (definition followed by overall Components; and 3)
description, then identification of subparts) Conclusion of the
Report.
1. Subpart X (definition followed by detailed
description of size, shape, material, location, and method of
attachment)
2. Sub part Y (same as for sub part X)
3. Optional conclusion

*sample
Introduction

The introduction gives the reader a framework for

understanding the mechanism. In the introduction’ you
should define the mechanism, tell its purpose, present an
The introduction
overall description, and preview the main parts. In the
should contain the
following introduction, the writer does all four: summary of your report.
This should relay relevant
To: Emily BroJn information such as the
Date: July 18, 19XX definition, purpose, overall
From: Steve V,andeWalle description, components,
and the scope of the
Subject: Tablejep Paper Micrometer
report.

This memo provides the information you requested

at our July 17 meeting dealing with my department’s paper .
micrometer. A paper micrometer is a small measuring
instrument used to measure the thickness of a piece of
paper. The micrometer, roughly twice as large as a regular
stapler, has four main parts: the frame, the dial, the hand
lever, and the piston.

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 Body: Description of Parts

The body of the paper contains the detailed description.

Usually you identify each main part with a heading, then describe
The description it in a single paragraph. Each paragraph will follow the outline
of the specified explained earlier in the section on The Common Elements of
components is Description, p. 175. In the example below, notice that each
presented in the body section describes only one item. If necessary, you can divide a
of the report. The secnonmro subsections.
general procedure will
be – as before – to The Frame
define the part, to state
its purpose, to indicate
The frame of the paper micrometer is a cast piece of steel
its general appearance,
that provides a surface to which all of the other parts are
and finally, if necessary,
to divide it into attached. The frame, painted gray, looks like the letter C with a
subparts. What is done large flcttdisk on the bottom and a round calibrated dial on top.
to the principal parts is The disk is 4112 inches in diameter and resembles a flat hockey
also done to the puck. The frame is 5% inches high and 7112 inches long.
subparts. Each of these Excluding the bottom disk, the frame is approximately 1V4 inches
units is described in wide. The micrometer weighs 8 pounds.
detail.
The Dial

The dial shows the thickness 01 the paper. The dial looks
like a watch djal except that it has only one moving hand. The
frame around the dial is made of chrome-plated metal. A piece of
glass protects the face of the dial in the same way that the glass
crystal on a watch protects the face and hands. The dial, 6 inches
in diameter and 7/8 inches thick, is calibrated in .001 inch marks,
and the face of the dial is numbered every .010 inches. The hand
The last part of is made from a thin, stiff metal rod, pointed on the end.
the description of a
mechanism is the The Hand Lever
conclusion which lets
the reader know how it The hand lever, shaped like a handle on a pair of pliers, raises and
works, or how it is
lowers the piston. It is made of chrome-plated steel and attaches
used, if this has not
to the frame near the base of the dial. The hand lever is 4 inches
been done in the
general introduction. lorg, V2 inch wide, and V4 inch thick. When the hand lever is
Emphasis should depressed, the piston moves up, and the hand on the dial rotates.
naturally fall upon the When the hand lever is released and a piece of paper is positioned
action of the parts in under the piston, the dial shows the thickness of the paper.
relation to one another.
This part of the writing The Piston
constitutes in effect a
description of a process The piston moves up and down when the operator depresses and
usually highly
releases the hand lever. This action causes the paper’s thickness
condensed, and this will
to register on the dial. The piston is % inches in diameter, flat on
be discussed
elaborately in the next the bottom, and made of metal without a finish. The piston slides
technique of in a hole in the frame. The piston can measure the thickness of
development. paper up to .300 inches

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 References

Mechanism Description: Represent the Function, Appearance and Operation of an Object. (n.d.). Retrieved
March 2021 from https://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/technical-writing/mechanism-
description/#:~:text=A%20mechanism%20description%20is%20a,into%20separate%
20sections%20with%20details.

Technical Writing. (n.d.) Retrieved March 2021 https://crewcite.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/description-of-

mechanism/

Writing the Mechanism Description. (2014). Retrieved March 2021 from

http://www.technicalreportwriting.org/3190-3190

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