In the Name of Omnipresent

Technical Description

Research the object of description: identify the parts and subparts; plan the overall
description; select the sources of description; prepare a rough draft; write the final draft.

Technical description means the presentation of physical and quantifiable details of an object.
Physical details include colour, shape, size and texture, materials of construction, ingredients,
width and depth and so on. Quantifiable details are those you can count or measure, such as
the number of trees.

The biggest problem you may face in writing a description is remembering what the term
means as it is used in this context. We all usually use the word description to refer to practically
any discussion or explanation. But in this context, it means the detailed discussion of the
physical aspects of a thing. That means discussing things like color, shape, size, weight, height,
width, thickness, texture, density, contents, materials of construction, and so on. It also means
discussing any quantifiable details such as numbers. In addition, it also covers the functions or
features of the object.

To learn how to write technical description of the object you need to know about the shapes
and that is the reason this exercise starts with some practice on identifying shapes and using
them in correct sentences. In addition to shapes, you also need to know the vocabulary used in
detailing dimensions of the given objects for example length, breadth, width, height, depth,
radius and diameter.

This unit starts with the practice on simple description of knife to more detailed description of
computer mouse and mechanical pencil.

The unit ends with an assessment where you will be expected to write a detailed description of
the given item with the help of pictures and dimensions.

Contents and Organization of Description

Let us first learn the way you are expected to organize the description. Below is the review of
the sections you'll normally find in descriptions.
Introduction

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You need to carefully plan the introduction which should ideally cover the following points:

 Indicate the specific object you are describing. Do not state this is a mobile phone.
Instead, you should write the specific name, brand and model.
 Give the overall (general) description of the object including colour, shape, size and its
function.
 Give description of parts.

Background

If you feel that the object you have chosen to describe is a relatively new one in the market and
the readers might not be familiar with it, you need to give some background information as
well. In this case you need to give details on what is the item, its use and the date it was
launched etc.

Discussion of the parts

The main body of the description is the discussion of different parts and characteristics. It is
important that you roughly divide the object you are describing into parts. Parts are easy: for
example, a mechanical pencil has lead, a wooden barrel, an eraser, and a metal clip.
Characteristics are include weight, length, width, and so on.

It is good to devote one paragraph to each part. This will give your description a proper
description.

Define each part by giving its function and then give the physical and quantifiable details. After
that, you may describe the part from general/overall to specific, using any of the sources of
description which are appropriate according to the nature of the part.

It is also important to mention the operation or process associated with the object you're
describing. For example, if you are describing a mechanical pencil, you may briefly describe how
it is used. You can add it in the introduction where you give overall description.

Sources of Description
The following list will help you decide on what sources are relevant to your item and
accordingly you can describe. Remember, it is not necessary to write everything given in the
list.

 colour
 height
 width
 shape
 weight
 materials

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  texture
 width
 location
 methods of attachment
 depth
 amount
 pattern, design
 ingredients
 age
 subparts
 length
 finish
 temperature
 moisture content
 smell

Answer the following questions briefly:

1. What is technical description?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. What would you list under physical details?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. What is a quantifiable detail? Give examples.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

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 Shapes and Dimensions

A circle
A plate is circular.
A plate has a circular shape.

A semicircle Some glasses are semicircular.

An oval

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 Other glasses are oval in shape.
Other glasses have an oval shape.

A point This is a curve. This is a straight line.

Pointed This is a curved line.
This line is curved.

1m
30cm This box is 1 m long.
It is 50 cm high.
50cm It is 30 cm wide.
This box is 1m by 50 cm
by 30 cm.
This hole is 65 cm deep.
This hole is 65 cm in depth.
The depth of this hole is 65
65cm cm.

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 This hole has a depth of 65
cms.

If this dimension is small compared to the

length and width, the word thickness can
be used.
The mobile phone is 1.5 cm thick.
The mobile phone is 1.5 cm in thickness.
The mobile phone has a thickness of 1.5cm.
The thickness of this mobile phone is
1.5cm.

A bar
Some chocolates are bar shaped.

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Answer the questions about the object in complete sentences

General Introduction

What is it? ________________________________________________________

What is it used for? _________________________________________________
What size is it? ____________________________________________________
How many parts does it consist of? _____________________________________
Parts
Part 1: _________________
Where is it located? ________________________________________________
What shape is it? ____________________________________________________
What size is it? ______________________________________________________
What material is it made of? ___________________________________________
What is it used for? __________________________________________________

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Part 2: _________________
Where is it located? _________________________________________________
What shape is it? ___________________________________________________
What size is it? ____________________________________________________
What material is it made of? _________________________________________
What is it used for? ________________________________________________

Part 3: _________________
Where is it located? _________________________________________________
What shape is it? ____________________________________________________
What size is it? _____________________________________________________
What material is it made of? ___________________________________________
What is it used for? __________________________________________________

Join the answers to the questions above and write a paragraph to describe the knife.

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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Now compare your paragraph with the following one.
This is a kitchen knife. It is used to cut vegetables and fruits. It is quite long, about 15
centimeters. It consists of three main parts: a blade, a handle and a rivet. The blade is at one
end of the knife, and it is a thin rectangle with a sharp curve at the end. It is almost 9
centimeters in length. It is made of steel so it is silver in colour. It is very sharp because it is
used to cut things. The second part is the handle which is located at the other end of the knife.
It is roughly rectangular in shape and it is about six centimeters long. It is made of wood or hard
plastic. It is used for holding the knife. The third part is the rivet. A rivet is a small pin located in
the middle of the knife and it is a cylindrical piece of metal. It is used to fasten the blade to the
handle. This is one type of kitchen knife. There are many more.

Answer the following questions about the paragraph.

1. What is the topic sentence?
_________________________________________________________

2. How many supporting sentences are there?

____________________________________________________________

3. Which words tell you the use of a knife?

________________________________________________________________

4. Which words tell you about the shape?

__________________________________________________________________

5. Which words tell you about dimensions?

_________________________________________________________________________