Engineering 100.

100 – Wynarsky/Hildinger

Individual Writing 1: Brief Technical Description (20 points)

Purpose: This assignment has two primary purposes: (1) to get you started
exploring a topic that interests you and (2) to give you the opportunity to show me
your current understanding of technical writing and the professional presentation
of documents.

Task: Do some preliminary research on an orthopedic implant or an implantable

medical device that you find interesting. Choose a device that addresses a medical
problem. Then, on the basis of your research, write a brief technical description of
this device or system in which you introduce and explain the device to a general
reader. Your description should be sufficient to enable a non-specialist reader to
understand the purpose, form and function of the device. Thus you will need to
provide appropriate background information and explain the technical aspects of
the device very clearly. You may use graphics to support your description.

Be sure to document and credit the sources that you use. For documentation, APA
style is preferable (some help on that is posted on the Canvas site), but for this
assignment only you may use any standard system.

Write or type this Honor Pledge at the end of your document: I have neither given
nor received any unauthorized help* on this assignment, nor have I concealed any
violation of the Honor Code. Sign and date the pledge.

Formatting and Submission Details: Present your document as a memorandum

following the format specified in the course style sheet (posted). Convert your file
to a PDF (to preserve the formatting), name it appropriately, and submit it
electronically in the ‘Assignments’ section of the course Canvas site by the posted
deadline. Your submission should have a second page with a sentence or two
attesting that you have read this assignment sheet, the sheet of evaluation criteria
for IW 1 (posted), and the Style Guidelines for Informal Reports and Memoranda
(also posted). Add your signature to this either by hand or electronically.

Evaluation: For this assignment only, as long as you (1) submit the assignment on
time, (2) follow all the instructions carefully, and (3) fulfill the basic requirements of
the communication task, you will receive at least a base score of 16/20.
Assignments that meet these minimum requirements will be further evaluated on
the basis of the criteria detailed on the evaluation sheet, and those that show that
the writer made a good effort to understand and meet the criteria will receive
additional points up to the full 20.

*You may use the Sweetland Writing Center for help with this assignment, if you wish (note that the
peer tutors are allowed only to help you identify problems). If you do, be sure to indicate that in your
references.