WEEK 6 LEARNING RESOURCES

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INTRODUCTION
Lesson 6: Description of a Process and Mechanism

Topic 1. Description of a Process

: 2. Description of a Mechanism

Learning
At the end of this module, you are expected to:
Outcomes:

1. evaluate composition of sample technical descriptions;

2. write description of specific process in your field; and
3. write mechanism description of specific tool or device in your field of specialization.
 
LEARNING CONTENT
INTRODUCTION:
According to Holloway, description is a technical writing technique that uses words and visuals
towards creating a picture of a mechanism or a product. Words are important instrument or capital
in painting on the paper a vivid impression of the object of the description. The power of words will
help readers’ sense to have visualization of a product as well as follow a specific process.
 
These writing tasks entail an explanation of how something works, how somethings is done, or
how something is made. With this, the knowledge in describing a process will help technical
writers as well as his/her readers perform certain things. Technical descriptions can be found in
almost all kinds of written communication such as technical reports, business reports, training
materials, service manuals, promotional materials and the like. In this module, description of a
“Process” and “Mechanism” will be tackled.
 

DESCRIPTION OF A PROCESS
Process description includes sequence, instructions and procedure. Process is a description of
materials, equipment and procedures. It also uses graphic materials to show detailed presentation
of a process. Technical writers also use sequence markers such as first, second, then, next,
subsequently, finally and at last to link sentences and to follow the natural or mechanical system.
 
There are four Types of a Process, these are: 1) How it operates or how it works process, 2) How
to do it process, 3) How it happens process, and 4) How it is organized process. In the first type of
process, this process description focuses on the way things function or operate. The second type
of process gives emphasis on how you do a thing or perform. This process type occurs in giving
directions or instructions.

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The third process type stresses the process itself. Some call this type as Process Analysis.  
Processes that you can subject to process analysis are food digestion, earthquakes, water cycle
communication process, among others. The fourth type of process also happens when you write
or talk about the way an organization or a schools assign its faculty to a certain rank or position.
In adapting the description, it is important to consider the needs of the readers. The writer should
avoid many details and emphasize the broad outlines of the process if the reader is interested only
in acquiring a general knowledge of the principles involves and has no intention to perform the
process. A process description is organized as follows:

 
THE INTRODUCTION
            The introduction of the description of a process is a comprehensive answer to the
question, “What are you doing?” An answer to the question can be given by answering still other
questions, principally the following:

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DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS
With the possible exception of the discussion of equipment and materials, the introduction
to a description is followed directly by a description of the chief steps in the process. Two
problems appear in organizing the description of the chief steps. One is how to organize the steps;
the other is how to organize the material within each individual step. The organization of the steps
can be dismissed at once for it is chronological in order. The organization within the description of
the individual steps requires more discussion because each individual step constitutes a process
in itself. The individual step should be introduced properly and must be divided into sub-steps. Its
description is essentially a miniature of the description of the process as a whole.
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION
In describing the action, the writer must say everything the readers need to know and
understand or even to visualize the process. The omission of a slight detail may be enough to
spoil everything. Care should be taken not only in connection with the details of what is done but
also of how it is done. The content of the description of a process is governed by the reader’s
need to comprehend every step in the action.
STYLE OF USING SENTENCES IN EXPLAINING A PROCESS
A discussion in style in the description of a mechanism however would focus on the
problem of choice of the mood and voice of the predicate, and of the noun or pronoun used as a
subject. A good many possibilities exist, but three are of special importance: the active voice and
indicative mood, the passive voice and indicative mood, and the active voice and imperative
mood. See examples below.

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CONCLUSION
The last part of the description of the process is naturally the conclusion. It is not always
necessary to write a formal conclusion. Whether one is desirable depends, of course, on whether
it will help the reader. Sometimes the reader needs help in matters like the following:
1. Fixing the chief steps in mind (listing them again might help)
2. Recalling special points about equipment or materials
3. Analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the process.
4. Noting how this process is related to the other processes, or other work that is being done, or
reported on.

DESCRIPTION OF A MECHANISM

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GUIDELINES FOR TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

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SAMPLE MECHANISM DESCRIPTIONS
An electric generator is an apparatus for converting mechanical energy into electricity. It is also
called Dynamo and as such, it produces gas or steam. Derived from the Latin term “generate or
generates,” it means to beget or produce. As a source of electricity, it is used for factory machines,
lighting and home appliances. It functions either as direct current (DC) producing electric current
flowing in one direction, or alternating current (AC) producing electric current that reverses
direction periodically. It comes in different sizes. A small generator is used in some scientific
inventions while the large one is for supplying electricity to the entire city.
                                                                                                                        -Engineering and
Technology
                                                                                                                        Babcock, D. and
Morse, L.
 
The ATM effectively consists of three layers: PHY, ATM and AAL. The first layer, PHY, is
concerned with the physical transmission of data and depends on the medium being used. There
is a different set of standards for each medium. The ATM layer is concerned with maintaining the
cells and their routing through the switching network. The ATM adaptive layer (AAL) provides
standards for the segmentation and reassembling of data into the cells and vice versa. This is also
the layer that is concerned with the quality of service
                                                                                                                        -Computers
                                                                                                                        Long, L. and Long, N.

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