SPECIAL EXPOSITORY

TECHNIQUES OF
TECHNICAL WRITING

Distinction between Literary Writing and

Technical Writing
Literary Writing

Aspects

Technical Writing

1. To Entertain, Amuse
the Readers

Purpose

1. Provides useful
information.

2. Man experiences and

life .

Subject Matter

2. Related to Discipline
(business, industry etc.

3. Figurative and
Imaginary Vocabulary.

Language

3. Formal and serious

technical or scientific
terminologies suited for
its purpose and style.

4. First or third person

or third person
omniscient.

Point of View

5. Personal, subjective,
and definitely
emotional.

Tone

4. Third person.

5. Predominantly
objective, impersonal
and unbiased.

Formal Definition and Informal

Definition

3 Principle Parts of Formal

Definition
subject of the definition.
Genus the family or class to which the
specie belongs.
Differentia the part of the statement in
which
the
particular
species
distinguishing traits, qualities are pointed
out, so it set apart from the other specie
which comprise the genus.
Specie

Techniques in Defining

Further Definition
Concrete examples and Instances
Comparison and Contrast
Word Deviation
Negative Statements
Physical Description
Analysis
Basic Principle
Cause and Effect
Location

Description

Description of Mechanism
any system of parts that
operates and function properly.
To describe a mechanism, organism,
system or site, make sure that you are
clear about your viewpoint on the
subject and make the viewpoint clear to
the readers, its function, its physical
characteristics and parts.
Mechanism

Introduction, Part by Part Definition and

Conclusion

Introduction: This is what your introduction must be:

What is it?
What its purpose is?
What it looks like?

Part by Part Definition: Describe the part of the

mechanism:

Shape
Size
Relationship to other parts
Methods of attachment
Materials
Finish

Conclusion

Introduction
What

is the process?
Who performs this process?
Why is this process performed?
What are the chief steps in the process?
From what point of view is this process
going to be considered in this
discussion?
Why is this process being described?

Organization

The introduction to a description of a process is followed

directly by the description of the chief steps in the process.
The organization of the steps is chronological.
For both the content and the organization of the description of
each individual step, there is one idea that is so useful that it
cannot easily overemphasized.
The idea is that each individual step constitutes a process
itself.
The individual step should, therefore, be properly introduced
and if necessary, divided into substeps.
The description is essentially a miniature of the description of
the process as a whole.
Furthermore, if a given individual step can be broken down
into substeps, each substep is treated according to the same
general principles as the whole process.

Conclusion

Fixing the chief steps in mind. Listing them again might

help.
Recalling special points about equipment or materials.
Analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the
process.
Noting how this process is related to other processes or
other work that is done, or reported on.

The writer must analyze his own report and his intended
reader to decide whether a conclusion is necessary.

Classification

It is a useful expository technique when you have a

number of like things to discuss among which there are
points of similarity and difference which is important for
the reader to understand.
It is the act of locating specimen of the different kinds
of objects which possess a given characteristic or
characteristics. It permits a clear, systematic
presentation.
To classify any group formally and completely involves
considering every representative of the group and
breaking down classes into sub classes and so on until
the ultimate discussion is done.

Some Points to Consider in

Classifying

Make clear what is being classified. Making clear of

what is being classified requires a definition of a subject
or if there is a question for the reader to be familiar with
it.
Choose and use a simple principle of classification.
Your principle will determine the classes to be
discussed.
Limit yourself to one basis at a time in listing members
of a class. Name all species to a given basis but only
one at a time.
Make sure that each specie is separated and distinct so
that there is no overlapping.
Make your classification reasonably complete.
Introduce subclasses as needed.
Make sure that in a subclassification you discuss
characteristics peculiar to that one subclassification
only.

Cause and Effect

A technical report organized according to the cause and effect
relationships discusses the reasons why something is true or the
result of some peculiar event or state of mind.
The technical report writer must consider the following problems that
he encounter in writing the report:

He may not clearly distinguish the immediate and remote causes.

The causes may be inadequate for the effects.
He may predict contradictory effects.
Considering for a cause something may be actually unrelated.

Comparison and Contrast

This

involves a discussion of the subject in

relation to some other subjects, showing
both similarities and differences as the
article goes along. It may conclude with a
value of judgement based on the
comparson.
In this system of comparison there are two
possible patterns for organization: the
opposing and the alternating pattern.

Analogy
A

particular kind of comparison by which

one subject is discussed according to
terms which apply to the other.
An analogy is seen to be essentially and
expression of relationship between two
different things which have more than
one likeness.

Employing Persuasion and

Giving Instructions

Interpretation

It is a art of establishing meaningful pattern

of relationship among a group of facts.
5 Elements that may enter in to the
statement of the problem:
Presenting the basic problem in concise form.
Defining unfamiliar terms.
Distinguishing between the primary problem and

the subordinate problem.

Distinguishing what is known and what remain to
be found out.
Providing background information.

Questions that arise in the

Interpretation
What

is to be found out?
How was the evidence obtained?
How
will
the
interpretation
organized?

be

Major elements in a clear statement or in

an explanation to the reader of what is to
be found?

Acquiring a thorough grasp of all

information.
Stating the problem in a concise form.
Defining unfamiliar or ambiguous terms.
Distinguishing
between
the
primary
problem and the subordinate problem.
Distinguishing what is known and what
remain to be found out.
Providing background information.

How was the evidence

obtained?

Organization of the Main Part

of the Interpretation
The

Problem in Concise Form.

The Subordinate or Standard of Judgment.
Possible Explanations or Possible Choices.