Technical Product Comparison Report
memorandum to: WRT 200 Students from: Zsuzsanna Palmer subject: Technical Product Description and Comparison Report
DUE date:
This assignment will combine technical descriptions with reporting on research. In addition, the assignment fulfills the following course outcomes: understand and be able to apply rhetorical principles to workplace and technical communication situations understand and be able to implement principles of effective document design in preparing technical documents understand how to use research and citations understand the influences of organizational settings and the networked workplace on the preparation of technical documents understand the generic requirements of selected professional and technical documents
Directions …show more content…
This report will summarize your research findings on comparing two different technical products. You will attach the technical description of each product in the Appendix of the report.
Format, Audience, and Purpose
Your Audience: Someone who considers purchasing one of the products
Your Role: Expert comparing two products and recommending the purchase of one of the products
Purpose: To describe and compare two technical products
Genre and Format: Analytical Report (Chapter 10) with two Appendices containing Technical Descriptions (Chapter 6)
Estimated Length: 6-8 pages (single space) including Title Page, Table of Contents, and Appendices
Citations: use APA style
Logistics
Follow these steps in your writing process:
Identify two objects with similar functions that you would like to do research about
First observe the object itself and understand its physical and functional characteristics
Create a Technical Description about each object
Research each object specifically with respect to articles that describe its functions and compare them to other products.
Also locate expert and customer reviews about the product.
Decide on 3 major criteria that you will use to evaluate these products (examples are: appearance, cost, functionality, longevity, customer satisfaction, etc.
Draft you report while using outside sources to support the statements you make about each product.
Use APA style for citations and references
Parts of the Report
Title Page
Table of Contents
List of Tables/ List of Illustrations (Report should have at least one table (to show comparisons and one other visual)
Abstract
Body of the Report (Introduction, Methodology, Criteria for Comparison, Discussion, Conclusion and
Recommendation)
References
Appendix A: Technical Description of Product #1
Appendix B: Technical Description of Product #2
More Specifics on Technical Descriptions:
Starts with an introductory paragraph containing: definition, purpose statement, main point, explanation about the importance of discussing this product, an overall description of the product, and a statement that lists the major physical features and functionalities of the product that will be described in detail in the subsequent sections of the Technical Description
Contains subsections about the previously identified physical features and functionalities where these features will be described in detail using sensory information, metaphors, similes, analogies, and facts (size in inches, weight in pounds, shape, color etc.)
Contains 2-3 labeled pictures of the object, at least one that shows the object and its parts, and one that shows the object’s functions
Ends with a “Conclusion” paragraph that describes a working cycle of the object
Evaluation Criteria
Your report will be evaluated on the following:
Provides enough information about the subject by answering all questions
Is formal and concise
Uses appropriate format and genre
Applies appropriate organizational pattern with headings and transitions between paragraphs
Demonstrates consideration of the purpose and the needs of the audience
Is free of spelling, grammar, word-usage and punctuation errors.
DUE date:
This assignment will combine technical descriptions with reporting on research. In addition, the assignment fulfills the following course outcomes: understand and be able to apply rhetorical principles to workplace and technical communication situations understand and be able to implement principles of effective document design in preparing technical documents understand how to use research and citations understand the influences of organizational settings and the networked workplace on the preparation of technical documents understand the generic requirements of selected professional and technical documents
Directions …show more content…
This report will summarize your research findings on comparing two different technical products. You will attach the technical description of each product in the Appendix of the report.
Format, Audience, and Purpose
Your Audience: Someone who considers purchasing one of the products
Your Role: Expert comparing two products and recommending the purchase of one of the products
Purpose: To describe and compare two technical products
Genre and Format: Analytical Report (Chapter 10) with two Appendices containing Technical Descriptions (Chapter 6)
Estimated Length: 6-8 pages (single space) including Title Page, Table of Contents, and Appendices
Citations: use APA style
Logistics
Follow these steps in your writing process:
Identify two objects with similar functions that you would like to do research about
First observe the object itself and understand its physical and functional characteristics
Create a Technical Description about each object
Research each object specifically with respect to articles that describe its functions and compare them to other products.
Also locate expert and customer reviews about the product.
Decide on 3 major criteria that you will use to evaluate these products (examples are: appearance, cost, functionality, longevity, customer satisfaction, etc.
Draft you report while using outside sources to support the statements you make about each product.
Use APA style for citations and references
Parts of the Report
Title Page
Table of Contents
List of Tables/ List of Illustrations (Report should have at least one table (to show comparisons and one other visual)
Abstract
Body of the Report (Introduction, Methodology, Criteria for Comparison, Discussion, Conclusion and
Recommendation)
References
Appendix A: Technical Description of Product #1
Appendix B: Technical Description of Product #2
More Specifics on Technical Descriptions:
Starts with an introductory paragraph containing: definition, purpose statement, main point, explanation about the importance of discussing this product, an overall description of the product, and a statement that lists the major physical features and functionalities of the product that will be described in detail in the subsequent sections of the Technical Description
Contains subsections about the previously identified physical features and functionalities where these features will be described in detail using sensory information, metaphors, similes, analogies, and facts (size in inches, weight in pounds, shape, color etc.)
Contains 2-3 labeled pictures of the object, at least one that shows the object and its parts, and one that shows the object’s functions
Ends with a “Conclusion” paragraph that describes a working cycle of the object
Evaluation Criteria
Your report will be evaluated on the following:
Provides enough information about the subject by answering all questions
Is formal and concise
Uses appropriate format and genre
Applies appropriate organizational pattern with headings and transitions between paragraphs
Demonstrates consideration of the purpose and the needs of the audience
Is free of spelling, grammar, word-usage and punctuation errors.