Description
Format: APA format; 12 pt. Times New Roman or 11 pt. Arial font; minimum 650 ww. with
Reference page (if necessary).
Write an essay where you identify a commonly-used device or process. Define and explain it
and why it is useful to people. For a device, you should describe how it is operated; for a
process, you should give the steps of the process. For either, include considerations what users
should know and any safety precautions that should be taken.
E.g. devices
Stapler
Toilet/plumbing
Cell phone
Toaster
Ballpoint pen
Scissors
Microwave oven
Pencil sharpener
Paperclip
Radar gun
E.g. processes
Liquid desalination
Making a fire
Fermentation
Cooking
Cloning
Electricity
Self-driving cars
Paper making
Nuclear energy
Sending an email
The essay must consider the following:
- What is it? Give a common-sense description of the item: imagine that your audience is
unfamiliar with the device/process and needs to know what it is and how to use it.
Include details about material it is made of or material needed. This can be
accomplished in list form or through narrative description. You may also include a
diagram or image of the item. The choice is yours, but it must be clear to the reader. - What is it used for? Why is it useful to people?
- You might also want to include a history of the item: how and when it was invented if we
know. Note: this is not the biggest consideration for the essay and is optional. If you
include it, it shouldn’t be more than 1 paragraph. - For a device, you can include several different iterations for simple devices (e.g. simple
machines like levers and pulleys); likewise, for processes, you can include different
options to achieve the same result, but be creative: do not oversimplify by using
shortcuts or devices used specifically to produce the desired outcome, such as “use an
ice cream maker to make ice cream.”
For example: the process given in your options - Making a fire - do not simply write “Use
a lighter to light the material on fire” - explaining how a lighter works might make a better
device description. Instead, talk about the various methods people have come up with to
start fires (e.g. using magnifying glasses to focus the rays of the sun, etc.) - What are other considerations about the device/process: is there a recommended age
limit? When/where can it be done? What are any safety precautions?
Note: you are NOT LIMITED to these items/processes. You may choose any item/process you
are interested in (even better if it can be useful for your Recommendation Report later on), but
be sure to check with me if it is an acceptable device/process to write about. Obviously, some of
these items are more technically complicated than others. It is up to you to determine the
appropriate level of technical writing to describe the product to your audience.
Sanple Solution