Much of the technical communication you'll do involves describing how something looks or operates (a technical description), or summarizing what has or will be done (a technical summary). This type of writing requires you to:
- Plan your writing task by considering the description or summary's persuasive value, researching your audience's needs, and determining key points and an appropriate length.
- Familiarize yourself with the different organizational strategies for describing technical objects or mechanisms and technical processes.
- Organize a technical summary by stating the purpose first (or begin with conclusions or recommendations, if appropriate), followed by details placed in logical order, with related information grouped into categories and marked with subheadings.
- Design your description or summary using visual aids, chunking, and reader cues (numbers, headings, and bullets), and differentiate it from other text by indenting it or setting it in a different font.
- Edit your description by keeping in mind the problems of presenting too much information, listing information in random order, or using inconsistent terminology.
When writing for readers in other cultures, remember that the streamlined style valued in the United States isn't necessarily appropriate in other countries.
