Technical Description Criteria

Your Research Description provides a specific explanation of the particular process related to your Recommendation Report.. To meet the expectations of the project you will describe the process fully, focusing on what you did each step along the way. Note that information that you find is reported in your Results section, not in this description.

Check These Sources

From Technical Communication:

Analyzing the Writing Situation for Descriptions, on pp. 561–563
Focus on Process: Descriptions, on p. 562
Indicating Clearly the Nature and Scope of the Description, on p. 563
Introducing the Description, on p. 563
Providing Appropriate Detail, on pp. 563–565
GUIDELINES: Providing Appropriate Detail in Descriptions, on pp. 565–566.
Ending The Description With A Brief Conclusion , on p. 566

Length

The length of your description depends upon the amount and kinds of research are complete for your project. Be sure to develop your description with details on your research process from beginning to end, with enough detail that your readers understand the principal steps you take.

Checklist Requirements

You are focusing on describing the process you follow as you conduct your secondary and primary research. The criteria listed are adapted for this assignment.

Your Research Description should . . .

Indicate the nature and scope of the description clearly (p. 563).
Introduce the description by answering the following questions (all from p. 564), as appropriate:
- What is the process?
- How does the process work?
- What are the process’s principal steps?
Provide detailed information (pp. 563–566).
Conclude by summarizing the major points of the process in the step-by-step description (p. 566).

Example Document

FIGURE 20.8 An Effective Process Description, on p. 571 of Markel & Selber, is closest of the examples in the textbook to the expectation for this project. Aim for some kind of visual schematic that shows the flow and steps of your work (as shown on the left in the example) and matching short descriptions that explain the steps in the process (as shown on the right in the example).