MECHANISM

DESCRIPTION
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION
“Technology involves physical devices
called mechanism.”

Description of a tool, machine, or other

mechanical device usually with moving parts
designed to perform a specific kind of work.

Mechanism descriptions are precise

portrayals of material devices with two or more
parts that function together to do something

Examples:
Ballpoint pen, flush toilet, copy machine, press,
radio, camera, etc.
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION FOCUS
Since a mechanism is generally defined as
any object or system that has a working part or
parts, a mechanism descriptions’ primary focus is
on the physical characteristics or attributes of
the device and its parts.

Thus they tell the size, shape, color, finish,

fit, etc. for the complete mechanism and its for
each of its parts.

Mechanism descriptions typically include

figures, diagrams, or photographs.
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION FOCUS
Most often the term suggests tools,
instruments, and machines. But other examples
of mechanisms could be the human body and
systems like the universe or a city, which is
composed of parts that work together like parts
of a machine.

Technical man constantly works with

mechanisms and always needs to understand
them; what they do, what they look like, what
parts they have, and how these parts work
together.
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
description accurate with respect to all such
mechanisms, regardless of variables

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
description accurate for one particular
mechanism

Examples:
camera, Nikon One Touch Zoom
ballpoint pen, Ajax Super Ballpoint
television, Sony Z-16 Color TV
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION MAY

Mechanism description may extend to include a

more expansive discussion of the function or
theory of operation.

Thus when a technical man use this kind of

technique it becomes – Functional Mechanism
Description.
 THE THREE FUNDAMENTAL
DIVISIONS OF MECHANISM
DESCRIPTION
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION

FUNDAMENTAL DIVISIONS OF TECHNICAL

DESCRIPTION

the introduction
the part-by-part description
the conclusion
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

At the beginning of a discussion of an

unfamiliar mechanism, a reader immediately
needs three kinds of information: what it is, what
its purpose is, and what it looks like.

Since it is logical to describe the principal

parts one at a time, a list of the principal parts in
the order in which one wishes to discuss them is
a clear indication of the organization of the
remainder of the description.
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION

ORGANIZATION OF DESCRIPTION

It is possible to divide almost every

mechanism into parts. In the initial presentation
of the description, the purpose indicates the
organization of the discussion that is to follow.

The order in which the parts are taken up

will normally be determined by either their
physical arrangement or their function.
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION

The list of the principal parts should be in

parallel form.

The parts are usually named in normal

sentence form, like,

“The principal parts of the lathe are (1) the

bed, (2) the headstock, (3) the tailstock, and (4)
the carriage.” But if the parts are numerous, it
may be preferable to present them in the form
of a list.
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION

PART-BY-PART DESCRIPTION

The part that is to be discussed is a brand

new mechanism. The reader wants to know
what it is. So again, it has to be introduced.

The general procedure will be – as before

– to define the part, to state its purpose, to
indicate its general appearance, and finally, if
necessary, to divide it into subparts.
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION

What is done to the principal parts is also

done to the subparts. In other words, the
mechanism as a whole is progressively broken
down into smaller and smaller units until
common sense says it is time to stop.

Then, each of these units is described in

detail. The value of this system is for general
policy, it is simply not true that all description
should be handled in this way.
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the mechanism that needs

careful attention when describing in detail a
subpart of the mechanism:

Shape
Size
Relationship to other parts
Methods of attachment
Material
Finish
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION

Each of these matters need not be

labored over mechanically, in the order stated,
in every description. Which one needs attention,
and what kind of attention, depends upon the
reader and the subject.

The same line of reasoning can be applied

throughout the description. There is no formula
that will fit every situation. The important thing is
to decide what information the reader needs,
and to provide it as clearly as possible.
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION
CONCLUSION

The last principal function of the

description of a mechanism is to let the reader
know how it works, or how it is used, if this has not
been done in the general introduction.

Emphasis should naturally fall upon the

action of the parts in relation to one another.
This part of the writing constitutes in effect a
description of a process usually highly
condensed, and this will be discussed
elaborately in the next technique of
development.
SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPLES
OF ORGANIZATION
DESCRIPTION OF A
MECHANISM
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION
I. Introduction
A. What the mechanism is
B. Purpose
C. General appearance
D. Division into principal parts II. Part-by-part
description.

II. Part number 1

1. What the part is
2. Purpose
3. Appearance
4. Division into subparts
 MECHANISM DESCRIPTION
III. Subpart number 1
(1) What the subpart is
(2) Purpose
(3) Appearance
(4) Detailed description

IV. Final Part

a) Shape
(b) Size
(c) Relationship to other parts
(d) Methods of attachment
(e) Material
(f) Finish
 ORDER OF DESCRIPTION

Top to bottom, or bottom to top

Left to right, or right to left
Inside to outside, or outside to inside
Most important to least important, or least
important to most important
 COMPONENTS
Brief introduction defining mechanism and its
purpose
Precise description of appearance
List of major parts
Explanation of how mechanism works
One or more visuals (esp. exploded, cutaway)
Conclusion (history, availability, manufacturer,
cost, etc.)
List of outside sources
 GUIDELINES
Use short, simple commands; start with a verb
Separate steps unless closely related or
simultaneous
If important, provide reason for step
Include WARNING, CAUTION, and NOTE

Warning—alerts to possible injury or death

Caution—alerts to possible equipment
damage
Note—alerts to information that will make
the procedure easier or more efficient
MODEL
TECH
 REFERENCES:

https://crewcite.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/description-of-
mechanism/

http://100033124.weebly.com/mechanism-description.html

http://communicationamerica.blogspot.com/p/sample-
technical-writing-mechanism.html

https://manual.eg.poly.edu/index.php/Descriptions_-
_Mechanism_and_Process

http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/technical-writing/mechanism-
description/

http://www.ask.com/education/description-mechanism-
technical-writing-1e4f4a797a3d279b
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https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=
web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQFjAAahUKEwi_xuL_8ur
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PREPARED BY:

GROUP 2
CAMPOS, JOHN ISAAC
CASTRENCE, RALPH VINCENT
COOPER, SHANAMARIE
CASTILLO, RENZ EYMARD
SERDON, MARIDARAH JOANNA
CEDENO, KAYE JUSTINE
BARCELONA, MARION THERESE ANNE
BERNAL, LYNETTE

PREPARED FOR:

PROF. MARIA AZELA TAMAYO

TECHNICAL WRITING
 THANK YOU
AND
GOD BLESS! 