Technical Writing

Assignment Module Ten
Introduction Main Page Samples Site Map
Read the "Guide to Research"
Complete assignments (See "Assignment Specifics" below)
E-Mail Assignments 
Assignment Specifics

NOTE: ALL assignments must include your name and title of assignment. For e-mail, the SUBJECT line should reference the title of assignment.

"The Guide to Research" provides information on how to locate materials for your report (whether you write an observation or feasibility report or a proposal or research report). "Research" does not refer exclusively to "library" sources. Writers research in a number of ways in addition to checking out books and articles from the library. In fact, your reports will likely be composed mostly of "non-traditional" research. 

In the following paragraphs, I will provide examples and explanation of four possible sources of information.

(1) Personal observation or experience may be your best source of information. For example, if your topic compares the Macintosh to the PC, you might count the number of computers of each type in labs and offices at MCC. You could also check out prices of systems and software at local stores. Your experience with either system could lead you to questions about technical support or available software.

(2) Personal interviews and a related source--surveys or questionnaires--offer two more ways to gather information. You may find a salesperson or technician can provide practical information about the advantages of each system. If you decide to conduct an interview, be prepared with questions and take careful notes. A survey can provide opinions and preferences and/or demographic data (number of users, age,...) about a specific group of people. For example, for the Mac vs. PC paper, you might write a questionnaire about system preferences, technical problems, software, etc. Then, you would define the group whose opinions you want. You could e-mail the questions to the people in your electronic address book, or print copies to distribute in a class (with permission), or you could randomly address the questions to the students in the Student Union.

Surveys are difficult to write well. Follow these directions on writing surveys:
  1. Ask for demographic data specifically geared to the survey topic, such as computer ownership, employment, or political affiliation. The following are typical demographic data you may collect:
    • age
    • gender
    • college major
  2. Write easy-to-answer questions, such as:
    • multiple choice
    • fill-in-the-blanks
  3. Write objective (unbiased) questions.
  4. Look at surveys online or those that come in the mail for examples.

(3) Free or Inexpensive Materials are readily available for a number of topics. You may find sales brochures on products (such as computers or siding) or technical documents (such as NASA materials on the Hubble telescope or the Mars probe). Some companies produce instructional brochures that you can pick up at retail stores (such as hardware stores). You can ask for free materials online at many sites; check the Internet for company webpages.

(4) Library Materials consist of a wide variety of information in print and non-print form. Please take note of these subsections describing library materials in your text, all of which are available at the B.J. Harrison Library at MCC:
  • Public Access Catalog BONUS:  What was the P.A.C. called before the information was made available electronically?
  • Computerized Periodical-Index Systems
    • Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature
    • Business Periodicals Index
  • On-line Computer Search: ProQuest and NewsBank are available at MCC. Go to "bookmarks" on Netscape to launch these searches or ask the library staff for help. ProQuest indexes published articles in magazines and journals and provides the full-text articles of many of the sources. NewsBank indexes newspaper articles.
  • The Internet
  • Nonprint Materials
  • Periodicals Holdings List
  • Reference Works

The notes above will aid you in understanding the assignments outlined below. Please read the "Assignment Specifics" and the chapter pages before you attempt to complete the assignments.

Assignment Description Details
Assignment I
 Compile a working bibliography for your final report
  1. Create a list of sources, including all sources: observations, interviews, surveys, free materials and brochures, and library sources.
  2. Please note the items to include in an MLA "Works Cited" entry for books and articles described at the "Documentation" section at this site:  http://www.iavalley.cc.ia.us/~pcolbert/
Assignment II Construct an outline of your final report
  1. Review pp. 482-483 for information on constructing an outline
  2. Follow the traditional format: I, A, B
  3. E-mail the bibliography and outline.

©  P. J. Colbert, 2001