Writing & Presentation Skills PDF Lecture 3

WRITING & PRESENTATION SKILLS Lecture 3 LECTURE 3 TECHNICAL WRITING MECHANICS Technical Writing Mechanics Spelling Punctuation Capitalization Grammar Arab ESL Secondary School Students’ Spelling Errors Arab ESL Secondary School Students’ Spelling Error...

WRITING & PRESENTATION SKILLS Lecture 3 LECTURE 3 TECHNICAL WRITING MECHANICS Technical Writing Mechanics Spelling Punctuation Capitalization Grammar Arab ESL Secondary School Students’ Spelling Errors Arab ESL Secondary School Students’ Spelling Errors  One main problem is a homonym error that computer spell checkers often miss It’s important for our company two understand the equipment and it’s capabilities. It’s important for our company to understand the equipment and its capabilities.  Comparing American and British English Vocabulary Spelling – British: colour, grey, labour – American: color, gray, labor 8  Spelling Numbers 32 is the freezing point of water. Thirty-two is the freezing point of water. Thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit is the freezing point of water. Exactly 32 degrees Fahrenheit is the freezing point of water. The freezing point of water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit Nine billion, one hundred ninety-two million, six hundred thirty-one thousand, seven hundred and seventy hertz is the spectral line frequency of cesium 133. Exactly 9,192,631,770 hertz is the spectral line frequency of cesium 133. The spectral line frequency of cesium 133 is 9,192,631,770 hertz. 9  Lynne Truss, author of Eats, Shoots & Leaves says, “Punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, and stop.” Misusing punctuation can obscure, confuse, and mislead your audience, and can compromise your credibility as a writer.  Bullets – lists of unrelated information. – Instructions or tasks that must be performed sequentially. Paragraphs – Connecting ideas, logic, and information. – Guiding reader to a rational conclusion. 16  Comparing American and British English Punctuation – periods and commas have different rules. – British: “They ate”. – American: “They ate.” 17  Follow required style guide and avoid random capitalization. Common reasons for capitalizing words: – First word of every sentence. – Pronoun I – Proper nouns (people, places, things) – Albert Einstein, Ohio – Religions – Buddhism – Titles of papers, films, software, trademarks. – First Street, Adidas, Star Wars – Abbreviations and acronyms. – ATM, Ph.D. – Title that precede a person’s name. – Professor John Smith – Historical documents – Declaration of Independence 18  Sentence Fragments Testing the specimen carefully with high levels of precision Testing the specimen carefully with high levels of precision is necessary Because the transformer could not take the load Because the transformer could not take the load Or Because the transformer could not take the load, the system quickly failed  Misplaced modifier Ignorance of science is a phenomenon in society that must be destroyed. In society, ignorance of science is a phenomenon that must be destroyed.  Active & Passive voices In general, the active voice makes your writing stronger, more direct, and, more active. Passive voice is used in broad statements, unknown doers, focusing on an action and/or the recipient of the action Passive voice is often preferred in lab reports and scientific research papers, most notably in the Materials and Methods section.  Verb Agreement Errors The implant, along with its associated circuits, were inserted into the patient’s chest cavity. The implant, along with its associated circuits, was inserted into the patient’s chest cavity. Or The implant and its associated circuits were inserted into the patient’s chest cavity. 22  Pronoun Agreement Each person in the lab must replace his or her radiation badge Currently acceptable (Culture issues!!) Each person in the lab must replace their radiation badge avoid any issues. All people in the lab must replace their radiation badges 23  Pronoun Reference Errors The coolant leak impaired the CPU’s heat dissipation, resulting in an erroneous reading at the most critical part of the process. This had a cascading effect on the system The coolant leak impaired the CPU’s heat dissipation, resulting in an erroneous reading at the most critical point in the process. This coolant leak had a cascading effect on the system 24  Pronoun case errors I hit myself with my tennis racket – Pronoun, I, is subjective because it is subject of sentence. – Pronoun, myself, objective because it is receiving the action. – Pronoun, my, possessive because it shows possession of object. 25  Noun Clauses The supervisor decided whom will go to the conference – The supervisor decided, I will go to the conference The supervisor decided who will go to the conference 26  Compound Adjectives/ Adverbs Before the noun, they should be hyphenated. – We have on-site support. – Jane is a part-time employee. After the noun, they are not hyphenated. – We have support on site. – Jane works part time. 27  Phrasal Verbs Get the plane Get on the plane We break the costs We break down the costs 28  Parallel Construction List items should start with the same part of speech (nouns, verbs, etc.) By the operators. Operators design the process. Safety protocol. Safety protocol is implemented. Saves $5 million/year. Savings is $5 million/year. 29  Activity 3 (4 points): Find 20 errors The Function of a Piston Assembly An internal combustion engines piston assembly converts thermal energy into mechanical energy. It’s fuel is a voletile fuel-air mixture. An explosion in the top of the piston cylinder produced by Acme Enterprises workers. They are a great company who knows about power and explosions, etc. In fact, one of their advisory board did extensive work in weak acid cation (WAC) resins. Because of the costs, he developed a process to regenerate hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide using exotic allows. It is no wonder that It has been said that they are the best at what they due. The piston assembly, along with its associated subsystems, consist of a cylinder, spark plug, two valves, a piston, and a connecting rod. Its operation includes four stroaks: intake, compression, power, and exhaust. The fuel-air mixture is compressed to sum fraction of its original volume, at which point a 15,185 volt electrical charge ionizes the air within the plugs gap, causing a conductive path through which a spark travels, thereby igniting the volatile fuel-air mixture, thus causing it to burn rapidly, producing exhaust gasses that occupy 2000 times the original volume, creating a downward pressure on the piston head, and in the process, moving the connecting rod to turn a cam shaft, thereby producing torque. This entire stroke work together in the process of its operation.  Yasmine Fahmy THANK YOU [email protected]