4 WHAT IS A TECHNICAL TEXT What Is a Technical Text A (cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:77)(cid:71)(cid:69)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:92)(cid:88)(cid:3)(cid:77)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:93)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:193)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:77)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:18)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:88)(cid:3)(cid:77)(cid:87)(cid:3) meant to teach readers something new about a topic It often instructs readers on how to perform a task Technical texts can be found everywhere Instruction (cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:80)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:73)(cid:69)(cid:194)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:83)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:3) with household items are technical texts These can include instructions for how to play a game Labels on machinery that contain safety warnings and operating instructions are technical texts Recipes and other useful how-to information are common technical texts found on the Internet or in books A technical text often tells how to do something such as how to set up a tent
5 A technical text may explain how to perform an experiment or make (cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:89)(cid:74)(cid:74)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:77)(cid:81)(cid:69)(cid:80)(cid:18)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:88)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:87)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:193)(cid:88)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:75)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:3) parts of a robot or build a tree house Technical texts are made for readers who are learning something new Therefore they must present information so that it is easy to understand Labels are words or names on something to describe or show what it is Labels show the parts of a personal computer system A technical text can explain how to put together the parts of a personal computer system WHAT IS A TECHNICAL TEXT
6 WHAT IS A TECHNICAL TEXT To help people learn new skills and ideas technical writing must have the following qualities Clear and Compact Writing Technical texts use language that is easy to understand Short simple words and sentences are used Only necessary information is included The words are organized to help readers What Qualities Does a Technical Text Have A technical text uses bullets or dots in a list to make clear the most important points
7 understand the topic Information is given in the order that it is needed Helpful Presentation Technical texts often use design elements to highlight important points These elements can include bullet points numbered lists headings boldface underline and blank space Visual aids such as tables charts maps graphs and other diagrams are also used to illustrate important ideas from the text Graphs are drawings that show mathematical information with lines shapes and colors Diagrams are drawings that explain or show the parts of something Diagrams help to guide a person in putting together an object such as a birdhouse WHAT QUALITIES DOES A TECHNICAL TEXT HAVE
