Task and Audience Analysis Exercise 

Exercise 1: What to include? What to leave out?

Table 1 contains a collection of details about a research project you have just completed on thunderstorms. Imagine that you’re writing documents for each of the 5 following audiences: 

A. Your boss

B. Scientists

C. The general public

D. Politician    

E. Students     

What information about thunderstorms might each ask you for? As you go down the list, write in the blank spaces in front of each detail the letter that correspond to the audiences that you think would find this detail most relevant. Consider what kind of document might contain that information for that audience.

Table 1. Details About Your Research Project On Thunderstorms

C	The dollar damage caused by thunderstorms each year.
E	A literature review of previous research on thunderstorms.
B	Descriptions of calibration procedures for your instruments.
B	Some basic physics of how thunderstorms work.
A	How much your project costs.
E	A log of all your measurements during the whole project.
A	A list of everyone who worked on the project.
B	Specifications of a new instrument to measure hail size.
B	A new result showing a connection between lightning intensity and total rainfall.
B	A new result showing how to suppress hail.
B	New insights into the flow patterns around thunderstorms.
E	Procedures you used to avoid statistical biases in your data.
E	Your plans for further measurements.
E	Your recommendations for future research.

 

Exercise 2:  Compare audience needs

First, fill in Table 2 with the kind of information the following audiences might be looking for when reading. How specific does the information need to be? Do they need definitions? Etc.

Table 2.  Audience Analysis Schematic

4 categories of audiences	Examples/roles	Kind of information required:
Laypeople	General public Non-Specialists General “users”	Inflation rate of the economy. (Requires definition of inflation)
Executives	Decision Makers (manage resources and people)	Data on organizational performance. E.g., financial reports. (No definitions required)
Experts	Advisors (use their expertise to help decision makers)	Investment analysis and reports. ((No definitions required)
Technicians	Implementers	Manuals and technical reports on systems, devices or machineries. (No definitions required)

In a few sentences each describe what differences in purpose, content, and format you would need to consider in the following examples: 

1)  A report on Internet Privacy Issues           for a new internet user

                                                                        for an e-commerce website developer

	Purpose	Content	Format
for a new internet user	To communicate the basic needed but relevant information on how to surf the internet whiles protecting user-privacy.	Simple language, short sentences, and in paragraphs	Short electronic or printed format in the form of a friendly user-manual.
for an e-commerce website developer	To communicate the technical requirements to the developer to enable the development of the website.	Highly structured	Electronic format (to enable quick and easy changes if the need arises) with guides to describe technical requirements

2)  Information on Lyme Disease                   for camping enthusiasts

                                                                        for a family practice physician

                                                                        for public health department

	Purpose	Content	Format
for camping enthusiasts	To create awareness on Lyme disease to enable them prepare ahead for their camping journey.	Simple language, short sentences, and in paragraphs	Short electronic or printed format.
for a family practice physician	To further educate the physician on the Lyme disease.	Simple language, short sentences, and in paragraphs	Short electronic or printed format and is typically objective and evidence-based and might include list, and/or tables.
for public health department	To educate patients and the general public on the Lyme disease.	Simple language, short sentences, and in paragraphs	Short electronic or printed format.

3)  Food born diseases                                                for a restaurant worker

                                                                        for a health inspector training manual

	Purpose	Content	Format
for a restaurant worker	To communicate the causes of food borne diseases and the measures or practices to follow for food safety.	Simple language, short sentences, and in paragraphs	Short electronic or printed format.
for a health inspector training manual	To provide education to the general public on food safety.	Simple language, short sentences, and in paragraphs	Short electronic or printed format in the form of a friendly user-manual.

4)  Proposal for a new bus shelter design       Mayor’s office

                                                                        Contractor

                                                                        Newspaper reporter

	Purpose	Content	Format
Mayor’s office	To evaluate the proposal to ensure that it is suitable and appropriate for the city.	Simple language, short sentences, and in paragraphs	Electronic or printed format.
Contractor	To provide information on the cost, lead time, and manual associated with the new bus shelter design.	Highly structured	Electronic or printed format in the form of a friendly user-manual.
Newspaper reporter	To communicate to the general public on the development of the proposal for a new bus shelter design to attract potential bidders.	Semi-structured and simple language, short sentences, and in paragraphs	Electronic or printed format.

Exercise 3:  Task and Audience Analysis

Compare these two tasks in terms of intended audience and purpose. 

	End of term Course Evaluation	a Ratemyprofessor.com   entry
Purpose	To improve the delivery of courses in the future, provide a forum for learners to provide feedback to academic administrators on current performance; and provide information to future students about a specific course and instructor.	To evaluate an instructor or a teacher’s performance after taking course.
Audience	Learners	Learners
Author	Academic administrators	Department heads or academic administrators
What details would you include?  What info would your audience expect?	The purpose of the evaluation, helpful activities during the course, feedback and instructor engagement, contribution of course to learners collaborative skills.	Questionnaire about instructor performance.

Technical Description Peer Review Worksheet

Title of Paper Reviewed: Technical Description Writing of Engineering

Author Name: Zakaria Chowdhury

Reviewer’s Name: Richard Karikari

1. What sections does the technical description include? What, if any, sections are missing?

SECTIONS INCLUDED	SECTIONS NOT INCLUDED
Definition/Function	None
Components
Visuals
Conclusion
References

• Is the technical description written using objective language? Identify an example of effective objective language, and any place where subjective language or “ad language” is used.

OBJECTIVE	SUBJECTIVE
Operating systems developed such as Windows by Bill Gates allowed for computers to become more user-friendly and integrated for daily use.	It can also be used to write documents instead of using paper and pen, making it easier to write quicker

• What logical principal of organization (see reading on technical descriptions for a refresher) best describes this paper?

Mechanism Description

• Are there any places where the language is too vague? Identify them. What questions do you have about the language? What makes it unclear to you? Identify one place where the language is exceptionally clear or detailed. What makes this language easier to understand?

Difficult to understand	CLEAR LANGUAGE
Furthermore, the motherboard allows the CPU to communicate with the RAM to quickly access data and post permanent data to the storage unit using M.2 or SATA connectors. Please explain M.2 and SATA (Give the full abbreviation)	The RAM stores the video files while the CPU can quickly access it to finalize the file output.   Great, both RAM and CPU abbreviations had already been fully mentioned.

• Who do you think the audience for this technical description is? What purpose does the technical description serve?

I think the audience includes anyone who wants to invent, use, or buy a laptop. Its main purpose is to introduce the parts and usage of a laptop.

• Are clearly labeled images included? Do they serve to strengthen the description, or do they make it less clear? Why?

No, there are clear but unlabeled images.

• Does the conclusion demonstrate that research has been done on the item? Is there any additional context that you might need provided in the description? Any unanswered questions you have about the item?

The conclusion is quite great but I think some good research was done on the item.

• Identify 2 Strengths, and 2 areas for improvement and ask 1 question about the content written.

STRENGTH	AREA OF IMPROVEMENT
Good research on the itemDetailed explanation of the components of the item.	Justification of work (Presentation)Labeled the images

You have a lot of solid information. Did you reference from only one source?

Technical Description Peer Review Worksheet

Title of Paper Reviewed: Apple Earpods Evolution

Author Name: Allen Cabrera

Reviewer’s Name: Richard Karikari

1. What sections does the technical description include? What, if any, sections are missing?

SECTIONS INCLUDED	SECTIONS NOT INCLUDED
Definition/Function	Explanation
Components
Visuals
Conclusion
References

• Is the technical description written using objective language? Identify an example of effective objective language, and any place where subjective language or “ad language” is used.

OBJECTIVE	SUBJECTIVE
AirPods were the best-selling item that Apple has had to offer since 2018, so it’s safe to say that purchasing them today would be a wise investment.	They had a completely new shape, curved design, lettering for the respective ears in “R” and “L,” and a new sound system.

• What logical principal of organization (see reading on technical descriptions for a refresher) best describes this paper?

Mechanism Description

• Are there any places where the language is too vague? Identify them. What questions do you have about the language? What makes it unclear to you? Identify one place where the language is exceptionally clear or detailed. What makes this language easier to understand?

Difficult to understand	CLEAR LANGUAGE
These earpods are included with every iPhone purchased today, and they have even changed to accommodate the iPhone’s changed headphone jack, converting its 3.5mm jack to a lightning port. I’m really interested in your write-up but I don’t really understand this statement.	Numerous functions were supported by the earpods, including calling, playing music, and even recording audio when sending voicemails or creating voice memos.

• Who do you think the audience for this technical description is? What purpose does the technical description serve?

I think the audience includes Iphone users. Its main purpose is to introduce the features of the earpods to users and potential users.

• Are clearly labeled images included? Do they serve to strengthen the description, or do they make it less clear? Why?

Yes, there are clearly labeled images which help to identify the differences between the previous and current earpods

• Does the conclusion demonstrate that research has been done on the item? Is there any additional context that you might need provided in the description? Any unanswered questions you have about the item?

The conclusion is quite great but I think saying a little about the availability, price, and how often Apple releases new Airpods to the market.

• Identify 2 Strengths, and 2 areas for improvement and ask 1 question about the content written.

STRENGTH	AREA OF IMPROVEMENT
Well-labeled imagesGreat definition and function	Justification of work (Presentation)Conclusion not too convincing

1 Introduction and Definition

A desktop computer and a laptop are both types of personal computers that are portable or simple to carry around and share many of the same components. Using the internet, creating documents, doing graphic design, storing files, and corresponding with others are all intended uses for laptops. The laptop can be either battery-powered or hooked into an outlet to work. It executes typed commands and is used to create documents and drawings, as well as to communicate with others. Additionally, some laptops are enclosed for high-performance gaming and include internal software storage. The monitor, keyboard, mouse, computer memory, hard drive, motherboard, and central processor unit are among the primary components of a laptop.

2 Overview

The display screen, small speakers, keyboard, data storage device, pointing devices (such as a touch pad or pointing stick), operating system, processor (central processing unit (CPU)), and memory are all combined into one system as a laptop in order to provide many of the input/output capabilities of a desktop computer. Most contemporary laptops have built-in webcams and microphones, and many also have touchscreens. Both an internal battery and an external power supply via an AC adapter can be used to power laptops.

There are major differences between different types, models, and price points in hardware parameters including processor speed and memory capacity. Depending on the intended function, design components, form factors, and construction might also differ dramatically between models. Rugged notebooks for use in construction or military applications are some of the models of a laptop. Originally thought of as a small niche market, portable computers gradually evolved into modern laptops, largely for specialized field applications, including in the military, for accountants, or for traveling salespeople. Portable computers became widely employed for a number of reasons as they developed into contemporary laptops.

3 Components of a Laptop

3.1 keyboard 

With letter and symbol keys, the key board is an input device similar to a typewriter that is used to input data. Additionally, the electrical impulses that are transmitted by these keys are registered by the keyboard’s circuitry.

3.2 Mouse 

The Mouse is a plastic tool used to point at things and track movements in two dimensions. The mouse uses mechanical sensors to translate a user’s hand motion into the computer.

3.3 Monitor

The monitor is an output device with a screen that looks like a television. It delivers instructions and displays instructions as text, pictures, or graphics.

3.4 Memory

Memory is used to store vast amounts of data as well as temporary or permanent files. It is housed inside silicone chips that are incorporated into the computer.

3.5 Hard Drive.

The portion of the computer’s disk drive known as the “hard disk” is where digitally encoded data is kept.

3.6 Motherboard.

The motherboard is the backbone of the computer, connecting all of its parts at once and enabling communication between them.

3.7 Central Processing Unit

An electrical circuit known as a central processing unit carries out the directives implied by computer program instructions.

3.8 Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a computer processor that quickly performs mathematical calculations to create visuals and images. Both business and consumer computers utilize GPUs. Traditionally, 2D and 3D pictures, animations, and video have been rendered using GPUs.

3.9 Explanation

A person using a laptop may complete a wide range of tasks because the device’s primary purpose is to respond to orders that enable it to create documents, obtain information, or communicate with other devices.  A laptop computer must be turned on before it can start processing data. This means that the power supply unit or a power adapter will supply the computer with power from the wall socket. The computer will do a Power Up Self-Test, or POST, as soon as it is powered on. POST is a diagnostic test that the computer runs to examine all of the fundamental hardware elements needed for it to function, including the power supply and the processor. Following POST, the laptop will connect to the computer’s software and check for the bare minimum operating system needs before loading them. The Graphical User Interface, or GUI, can now be viewed on the monitor once the operating system has loaded.

 The motherboard controls and connects the monitor and the computer’s primary parts. This comprises the video card, which projects the image onto the screen, as well as the keyboard and trackpad, which let one operate an operating system like Windows. The applications on the PC can now be used. The computer processor types command into the keyboard, which are subsequently carried out, and signals are sent to the computer monitor. Additionally, a mouse can be used to direct the laptop to perform specific actions. An individual can, for instance, open and close files or opt to design papers using a mouse. Because it can produce big tasks, the laptop is quite effective. This makes it a very useful tool for business owners, and demand for portable computers has increased in recent years due to the increased storage capacity of modern laptops and their ability to carry out many of the same functions as standard desktop computers.

4 Visuals

Source: https://quicklearncomputer.com/parts-of-laptop/

Watch this video for the parts and explanation of the parts of a laptop: https://youtu.be/8XwgUH_SedE

5 Conclusion

                Since the beginning of human evolution, devices have been employed for calculating. An abacus was one of the earliest and most well-known tools. The first mechanical computer was then being developed by Charles Babbage, the inventor of computers, in 1822. Finally, he created an analytical engine, a general-purpose computer, in 1833. It had an ALU, some fundamentals of flowcharts, and the idea of integrated memory. As technology advanced throughout time, computers shrank in size and processed information more quickly. Adam Osborne and EPSON introduced the first laptop in 1981.

                Computers have gone through a lot of evolutionary stages from the ancient times through to the Roman Empire to the industrial age to the Sliderule to Blaise Pascal amongst others. Technological advancement has now made computers and laptops very affordable and available to everyone and also at a very moderate price due to competition in the market due to many companies manufacturing laptops in this 21^st Century age where the world is seen as a global village. Laptops makes tasks such as typing, printing, calculating, pricing, and many easier and faster. Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Internet of Things (IoTs), Coding amongst others through the use of modern laptops and other technological devices has changed the way things are done.

                Aside all the positive effects of laptops and computers, the big question now is that, is technology creating more jobs or destroying more jobs? Is it changing cultural values and attitudes? People can sit behind a laptop or smart phone without interacting with anyone which eventually affects social skills.  

References

(n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https: quicklearncomputer.com/parts-of-laptop/

(n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://www.webmobilefirst.com/en/mockups/macbook-air/

(n.d.). Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://youtu.be/XwgUH_SedE

(n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.crucial.com/products/memory/laptop-dram

(n.d.). Retrieved October 2022, 2022, from https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/laptop-hard-drive

(n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/718816790506059582/

(n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/718816790506059582/

(n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://www.amazon.com/Laptop-processor-ZM80-ZM-80-TMZM80DAM23GG/dp/B00CJSVBEK

Oak, M. (2010). Retrieved October 9, 2022, from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-are-the-main-parts-of-the- computer.html. Karlonia.(2007).

ANODES AND CATHODES

ABSTRACT

Exposure to oxygen causes iron and its alloys to oxidize, or rust. The familiar orange-red color on metal is an indication that metal is slowly reverting back to its natural, lower energy state of ore before the refining process occurred. In this experiment zinc and copper were used. It was revealed that zinc is more active than iron and serves as the anode in the zinc-iron galvanic pair, no blue colouring is present in this case. When using the indicators, zinc ions do not generate a colored compound at the anode. Copper is the least active component in the development of the blue color changes surrounding the nails.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Metals in manufactured states undergo a process called corrosion that causes them to revert to their initial oxidation states. A reduction-oxidation reaction is a term used to describe the process by which the metal is being oxidized by its surroundings, frequently the oxygen in the air. This reaction is not only electrochemically preferred but also spontaneous. Fundamentally, corrosion is the development of voltaic, or galvanic, cells in which the target metal serves as an anode and typically deteriorates or loses functional stability. This refers to the electrochemical oxidation of metal in reaction with an oxidant, such as oxygen or sulfur, in its most widespread usage. Rusting is a well-known instance of electrochemical corrosion and is the development of iron oxides. This kind of deterioration often produces oxides or salts of the parent metal and gives the material a distinctive orange color. Along with metals, materials like ceramics and polymers can also experience corrosion, albeit in these cases the term “degradation” is more suitable. The beneficial characteristics of materials and structures, such as strength, appearance, and permeability to liquids and gases, are compromised by corrosion. The corrosion process can be significantly impacted by exposure to certain substances, but many structural alloys corrode simply from exposure to moisture in the air. It is possible for corrosion to concentrate locally to form a pit or fracture or it might disperse across a large region relatively evenly to corrode the surface. Corrosion happens on exposed surfaces because it is a diffusion-controlled process. Therefore, techniques for reducing the activity of the exposed surface, such chromate conversion and passivation, can enhance a material’s resistance to corrosion.

Hypothesis:

1. To test for corrosion on various metals and learn how corrosion happens.

• Anodes and cathodes are found in relation in relation to corrosion processes.

• Corrosion can be defended effectively

PROCEDURES

1. A 500 ml beaker containing 200 mL of 0.1M sodium nitrate was heated to boiling. 3 g of powdered agar were added while being stirred with a glass rod. The mixture was heated while being swirled to dissolve the agar.

• To the agar suspension, 10 drops each of 0.1M potassium ferricyanide and phenolphlthalein were added. The mixture was well mixed.

• Iron nails were used to clean three iron nails.

• The bottom of the first petri dish was covered with a single iron nail.

• Steel was used to polish 10 cm each of copper and zinc wire.

• The second iron nail was encased in a thin layer of 10 cm copper wire. The third iron nail was thinly encased with 10 cm zinc.

• The second petri dish’s bottom was filled with the second and third wrapped iron nails. The iron nails were separated from one another so as to prevent them from coming into contact.

• Iron nails were placed in both petri dishes and covered with warm agar to a depth of about 1 mm.

• For roughly 48 hours, both dishes were covered and let to stand.

1. On the first day, the successive color changes over the course of several hours were seen.

1. On day 2, the petri dishes were viewed and the results were noted using both a white and a black background.

DISCUSSION

The goals of this experiment are to clarify the causes of corrosion, the roles played by anodes and cathodes during the corrosion process, and to show how to effectively prevent corrosion. The cathode reaction involves the flow of electrons from the anode through the metal to the cathode, where they can mix with positively charged ions.

Corrosive attacks can take many different forms, and different metals are impacted to varying degrees. Attacks could take the form of overall rusting or tarnishing with sporadic perforations in particularly damaged locations. Near the intersection of two different metals is where corrosion may form more frequently. Pitting could cause a highly localized attack on the metal. A metal’s strength can be destroyed by corrosion-induced cracking. These examples of rusting in action are all too common. With the substances that can induce corrosion at times, corrosion may also be limited to the wrapper side.

Zinc is utilized to partially plate the nail. Over several hours, color development is observed. Because zinc is more active than iron and serves as the anode in the zinc-iron galvanic pair, no blue colouring is present in this case. When using the indicators, zinc ions do not generate a colored compound at the anode. As a result, the zinc region does not become colored. The iron surface begins to turn red, indicating that it is now only functioning as a cathode. The secondary oxygen concentration cell impact on the zinc is what causes any localized red coloring that may appear as the zinc strip emerges from the gel. This must be separated from the zinc-iron nail galvanic couple’s reactions.

Because it can react with the nails itself, copper is the least active component in the development of the blue color changes surrounding the nails. After many hours, the copper surface begins to take on a brown hue, and the unwrapped side begins to take on a blue hue. Additionally, the wrapped portion of the nails starts to turn pink.

CONCLUSION

The experiment’s goals, which included determining how corrosion occurs, where anodes and cathodes are found during the corrosion process, and how to prevent corrosion effectively, were all met.

REFERENCES

Lab Manual CMT 555.  Electrochemistry and     Corrosion Science.

The Royal Society of Chemistry, Jan 2016, https://eic.rsc.org/exhibition-chemistry/nailing-corrosion-demonstrations/2000054.article

WordPress, October 2012. Galvanic Corrosion of Iron Nail. https://tgreen230493.wordpress.com/2014/10/30/galvanic-corrosion-of-an-iron-nail/

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