Introductions to Reflections
There are four reflection blogs in this web folio. Reflections are based on the learning process that happened in each unit. Reflecting was a difficult process initially as it made me focus on the learning and try to identify how the learning took place. As time went by, reflecting became easier. Creating a baseline based on feedback from the instructor helped a lot with writing the blog.
The original draft of technical definitions
This week started with a review of different types of definitions to explain a term. I chose “periodontal disease” which is a technical dental term and I reviewed it for a patient who does not have prior dental knowledge. I explained periodontal disease with parenthetical, sentence, and expanded definition. The parenthetical definition describes clarifying phrase in parentheses. Sentence definition consists of term, class and distinguishing characteristics of an item. An expanded definition is the most elaborate definition that uses multiple expansion methods to get as much information as necessary about an item. The extent of explanation for expanded definition will vary depending on the technicality level of readers. I learned about the importance of the use of visuals and the role of comparison/contrast to help readers understand what they know and what they don’t. Having had no experience with these types of definitions, I initially struggled to form simple sentences with minimal dental jargon. Various textbook examples of definition formation and instructor blog were very helpful in creating my own definitions. I learned that a complex term can be converted into various forms of simple terms for technical and non-technical readers.
Peer Review of technical definitions
This was the most challenging part of this assignment to conduct peer review. It felt very overwhelming to review and find a format to write up. I reviewed Kristy Vyfschaft’s technical definitions and learned a lot. She chose a dental term for her definition and being a dental hygienist, I had a good understanding of it. This was a disadvantage for myself as I had to see it from the lens of a non-technical person and give my best suggestions. I learned to hone on my critical thinking to provide a structured review and self assess my writing skills alongside. I also learned a lot from Kristy’s feedback about my definitions. This assignment helped me with reducing errors and improving conciseness in my writing. It further developed my skill set as a technical writer to continue to improve the quality of my writing.
Revision Process of technical definitions
The revision process was the easiest part of this assignment. Kristy’s recommendations were very specific so I knew exactly where I needed to make changes. She pointed out that I did not mention the reader level in my introduction and re-organization of paragraph four to eliminate dental jargon. She also noted a lack of labelling for the visual and gave suggestions to improve readability. I was able to do these revisions and learned how to be more aware of my mistakes moving forward. Overall, this assignment made me proficient in using plain language and visuals to explain a technical term. I learned the importance of analyzing the reader’s level before drafting a document. It also helped me understand the importance of sequence and design of the document for effective reading.
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