The definitions assignment teaches the importance and role of definitions in technical writing, and demonstrates how audience, purpose, and situation change the level of detail needed. While writing the definitions, it is important to always consider the audience and tailor the tone and language to this audience. As I was writing my definitions, the question of “will my audience understand this?” and “does this need more or less explanation?” were always kept in mind and helped to maintain focus in my writing.
Organization and conciseness are also essential aspects of definitions. A well-structured and organized assignment aids in understanding and allows the reading to flow. Being concise helps to avoid unnecessary length and confusion.
The peer review portion of the assignment allowed me to review a peer’s definitions of an unfamiliar term. I was able to see objectively what works well in the assignment and what doesn’t work as well. Their use of visuals, conciseness, and common language made the definitions easy to understand. This helped me to see aspects of my own assignment that might need improvement, such as avoiding complex words and expanding on certain points made.
Conducting a peer review demands a close attention to detail. Reading through the assignment multiple times, with a different focus each time, helped to illuminate strong areas and areas that needed improvement. This attention to detail also allows for a complete list of revisions with no points left unaddressed.
The main lesson learned from having my work reviewed is to never assume prior knowledge of your audience unless the audience is a professional in the field. There were some terms in my definitions that are not common knowledge and needed further explanation. Definitions are not as helpful if they themselves contain terms that need defining.
