Technical Writing Sample-Instructional Writing

Breastfeeding 101

Breastfeeding is feeding a child breast milk directly from the breast or expressed from the breast. Although breastfeeding is natural and women have been successfully breastfeeding for centuries, it is not without its challenges. Breast milk passes to your child nutrients and antibodies that can benefit their body and mind while providing the mother with an incomparable bonding experience. Whether you are a mother-to-be or partner of a mother-to-be or becoming a mother again and just need a refresher it is good to have some basic instruction on the art of breast feeding and the three major steps to success; positioning, supporting, and latching.
 The first step to successful breastfeeding is getting you in a comfortable position. This means making sure that your back and arms are supported. You may also choose to use a pillow on your lap to help elevate the baby toward your breast. Slouching and bad posture can create back pain during and after nursing. The second step in positioning is getting your baby in the proper position which depends on which position you are the most comfortable. Three common nursing positions include cradle, clutch or football, and side-lying position. There are a few different ways to position your baby for nursing depending on preference.

Step One: Positioning
Cradle Position. With the baby on its side, the mother holds the baby with one arm supporting its neck and back.
Clutch or Football Position. In this position the baby‟s head is supported in the mother‟s hand and its body is supported by the length of her arm.
Side-Lying Position. The mother and the baby both lay next to each other on their sides.

Step Two: Support
Supporting your breast is important for proper latching. There are a couple of options for breast support, the "C" hold and the "U" hold. For the "C" hold you "Support your breast with your thumb on top, well back from your areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple) and the fingers underneath. Your fingers should also be well back from your baby's mouth" (LLLI, 2010). The "U" hold is where you "Place your fingers flat on your ribcage under your breast with your index finger in the crease under your breast. Drop your elbow so that your breast is supported
between your thumb and index finger. Your thumb will be on the outer area of your breast and your fingers will be on the inner area" (LLLI, 2010).

Step Three: Latching
Once in position and supported, how your child latches will be the most important part of breastfeeding success. "When your baby is „latched on‟ the right way, both lips should pout out (not be pulled in over his or her gums) and cover nearly all of the areola. Instead of smacking noises, your baby will make low-pitched swallowing noises" (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2010). La Leche League International (2010) offers the following checkpoints for proper latching: his nose is nearly touching your breast, that is, no further away than a credit card edge, his lips are flanged, and at least ½ inch of your breast around the base of your nipple is in his mouth.
If once the baby has latched on the breastfeeding is painful, detach the baby by putting your finger gently into the corner of the baby‟s mouth between the baby‟s gums, this will release the latch, reposition if necessary and try again.

Breastfeeding when done with the proper positioning, support and latching can be a beneficial experience for the mother, child, and family.

Why We Need Technical Communication

We need technical communication to explain important and complex information to both audiences with technical knowledge of a particular subject and those who do not have technical knowledge of a subject.  Lannon (2008) explains that “more and more of our everyday actions and decisions depend on complex but usable technical information” (p. 2).  This is true.  The world around us is advancing technologically and at speeds that we cannot all keep up with.  In order to navigate our technology dependent world we need help via technical communicators whether it be through letters, memos, cellular transmissions, emails, brochures, manuals, pamphlets, factsheets, instructional material, proposals, websites, CDs, DVDs, eBooks or podcasts. 

This information we depend on every day isn’t easy for all of society to take in.  Even professionals need explanations of how equipment works and this is communicated through technical documents, photos, websites, etc.  What most people see as a simple every day task is confusing, frustrating and even debilitating for others.  For example, in my brief work experience with Verizon, I felt sad for the older men and women who struggled with this technology that the rest of us seem to take for granted.  Technology is a part of our lives whether we accept it or not and it is what makes the world go round so technical communication is absolutely necessary.  We need it for endless reasons, such as understanding how to use every day things, how to decide on whether or not to elect for a particular surgery or use a particular type of medication, and we need it so that we can assemble a piece of furniture or a toy without risking our children’s safety by doing it improperly.  We need technical communication so that we can send message to diverse audiences whether that means diverse as in age range, education level, culture or language.

Reference

Lannon, J.M. (2008). Technical communication. New York: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Technical Writing Sample-Classification and Partitioning

The Classification and Partitioning of Laptops

After reviewing laptops at the Best Buy website (2010) I found they could be categorized as the following: 1) Personal, 2) Entertainment, and/or 3) Business.  The Best Buy website (2010) categorizes them as “every day,” “premium,” and “gaming.”  They can be categorized in this way due to the varying needs of laptop users. 

Three laptops that fit into the category of Business include: Sony’s model VPCEB26GM/B1, Toshiba model M505-54972, and Apple’s model MC373LL/A.  These laptops fit into this category due to a wide range of characteristics that appeal to professionals, from the type of processor, to extras like Bluetooth capabilities. 

I would partition these three laptops by the following features: computer hard drive size, software included with purchase, processor speed, and operating system.  These matter to me because of the volume of work I do and the nature of my work.  I need a lot of storage space for personal and business photos, clip art, typed documents, contact sheets, marketing action plans and design work, I prefer to work off of Windows 7 right now (although in the future I plan on purchasing a MAC if my employer continues to demand graphic design work from me regularly), due to the fact that I am still a student I want a laptop that comes with my preferred programs pre-installed and ready to go, and I need a laptop with speed for obvious reasons (like the amount of time my life demands that I am at my computer, I cannot be at the mercy of a program that doesn’t respond almost instantly to my commands).

From this exercise I learned that it is extremely difficult to divide subjects that include such a long list of characteristics, especially when diverse groups of users exist with such a wide range of needs and uses for the product.  I also learned how valuable it is to have an organized way of looking at the different features of such a widely used piece of technology in order to make it marketable to different audiences or users.

Reference

Best Buy. (2010). Best Buy. Retrieved from http://www.bestbuy.com/

Technical Writing Sample-Proper Tooth Brushing Instructions

Instructions for Proper Tooth Brushing

Proper Tooth Brushing

The purpose of brushing is to remove plaque (harmful bacteria) from the teeth and the gums in an effort to prevent decay.  Brushing regularly and with the proper technique can prevent costly dental visits and painful cavities.

Step One: Preparing to Brush

·         Experts recommend using dental floss (or the use an alternative dental water pick flossing device) in once a day in addition to brushing in order to prevent decay and gum disease. 

·         It is recommended to choose a soft bristled tooth brush so to not scratch the surface of teeth or irritate gums.

·         Experts recommend choosing a toothpaste with fluoride to help prevent cavities.

·         Experts also recommend the use of a mouthwash or rinse that contains fluoride to help prevent cavities and protect teeth (not recommended for children under the age of six).

·         Children under six should be assisted with tooth brushing and children ages 6-11 should be supervised during brushing.

Step Two: Brushing Properly

·         Rinse toothbrush thoroughly with tap water before brushing.

·         Apply a pea size amount of toothpaste to the toothbrush (do not swallow toothpaste, it is a cleaning agent and should be spit it out when finished or as needed during brushing).

·         Hold tooth brush against teeth at a 45 degree angle so that the bristles reach the tooth surface as well as the gum line.

·         Gently brush the outer surface of teeth in an up, down, and circular motion.

·         Hold the toothbrush at a vertical angle to brush the inner front surfaces of teeth (top and bottom) brushing in an up and down motion.

·         Brush the inner surfaces of the back and sides of the teeth using a back and forth motions making sure you reach the far back molars.

·         When brushing the chewing surface of teeth use back and forth gentle strokes and tip the brush into the pits of the teeth to get in the groves of the biting surfaces of the teeth (pay close attention to this area as it is where most cavities occur).

·         Brush the tongue to eliminate bad breath germs and bacteria.

Step Three: Maintaining Healthy Practices

·         Experts recommend that a minimum of 2 minutes is spent brushing twice a day, especially after meals and before bedtime.

·         Store the toothbrush in an open area at least 6 feet away from any toilet to keep it safe from bacteria and avoid contamination, and never share toothbrushes.

·         Change your toothbrush every three to four months or as soon as the bristles become frayed.

·         In addition to proper brushing, the final sealant of protection is to keep up with regular dental visits, and maintain a healthy, balanced diet.

References

American Dental Association. (2010). Oral health topics: cleaning your teeth and gums.

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