Effective Writing: Re-writing Techniques for Engineering Students, Exams of Mechanical Engineering

Download Effective Writing: Re-writing Techniques for Engineering Students and more Exams Mechanical Engineering in PDF only on Docsity! Re-Writing to Improve Your Writing Gerald Recktenwald Portland State University Department of Mechanical Engineering gerry@me.pdx.edu Examples of Re-Writing High Level Ideas • Writing takes effort • Re-writing is necessary • Practice by becoming a critical Reader Examples of Re-Writing ME 493/Spring 2004 Rewrite to Simplify (2) Before: The velocity field in the quench tank is a central component in determining the convective heat transfer coefficient. Examples of Re-Writing ME 493/Spring 2004 Rewrite to Simplify (3) Before: The velocity field in the quench tank is a central component in determining the convective heat transfer coefficient. After: The velocity field in the quench tank determines the convective heat transfer coefficient. Examples of Re-Writing ME 493/Spring 2004 Example 2: Clarify Long complex sentences are usually confusing, especially when the subject matter is new to the reader. Solution: Replace complex sentences with a sequence of sentences that leads the reader toward a conclusion. Examples of Re-Writing ME 493/Spring 2004 Rewrite to Clarify (3) Next: Clarify the comparison Figure 4 shows the velocity profiles in the test section for the three different inlets. display much flatter and uniform profiles in comparison to the rectangular inlet however it can be seen that there are slight fluctuations in velocity associated with the curved inlet profile in comparison to the profile of the test section with the S-shaped inlet. After: Figure 4 shows the velocity profiles in the test section for the three different inlets. The velocity profiles for the curved inlet (Figure 4b) and S-shaped inlet (Figure 4c) are much flatter than the velocity profile for the rectangular inlet (Figure 4a). Examples of Re-Writing ME 493/Spring 2004 Rewrite to Clarify (4) Next: Clarify comparison of the two better profiles Figure 4 shows the velocity profiles in the test section for the three different inlets. The velocity profiles for the curved inlet (Figure 4b) and S-shaped inlet (Figure 4c) are much flatter than the velocity profile for the rectangular inlet (Figure 4a). however it can be seen that there are slight fluctuations in velocity associated with the curved inlet profile in comparison to the profile of the test section with the S-shaped inlet After: Figure 4 shows the velocity profiles in the test section for the three different inlets. The velocity profiles for the curved inlet (Figure 4b) and S-shaped inlet (Figure 4c) are much flatter than the velocity profile for the rectangular inlet (Figure 4a). The velocity profile for the S-shaped inlet is more uniform than the velocity profile for the curved inlet. Examples of Re-Writing ME 493/Spring 2004 Rewrite to Clarify (5) Finally: To avoid confusion, reiterate the key point Figure 4 shows the velocity profiles in the test section for the three different inlets. The velocity profiles for the curved inlet (Figure 4b) and S-shaped inlet (Figure 4c) are much flatter than the velocity profile for the rectangular inlet (Figure 4a). The velocity profile for the S-shaped inlet is more uniform than the velocity profile for the curved inlet. Thus, of the three designs for wind tunnel inlets, the S-shaped inlet provides the most uniform velocity profile in the test section. Examples of Re-Writing ME 493/Spring 2004