Delivery and Styles of Professional and Unprofessional Writings. Prompt 4

By: Ibrahim Sairafi

Sources:

1. Fiber Optic Telecommunication by Nick Massa, Springfield Technical Community College Springfield, Massachusetts (Professional)
2. http://www.fiber-optics.info/ (Unprofessional)

After reading similar topics from both the above mentioned sources, specifically on the topic of Types of Optical Fiber, I have noticed quite a significant difference between the tone and content of both the writings.

Delivery and Style of the Module

The first, and most prominent, difference I noticed was the detail. The module by Nick Massa is written in full and complete detail, covering almost all aspects of each topic. Before every topic, a broad, overview is given relating to the topic. This sort of prepares the reader about what lies ahead and whether it includes the content he/she is looking for. It is also aimed at kindling the interest of a reader. After the introduction, the module provides an in depth explanation of the subject with diagrams and figures attached wherever applicable. One topic is roughly covered in an average of 10 pages which just further supports my statement of explicit details provided in the module. The tone is kept strictly formal and there are no puns, humor or witty remarks regarding any subject. The wordings and phrases used by the writer reflect his knowledge and expertise in the field and proves to be a much more trustable source because of this. The audience is clearly newbies or students that need to know the in depth details and workings of the fiber optic communications. Students in the engineering field seem to be a more specific target because of the terminology used in it. Individuals which do not have an engineering background will find it difficult to understand not only because of the terminology but also due to the detailed explanations and references to previous modules given. The module also displays a sense of well-researched and historical information which represents multiple viewpoints of various professionals of the field.

Delivery and Style of the Articles

On the website, however, there are plenty of articles relating to fiber optics which are mostly just a 1-2 pager article of no more than a thousand words. The information is kept concise and difficult terminology is avoided as much as possible. The articles provide a summary of the topics which enlighten you with all necessary details but do not give an in-depth explanation. Most articles do have diagrams which offer an easier method to understand the subject. The tone is mostly formal but there are some instances when an informal tone in adopted. The target audience can be individuals specifically interested in fiber optics and do not have to be engineering students to understand the content. The explanations are kept to a basic level and do not require a prior background relating to this field. Anything that is being explained, starts and ends in the article. There are no references to books, research papers or other articles. These articles are appropriate for people looking for a brief introduction to the topic and to understand what fiber optics is all about. The article gives you a more current outlook based on only the writers’ viewpoint (even though some references may be given to professionals) which may make it seem like a less reliable source as compared to the module.