Writing Samples

Residential Rainwater Harvesting

In the Berkeley course Technical Communication II, I created two fictional writing samples that showcase my technical writing style:

Below, I posted a few extended definitions from an assignment in an information design course:

“Semantics” is one of three branches of semiotics, which is the study of signs. In language, semantics is concerned with the meanings of words and phrases. For example, the word “child” is synonymous with the words kid, boy, girl, son, or daughter. Depending on the context, these words refer to the same thing: a child.

In semiotics, semantics is concerned with the meanings of signs. For example: a sign with a skull and crossbones can mean death, poison, pirates, or even football. Semantics is represented by one of three graphic designs: an icon, an index, or a symbol.

When a fan of the Las Vegas Raiders football team sees this skull and crossbones sign, the words “Raiders” or “Jolly Roger” come to mind. A chemist, on the other hand, will more likely think about poison. A child who recently watched Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean movies might conjure Jack Sparrow in their mind’s eye.

  • A “symbol” is one of three types of signs in the subcategory of semantics within semiotics, or the study of signs. Graphic designers create symbols to represent objects or ideas, but the symbols can look different than the objects or ideas.

    This symbol represents the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang (also known as yingyang, yin-yang, or tai chi), which describes the metaphysical nature of opposite but interconnected forces.

  • An “icon” is one of three types of signs in the subcategory of semantics within semiotics, or the study of signs. Graphic designers create icons to resemble that which they represent.

    This icon resembles a literal house or a home. It can be used in many ways in multiple mediums, and it will always represent the same thing to a person: a house or a home.

  • An “index” is one of three types of signs in the subcategory of semantics within semiotics, or the study of signs. Graphic designers create indexes to signify an idea to people.

    An index does not need to resemble the object to which it refers. For example, this skull and crossbones can be used as a sign to inform people that the objects within a cabinet are full of poisonous materials.