Application Note-Purpose and Expectations

ECE 480- Spring, 2008

Purpose

An "Application Note" is a form of technical writing with the following purposes:

1. It has an instructional or tutorial style.

2. It is targeted to a specific audience of users.

3. It is typically a focused description of how to do something, including an introduction to the topic as well as precise implementation details, results, and recommendations. It is more than just the repetition of information from part of a spec sheet. For example: the writer should have done something with the information from a spec sheet, and describe how it was done or how ONE should do it.

4. It often includes references to other manuals, documents, or books where the user may gain more or related information.

5. Additionally, in this course, there are two important purposes of an application note:

· A student will demonstrate his/her individual achievement in meeting the course learning objectives related to both technical skills and writing skills. An Application Note will usually relate to a student's individual contributions to team-level deliverables. Individual accountability is critical to a team learning environment.

· A student will develop a piece of intellectual property, i.e., information and resources, that may be reused by others.

Expectations

1. This is not a team deliverable. It is completed by an individual, and is required. However, you ARE free to ask other team members or the Writing Center to assist you in suggesting improvements to the quality of your document.

2. Prior to beginning your application note (AN), you should talk with your facilitator about the topic, assuring that it is of an appropriate nature and level.

3. The application note must be developed for web viewing, i.e., either as HTML or PDF format. The documents will be accessible from the design-team web site. A paper copy also needs to handed in to your facilitator, unless he/she asks for an electronic copy.

4. Each AN should begin with the following information: title, student name, date, executive summary (or abstract), and keywords. The body of the AN should be divided into subsections, beginning with an introduction to the topic and the objective of the note. Based on the objective, it should then describe the issues, steps, examples, hardware or software developed, etc. of the study undertaken. It should end with results, conclusions, and/or recommendations, as appropriate to the objective, and references.

5. Examples of commercial and trade application notes can be found on the web sites of many electronics and software companies.

6. The topic of the application note should be relevant to your role on your design-team.

7. The final date you can complete an application note is Friday, March 28, 2008 (4pm). A copy should be turned in on paper to your facilitator or delivered electronically to him/her (typically as a .doc file, so it is editable/commentable by him/her), depending on his/her preference. A copy (.html or .pdf file) must also be posted on your web site, but under password control if it contains material regarded as confidential by your sponsor.