Following the end of an experiment, lab reports serve as essential papers, but certain people might need a deeper grasp of their function and substance. Author Mike Markel explores the essential components of a lab report in his textbook “Technical Communication,” breaking it down into eight sections that each cover a different area of the study. These sections include the title, abstract, introduction, materials and techniques, results, discussion, conclusion, and references. We will examine and contrast Markel’s arguments in each part of a lab report titled “Laboratory findings in COVID-19 diagnosis and prognosis,” written by Atieh Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi, Davood Bashash, Fatemeh Fateh, and Hassan Abolghasemi.

Title:

Starting with the title, Markel’s first sentence when describing what a title should be is, “ The title should be informative enough to enable readers to decide whenever the report interests them” (Markel, 2018, Chapter 19). I believe that the writers’ title for the lab report follows Markel’s suggestions. The title is brief and understandable, making it interesting to researchers looking into viruses or gathering their own data. Overall, the writers did a great job of coming up with a title that both correctly captures the lab report’s main points and will draw readers who are curious about the diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19.

Abstract:

The abstract comes after the transparent title. The abstract presents itself as the report’s primary focus. As Markel stated, “Because your abstract might be distributed more widely than your report, it should contain enough information so your readers can quickly decide whether to locate and read the whole report.” (Markel, 2018, Chapter 19). The COVID-19 lab report’s abstract part complies with Markel’s recommendations. In line with Markel’s expectations, the authors have included a thorough description of their findings that covers the goal, context, and conclusion of the study. The lab report’s major points are succinctly summarized in the abstract, making it simple for readers to comprehend the relevance and outcomes of the study.

Introduction:

            The introduction is where the real explanation begins for those who continued reading the lab report. “Here, you place your work in the broader context of your field by describing the hypothesis or question your study attempted to address and why this question is significant” (Markel, 2018, Chapter 19). The COVID-19 lab report’s introduction, which details the pandemic’s beginning and its effects on scientific research, largely follows Markel’s recommendations. The authors also go over their emphasis on researching COVID-19 risk groupings and diagnostic abnormalities. This is consistent with Markel’s advice to explain the research’s relevance and situate it within the larger context of the field.

Materials and Methods:

The COVID-19 lab report does not have a materials section, but it does include a thorough explanation of the procedures used to generate the results. The approach is clearly explained in the study, showing how it fits with their research objective. This thorough explanation of the procedures used is in line with Markel’s advice to clarify the study methodologies clearly and completely. Markel says the materials and methods should “ convince your readers that your approach was appropriate for the question … you hoped to answer … describe your procedures … assume your reader to evaluate efforts” ( Markel, 2018, Chapter 19 ). The straightforward language used in the COVID-19 lab report is intended to be accessible to readers who may not be familiar with the details of COVID-19 research. Because of the writers’ clear wording, a larger audience may understand it. This strategy complies with Markel’s recommendation to convey intricate technical information simply and effectively, improving readers’ grasp of the study’s conclusions. The authors’ dedication to clear communication is demonstrated by their attempts to further knowledge of COVID-19 anomalies.

Results:

According to Markel, “When summarizing your data, help readers understand your findings by emphasizing major trends, magnitudes of values, associations, patterns of statistical significance, and expectations” (Markel, 2018, Chapter 19). The COVID-19 lab report on laboratory findings provides a thorough justification of the findings and conclusions from the study. One of the main conclusions is that early diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 can be greatly aided by in vitro diagnostics. According to Markel’s advice to thoroughly describe study findings so that readers may comprehend the relevance of the findings, the report gives a complete overview of this discovery.

Discussion:

Markel’s definition for the discussion goes as “Sometimes called analysis, the discussion section is where you interpret your results: that is, you answer the question or support ( or argue against) the hypothesis you discussed in your introduction”. (Markel, 2018, Chapter 19). The lab report’s discussion fully develops the findings, demonstrating how laboratory medicine may help distinguish between severe and non-severe COVID-19 patients in addition to emphasizing the importance of in vitro diagnostics in early detection of SARS-COV-2 infection. The paper underlines the need for novel laboratory biomarkers that can precisely and affordably predict the prognosis of COVID-19 given the disease’s various clinical presentations, which range from being asymptomatic to lethal.

Conclusion:

            In Markel’s own words, he explains what should be in a lab report, stating “Summarize the main points covered by your report in one or two concise paragraphs. Begin by reviewing the purpose of your research or experiment and the hypothesis (or hypotheses) you tested. Next, summarize the most important implications of your test. Next, summarize the most important implications of your findings.” ( Markel, 2018, Chapter 19). The lab report’s authors recognized several restrictions and limitations, such as a limited sample size, discrepancies in technique, and different reference ranges, which would have weakened the validity of their conclusions. They might not have been able to offer a definitive response due to these restrictions. Despite these drawbacks, they said that, based on their review of the published scientific literature, laboratory parameters offer a lot of promise as easy, quick, and affordable COVID-19 biomarkers.

References:

            A reference list is necessary when writing a lab report, according to Markel ( Markel, 2018, Chapter 19), and these researchers listed up to 67 resources that they used within their report. This lab report would be a reputable source based on Markel’s standards.

            In conclusion, the purpose of the lab report produced by the researchers was to clarify the importance of aberrant laboratory results in the diagnosis and prognosis of Covid-19. Although the report was well-written and educational, there was no materials part, which may have been done on purpose to make it more reader-friendly. The analysis underlined the possibility of laboratory measures as biomarkers for Covid-19 despite restrictions such as limited sample size and differences in technique.

Sources Cited

Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi, A., Bashash, D., Fateh, F., & Abolghasemi, H. (2020, August 14). Laboratory findings in COVID-19 diagnosis and prognosis. Clinica Chimica Acta; Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2020.08.019

Introduction

         I.   History of Headphones

            We think headphones are a new invention but in reality, it has been here for ages.

In a relatively short period of time, wireless headphones have advanced significantly. Yet, they have a long history and have made some amazing advances.

An article published by “Here we go: the history of wireless headphones”, stated “Headphones weren’t originally designed for music. They were made for telephone operators who needed to physically connect everybody’s phone calls.”(Marshall, 2022), The earliest wireless headphone wasn’t anything like the ones we use today when they were first introduced in the 1880s; instead, they resembled a phone that had been divided into two and strapped to your head.

Ezra Gilliland, a friend of Thomas Edison who also built the telephone switchboard, created the first headphones, which served as a model for many others to follow. They weren’t headphones for entertainment. These were office supplies that you eagerly looked forward to ripping off at the end of the day.

The timing of the invention of headphones was perfect, as it coincided with the rise of vinyl records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, which became popular due to the emergence of rock and roll and pop music. In the following decades, headphones became increasingly popular, with many renowned musicians, including Paul McCartney of The Beatles, using them to listen to and innovate music. Even though it was very popular it did not reach its key demographic until the late 70s into the early 80s.

By the 1970s, headphones had become a ubiquitous item found in most households. They were enjoyed by a broad range of people, from teenagers on the west coast listening to the distinctive sounds of Fleetwood Mac to audiophiles who appreciated the technical aspects of headphones. However, the real breakthrough came in 1979 with the introduction of the Walkman, which completely transformed the headphone industry.

The Walkman was first introduced by Sony. It was a portable cassette player that allowed users to listen to music on the go, and shortly after its release, it became a cultural juggernaut. The original Walkman had two headphone jacks, which allowed users to listen to music with a friend/loved one. The original Walkman was created from aluminum, and the later models were made from plastic. The first Walkman went on sale for $150. Originally, the Walkman wasn’t a big seller but as time passed the Walkman became one of Sony’s most successful products. Due to the Walkman’s overwhelming success, it was the predecessor of all the music formats of the past and present including “CD, Mini-Disc, MP3 and finally, streaming music (Franzen, 2014).”

Throughout the 1980s to the early 2000s, the Walkman evolved into different music formats including the CD, Mini-Disc, MP3, and finally, streaming music (Franzen, 2014).” While the Walkman was groundbreaking, the iPod remains unmatched. On October 23, 2001, the original iPod was revealed. The device was white, weighed 6.5 ounces, and was about the size of a deck of cards. It boasted 5GB of storage capacity, which was unprecedented for MP3 players of the time and allowed for approximately 1,000 songs to be stored and played. The iPod created by Apple was truly a game changer. The iPod set the idea music can be listened to digitally and can be updated regularly and can also be used as a phone.

Like the iPod, the iPhone was not the initial device of its kind. However, the iPhone repeated or echoed history, by enabling everyone to carry an iPod in their pocket. Due to intense rivalry in the smartphone industry, significant investments were made in research and development. This resulted in the production of increasingly smaller and more efficient batteries, advanced versions of Bluetooth, noise-canceling technology that is software-based, advancements in materials and manufacturing technology, and other such improvements. These enhancements would soon have an impact on various types of devices, including headphones.

In the 2010s, Bluetooth headphones experienced significant growth in popularity, particularly due to brands like Beats that targeted the mass market. Although the sound quality was not yet suitable for the audiophile market, it was moving in the correct direction.

Once again, Apple entered the market with AirPods which were not the first or the best wireless earbuds. However, they became hugely successful and dominated the earbud market by 2020. Apple had been working on them for a considerable period, with the first recognizable patent being filed in 2011. One of the reasons for their success was Apple’s decision to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 in 2016, which made wired headphones inconvenient to use. Although this decision received a lot of criticism at the time, it solidified wireless headphones’ position as the current and future of mobile audio and established the standard for quality sound, easy pairing, and the ability to locate them if they were misplaced.

II. Apple’s History

Apple Computers Inc. was founded on April 1^st, 1976, by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. At that time Jobs and Wozniak were college dropouts, Jobs attended Reed College before dropping out and Wozniak attended the University of Colorado, Boulder. Both of together brought a new vision to a small computer company. A vision of the way people appreciated computers. Jobs and Wozniak wanted to create a world where computers are small enough for people to have them in their homes or offices. Jobs and Wozniak “wanted a computer that was user-friendly (Research Guides: This Month in Business History: The Founding of Apple Computers, Inc., n.d.).

            Jobs and Wozniak started to create the first Apple computer called the Apple I in Steve Jobs’s garage. Jobs and Wozniak started to sell the Apple I, they sold them without a monitor, keyboard, or casing. The Apple II took the computer industry by storm with the creation and introduction of the first-ever color graphics. This innovative add-on to the computer helped Apple to relate to the average person. With the Apple II, the company established a presence among educational institutions, contributing to its platform’s dominance of primary-school software well into the present day. With the success of Apple II sales skyrocketed from “$7.8 million in 1978 to $117 million in 1980 which was the year Apple went public” (Research Guides: This Month in Business History: The Founding of Apple Computers, Inc., n.d.).

            By the start of the 80s, the competition was growing extremely difficult due to the rise of IBM and Microsoft. Apple tried to be an innovator again by releasing the Apple III in the same year to compete with these companies in the office computing market. The Apple III wasn’t successful at all due to a design flaw. To reduce noise Jobs “insisted computers do not have fans or vents which in turn created problems due to dangerous overheating” (Faizal, 2021). With this issue, the Apple III lost to its competition to IBM and Microsoft.

Even though Apple had some troubles at the beginning of the decade they snapped back in the mid to late 80s and 90s with groundbreaking devices.  During this time, they introduced the Mac, the PowerBook, and the iPod. Even though they were back to innovating, CEO/co-founder Steve Jobs was compelled to leave the organization in 1985 due to the company’s financial difficulties. During this time John Sculley was the CEO and he helped oversee the Macintosh II which was the first to be shipped without a color display.

When Jobs rejoined Apple as CEO in 1997, he oversaw the creation of the iMac, which contributed to the company’s recovery. Apple introduced several hugely popular devices in the years that followed, such as the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Air.

 Description of an AirPod

I.  Function

Apple Inc. invented the AirPod, a particular style of wireless earphone. It serves as a portable and practical method to listen to music, make calls, and communicate with Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant. The ordinary AirPods and the AirPods Pros are two separate models of AirPods. Although they are nearly identical, the pros have a few extra features that the regulars don’t.

Both types of AirPods offer wireless audio, automatic pairing, touch controls, and integration with Siri. Wireless audio is enabled by Bluetooth technology, allowing for cord-free listening. Automatic pairing is designed to connect with your Apple device, such as an iPhone or MacBook as soon as you remove them from the charging case. Touch controls are incorporated into the earbuds for functions like playing/pausing, skipping tracks, and activating Siri with a single or double tap. Voice assistant integration lets you interact with Siri for hands-free device control, messaging, and calls. The AirPods Pro offers an additional feature of active noise cancellation, which uses advanced algorithms to eliminate external sounds and enhance the listening experience.

II. Parts

AirPods are made up of several components including earbuds, charging case, sensors, microphones, batteries, Bluetooth chip, and W1 chip. The earbuds are small, white, wireless earpieces that fit into your ears. They contain speakers, microphones, and touch controls. The charging case is a small, rectangular case that is used to store and charge your AirPods when they are not in use. The case contains a battery and a Lighting port for charging. Airpods contain several sensors, including optical sensors and motion accelerometers. These sensors detect when the AirPods are in your ears when you remove them. There are microphones on both AirPods, which are used for picking up your voice during phone calls and for communicating with Siri. Both the AirPods and the charging case contain batteries. The AirPods deliver an industry-leading “5 hours of listening time and now up to 3 hours of talk time all on one charge” (Apple, n.d.). Lastly, AirPods use Bluetooth technology to connect wirelessly to your device, they contain Bluetooth antennas to facilitate this connection. With certain of its wireless products, such as the AirPods, Beats headphones, and several iterations of the Apple Watch, Apple built a proprietary wireless processor called the W1 chip. The W1 chip’s increased Bluetooth connection, reduced battery use, and quick device pairing are all intended to improve the wireless music experience.

Conclusion

         In conclusion, Apple Inc.’s AirPods are well-liked and practical wireless earphones. Wireless music, easy connection, touch controls, voice assistant integration, and, in the case of the AirPods Pro, active noise cancellation are just a few of the capabilities they provide. The charging case, earphones, sensors, microphones, batteries, and Bluetooth antennae are all parts of the AirPods, which are powered by Apple’s own W1 processor. AirPods are a popular option for music lovers, commuters, and anybody looking for a cord-free listening experience since they provide consumers with a smooth and high-quality wireless audio experience

References

Apple. (n.d.). AirPods (2nd generation). https://www.apple.com/airpods-2nd-generation/

Faizal, F. (2021, September 7). The History Of Apple. Feedough. https://www.feedough.com/the-history-of-apple/

Franzen, C. (2014, July 1). The history of the Walkman: 35 years of iconic music players. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2014/7/1/5861062/sony-walkman-at-35

Marshall, C. (2022, April 24). Hear we go: the history of wireless headphones. TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/news/hear-we-go-the-history-of-wireless-headphones

Research Guides: This Month in Business History: The Founding of Apple Computers, Inc. (n.d.). https://guides.loc.gov/this-month-in-business-history/april/apple-computers-founded#:~:text=and%20Photographs%20Division.-,Apple%20Computers%2C%20Inc.,in%20their%20homes%20or%20offices.

Sandomir, R. (2022, February 2). John C. Koss, Stereo Headphone Innovator, Is Dead at 91. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/business/john-koss-dead.html

Dear Ms. Davidow,

I am excited to introduce myself to you and give you an idea of my background and interest as much as possible. This is my 1^st year at CCNY and I’m looking forward to getting to know you and your class Writing for Engineering.

I am born and raised in Flatbush, Brooklyn and I am an only child. I am first generation American; both of my parents are from the West Indies. My father is Jamaican, and my mother is St.Luican and Guyanese. Throughout my childhood and my teen years, both of my parents went to college and medical school and graduated at the same time I graduated high school!

Growing up I was an extreme bookworm, and I was also very athletic due to my parents both being high school athletes. I used to excel in English, history, and math. I could have done better in science, but I never had a keen for it because we used to examine animals and I was afraid of them.

I always had a love for extracurricular activities, I gained so many friends. Well, it’s always been easy for me because I’m extremely outgoing! I was on the track team, volleyball team, newspaper, and design club! All these clubs shaped me into the person I am now. It’s also the main reason why I continue going to the gym which is one of my favorite hobbies. I love working on my arms and legs so I can get that summer body and just for my personal health.

Well, personally I wouldn’t consider Computer Science a part of engineering because in my humble opinion, it’s barely dapped in engineering. They share certain elements but overall, I wouldn’t say they are the same. Nevertheless, I love it regardless. I got introduced to Computer Science in the 6^th grade by my science teacher Ruth Mesfun ( who now works at Google, such a sweet person). She taught me the fundamentals of cs and she had faith in me. She also brought us on a tour of Facebook’s office in Manhattan. From that day on I knew I wanted to be in that industry. My main interest is mainly UI/UX design and the design aspect of websites and their impacts on lower-income populations.

My dream for the future is to buy my parents a house. They deserve it. They worked so much for me. They came here with 50 cents in their pockets and just dreams. I love them.

What I’d really like to learn this semester is how to handle the madness outside of my room.

Sincerely,

Megan Golding

Theory of Writing

            In my first year at The City College of New York, I had to take two different English classes which was a huge adjustment for me considering in elementary, middle, and high school I had the same English class for a whole school year. In my first semester, I had to take freshman composition, which was honestly a continuation of 12th-grade English in my humble opinion especially since it was a seek class, so the professor was even kinder when it comes to grading. The class Writing for Engineering is a complete 360 from what freshman composition was. Writing for Engineering expanded my writing skills more than I can imagine. This class helped me expand my vocabulary and taught me about different topics and genres, that seem complicated on paper. There were 5 different assignments/writings that broaden my horizon. These assignments were The Letter of Introduction, the PSA, a Lab Report Analysis,  and a Technical Innovation.

                        During my Freshman Composition class, I vaguely remember our professor asking us about our writing process. Which hasn’t really evolved since last semester. My theory of writing/method hasn’t changed since middle school ( in retrospect sounds horrible, I truly haven’t grown up at all ). First, I try to look at the rubric and see which part is worth more than the others and then focus on that part. After that, I try to understand the assignment because I’m looking at the rubric not knowing what I must do. After I figure out if I need to research or is a free write ( like the Letter of Introduction) or is it a research assignment like the other 3 assignments? Regardless of if it is a free write or research project, I look for some blank paper and start jotting ideas down. I think using a pencil and paper is better than using an iPad/Laptop because it helps you remember what you want, and you can see what it will look like.                       

In my Writing for Engineering class, we had completely different assignments than in my Freshman Composition class. My first assignment for Writing for Engineering was the Letter of Introduction. For this assignment, I had to write a formal letter that was introducing myself to my professor. She wanted us to introduce ourselves because this class was online and often, she never saw our faces. The format of this assignment was just a regular standard letter format. This assignment was somewhat difficult because I’m not a fan of talking about myself I get very awkward.

            The second assignment given was the Technical Description. This assignment a huge part of our final grade. For this assignment, I had to write about the Apple product AirPods. I had to write about the AirPods’ functions, their uses, and their history. I also had to write a cover page and an outline. I had to write this paper for someone who hasn’t heard of AirPods. This was an interesting experience because I have not done an assignment like this before. It took extremely wrong for me to gather my thoughts because I had to create the assignment in a certain order. I had maybe 3-4 outlines because I will still so unsure about what I wanted to do exactly. Not only I had to find history about AirPods I also had to research Apple’s history. Before, I wasn’t a fan of this assignment due it being very hard and tedious but looking back at it, it prepared me for what the semester will look like.

The third assignment was a Lab Report Analysis, I’m going to be honest I hate this assignment so much. I don’t think you understand how much stress this one assignment gave me. For this assignment, we had to dissect a lab report piece by piece and compare it. We had to compare a lab report published from a textbook published by Mike Markel in his textbook titled “Technical Description”. This assignment was in the science area, and I wrote about covid vaccines and their side effects. What I found difficult about this assignment was everything god I hate it so much. From, struggling to find sources to try to compare this author’s writings. This assignment made me realize how much I hate lab reports.

The 4^th assignment was a group project/presentation, where we had to create a PSA ( Public Service Announcement). Our topic was the Museum of Natural History, and the museums fight to make this earth more sustainable for future generations. During class, we got placed into groups and we voted as a group we wanted to do the Museum of Natural History. Each group member had a role, and my role was the group leader. In my role, I was the main speaker, designer, and researcher.  Everyone in my group was extremely helpful and helped me with the work.

Finally, the crown jewel of this class is the Technical Innovation Project. The technical innovation project like the PSA was a group project. For this project, we had to find a topic that can be a business proposal and also can be a technical innovation. Our proposal was to expand cheap Wi-Fi options for lower-income communities to help people of those communities have access to better lives. Like the PSA I was the group leader, I took the initiative by telling my team which part they had to do because this assignment was huge. We all brainstormed together, and we had fun doing the assignment.

Within Writing for Engineering, I believe I was able to hit everyone one of the eight-course learning outcomes, where were explore and analyze, develop strategies for reading, drafting, collaborating, recognize and practice key rhetorical terms and strategies, engage in the collaborative and social aspects of writing processes, understand and use print and digital technologies to address a range of audiences, locate research sources in the library’s databases or archives and on the internet and evaluate them for credibility, accuracy, timeliness, and bias, compose a text that integrates your stance with appropriate sources using strategies such as summary, critical analysis, interpretation synthesis, and argumentation, and practice systematic application of citations conventions.

To conclude, my theory of writing hasn’t changed after this class, but this class has opened my eyes to creating new styles of writing. Hopefully, it helped me to get an A or better in the class. Overall, this class prepares you to have a deep knowledge of writing which not a lot of English classes have.