This text is designed to provide students with an understanding and appreciation of some of the essential concepts behind control system elements and operations, without the need of advanced math and theory. It also presents some of the practical details of how elements of a control system are designed and operated, such as would be gained from on-the-job experience. This middle ground of knowledge enables students to design the elements of a control system from a practical, working perspective, and comprehend how these elements affect overall system operation and tuning.