How to…” instructions here.  You can teach us how to do anything from milking a goat to make a paper airplane — whatever floats your boat! Please simply ensure your instructions have at least 5 steps (or 3 major steps with minor steps under each).  Please also note recipes are not permitted for this particular assignment.

For more guidance, please see the examples attached here as well as the information below the examples:

 

Example 1:

 

Example 2:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Designing a Set of Instructions:

· What are your readers’ expectations?

· Simple, inexpensive product

· Expensive consumer product

· What are your readers’ abilities?

· Hearing impairments

· Do you need to create more than one set of instructions for different audiences?

· Electricians installing the device

· Homeowners using the device

· What languages should be used?

· Court cases…

· Will readers be anxious about the information?

· Intimidating information? Make design unintimidating (open pages with lots of white space and graphics)

· Will the environment in which the instructions are read affect the document design?

· Outdoors? Coated paper that can tolerate moisture or dirt.

· Small, enclosed area? Small paper size and a binding allowing reader to fold the pages over to save space.

· Lots of room? Poster-size instructions.

 

Safety Instructions:

· Complicated: It is required that safety glasses be worn when inside this laboratory.

· Simple: You must wear safety glasses in this laboratory.

· Simple: Wear safety glasses in this laboratory.

· Danger: used to alert readers about an immediate and serious hazard that will likely be fatal.

· Warning: used to alert readers about the potential for serious injury or death or serious damage to equipment.

· Caution: used to alert readers about the potential for anything from moderate injury to serious equipment damage or destruction.

 

 

 

Drafting Effective Instructions

· Titles:

· How to… “How to Milk Goats…”

· Gerund… “Installing the…

· Introductions:

· Who should carry out this task?

· Why should the reader carry out this task?

· When should the reader carry out this task?

· What safety measures or other concerns should the reader understand?

· In addition to safety measures that apply to the whole task, mention any tips that will make the job easier:

· NOTE: For ease of assembly, leave all nuts loose.  Give only three or four complete turns on bolt threads.

· What items will the reader need?

· How long will the task take?

· Steps:

· Number the instructions

· Present the right amount of information in each step.

· Use the imperative mood.

· “Attach the red wire to the black wire.”

· Do not confuse steps and feedback statements.

· “Upload your profile file.” Vs. “The system will now update your user information.”

· Do not present feedback as its own step. Include it in the related step.

· Include graphics.

· Add photos or drawings where appropriate.

· Do not omit articles (a, an, the) to save space.

· Omitting articles can make instructions unclear.

· Conclusion:

· Conclude by stating that the reader has now completed the task or describe what the reader should do next.

· “Now that you have replaced the glass and applied the glazing compound, let the window sit for at least five days so the glazing can cure. Then, prime and paint the window.”