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ENGL 2311 – Technical Writing

Instructions Assignment

For this assignment, you will write a set of instructions for a task of your choice. The process for this assignment is described in detail below.

1. Select a Topic

The task can be anything you would like, but you will have to have people (in your household or via FaceTime or video chat) who can actually test out your instructions, so don’t choose a task that is impossible to actually complete or that requires materials that aren’t readily accessible.

Some examples of potential topics might include:

· setting your DVR to record a program

· making a recipe from scratch

· changing a car tire

· downloading software

· braiding hair

· washing your dog

· tying a tie

Once you have decided on your task, you will send me an email so I can make sure it will work for you.

2. Draft Your Instructions

After you come up with your task and discuss it with me, draft your instructions. Your instructions should include the following:

· A title

· A general introduction

· Step-by-step instructions

· A conclusion

Refer to page 406-410 of your textbook for guidelines on how to write these parts of your instructions.

After drafting your instructions, carefully go back over them and then have someone else read them over to see if they are missing anything. At that point, you should submit them as the Rough Draft of your Instructions assignment. Be sure to submit your best work, as there is no point to me giving you feedback on work you already know is not finished.

3. Create User Questions

Review information on testing your instructions on p. 410 of your textbook.

Next, create a set of questions for two people who will test your instructions. The questions for the users should have to do with how the instructions process went for them, how they felt throughout it, and when the might have been confusing or unclear.

You can have open ended questions, like “Would you change any of the steps. Why or why not?” Or you can use what is called a Likert scale where you say something like “Please rate your level of comfort with using these instructions” and then have the numbers 1-10 written out in a line for the users to circle. You probably want 4-5 questions and you can use a combination of the above types. Try to craft your questions to get the most feedback possible from the users so you can improve your instruction set.

4. Test Your Users

Find two test users to complete your instructions. The test users can be anyone that you would like, such as a friend, sibling, parent, or partner. The test user should be someone who has never seen the instructions yet. You will need to be present (at least via FaceTime or video chat) when your test user tries out the instructions. Watch him or her carefully as he or she completes the instructions, taking notes on what happens with each step. Don’t be afraid to ask the user to stop after a step so you can complete your notes. With your test subject’s permission, you may also video the process to take notes on later.

You will then repeat the process again with a different person so that you have notes from two different test users who tried your instructions. Be sure that you have each person work on the instructions one at a time and separately. You don’t want the second person to have seen what the first person did, or it will skew your results. You also want to make sure not to change or alter the instructions from one test user to the next. You need them both working on the same set so you get equal data.

5. Ask Users to Complete Test User Questions

After they have both completed the instructions, you will need to ask them to complete your User Questions. Make sure they are able to submit these to you in person or via email or photo. You will need copies of their responses to submit for this assignment.

6. Write Up Your Testing Observations

Once your test users are finished, write up your observations from the notes you took and the test users’ answers to your questions. These observations need to be detailed, like a scientific report (though they don’t need to be in any specific format). Include date, time, length of session, what happened, and any other important information that accurately represents the process they went through. If the test users have any trouble with the steps or try to start doing things their own way instead of using your instructions, you need to note it. You can type up the summary of your observations in one document to submit.

7. Make Revisions

After the testing process is complete, if necessary, make revisions to your original instructions to correct any issues your test users might have had.

8. Submit Your Assignment

When you submit the final draft of your assignment, you will submit your materials to the appropriate assignment on eCampus.

Submit the following to the Final Draft Instructions assignment:

· Your final revised copy of the instructions

Submit the following to the Test User Report Materials assignment:

· Your User Questions (just the questions)

· Your user’s responses to the User Questions – These can be photos or documents.

· Your Testing Observations

Additional Tips

· Use photos if appropriate. You are almost always going to need to include pictures or visuals with your set of instructions.

· Give credit for photos that are not your own. You also need to give credit to any photos that are not yours. For instance, under the photo, just put a small line that says something like “Photo adapted from: ilovepics.com.” It’s not acceptable to do a Works Cited page at the end. It needs to be clear which pictures came from which site. Keep in mind that Google Images is not a site, so you need to click to find the original site the photo came from.

· Pay attention to content AND layout. Not only are the instructions themselves important, but how they appear on the page is also crucial. You want to think about who is using the instructions and how they are using them. For instance, should your font be bigger, smaller, or bold? How would someone physically use the instructions during the task? This can affect how you lay things out, colors, sizes, etc. You will be able to see from the posted samples that a lot of work goes into a “A” level instructions set. If you simply type a numbered set of instructions on a page, the highest grade you would earn would be a C. This assignment takes some visual creativity, so be sure to look at the samples that were provided.

· I strongly recommend using MS PowerPoint, rather than Word for this assignment, as it allows you to work with photos much more easily. Don’t think of this as a PowerPoint presentation, but as documents you would print out for someone to use. You can use however many pages are necessary.

Grading

Your Instructions assignment will be graded on the following criteria for a total of 175 points:

Content – Instructions include a title, general introduction, step-by-step instructions, and a 40 points

conclusion. Introduction includes relevant information about who, why, and when the

task should be completed, safety measures, materials, and time required. Step-by-step

instructions are numbered appropriately and include feedback information. They present

the appropriate amount of information in each step. Conclusion summarizes the

completion of the process and any next steps.

Layout – Document is visually appealing. It employs a professional, easy-to-read style 30 points

consistently. Graphics clearly relate to the text. White space is used effectively.

Clarity – Instructions are written so that users can easily understand them. The process is 20 points

described in detail without being wordy.

Usability – The design and content of the instructions are appropriate for the way the 10 points

instructions will be used. Writer has considered audience and purpose in the design and content.

Instructions are an appropriate length for the topic and are not intimidating for the user.

User Questions – User questions are appropriate and provide valid feedback on the instructions. 15 points

User Responses – At least two users completed the User Questions. 10 points

Testing Observations – Observations are written in an appropriate format and include relevant 20 points

information (date, time, length of session, what happened, difficulties) that describes the

test users’ processes in completing the instructions. Observations are clear and concise.

Mechanics Project demonstrates a command of the standards of edited American English with 30 points no major grammatical or punctuation errors.

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