Instruction Paper

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Below are three categories that I focus my feedback on for the research proposal assignment. If you scroll further, you will also see the assessment areas – these include the assignment instructions criteria, components checklist, and rubric (scores for each area of assessment). I highlight these aspects to show any unmet criterion/components and then assessment ranks in the rubric.

1. Topic Feedback:

2. Instructional Guide Genre Feedback:

3. Writing Style Feedback:

Assignment Instructions:

1. Complete this assignment using desktop publishing software that can output to a PDF document OR video production software (such as Camtasia - free trial versions are available for a 30-day period -- or you might try out other free video software).

2. Write an ORIGINAL instructional manual in appropriately-spaced/visual format that meets genre expectations; no page requirement or length is specified – this will depend on the topic/task selected. The guide needs to include at least 10 steps to complete a technical task, include at least 1 type of a technical definition, 1 type of a technical description, graphics to support completing the task, and be detailed enough to support the user’s needs.

Note : You many need to scan objects/graphics or use a digital camera and take photos to extract any graphics that you want to copy/paste/insert in the guide. You may also hand draw sketches and then photograph these sketched to “show” what your desired graphics might be for the instructional guide. In other words, you can use hand drawn sketches to give me an idea of what you have in mind. (I do not grade on your artistic talent!) If you want to use a graphics tool, you may – but this is not required and is beyond the scope of the course teachings. (You might also download a trial version of capturing software like Snagit (free 30-day version) or other free/trial software to capture screen shots)

3. Save the document using your last name, underscore, “Assignment8”. (As an example, a student with the last name of Smith should save the document as Smith_Assignment8.pdf.)

4. Submit your assignment via the Assignment area in LEO as an attachment for assessment. (NOTE: If the file exceeds the allowable limit in WebTycho, contact the instructor for other ways to submit your work. A "how to" video can be uploaded to YouTube, or a larger file can be sent via email.)

Assignment Scenario:

You have been tasked to create an ORIGINAL instructional guide for your company (or future workplace, or for fellow UMUC students or fellow hobbyists) that explains how to complete a technical task. (The topic of the guide is of your choice, but it must be long enough to include 10 steps, 1 type of a definition from chapter 20, 1 type of a description from chapter 20, and graphics to support task completion).

In Assignment 5 (Instructional Manual Topic Description and Audience Analysis), you identified a task to write instructional support for and conducted an audience and task analysis to identify the users and their informational needs for reading the instructional manual.

For Assignment 8 (Instructional Manual), you create a fully usable ORIGINAL instructional guide (either print-based as a PDF or web-based as a video).

Assignment Components:

1. The instructional manual includes (see the Genre Components checklist handout for guidance on possible content/sections to include):

· Correct genre format/layout, headings, & graphics

· Logical numbering system (major tasks) and decimal system (for minor/sub-tasks) is used.

· Headings & sub-headings use correct & consistent format/style

· Graphics are appropriately labeled and placed to support textual meaning

· Preliminary information

· Title is in gerund (ing) or “How to” format

· Legal/safety information is provided if necessary

· Table of Contents or listed information is provided (needed or provided items/tools)

· Prerequisites to complete task(s) is provided

· Time to complete task is provided

· Introductory information

· Purpose and/or goals statement is provided

· Overview and/or rationale statement is provided (if needed)

· Approval notice/date is provided (if needed)

· Body information (primary & secondary information)

· Step-by-step information (major and minor tasks) is provided and uses imperative/command voice

· Support information (definitions, descriptions, specifications/standards, graphics/figures) are provided

· Supplemental support information (tips & notes, warnings/dangers/cautions, examples/explanations, system responses/reactionary statements, references, and/or cross-references) are provided

· Concluding information

· Note of completion is provided

· Support information (thank you for purchasing, summary of main points, relationship to other products/documents, technical help, recommendations for additional readings – as needed) are provided

· Supplemental support information (glossary or terms or index) are provided

A (Excellent) 90-100 Points

B (Good) 80-89 Points

C (Average) 70-79 Points

D (Weak) 60-69 Points

F (Failing) 0-59 Points

Audience

(20 pts max)

(16-20 points)

· Excellent match of document to audience needs(the document provides the right content and level of details)

· An ethical approach to the communication situation

(11-15 points)

· Adequate match of document to audience needs (the document provides the right content, but more details are needed)

· An ethical approach to the communication situation

(6-10 points)

· Some mismatches of document to audience needs (the document provides mostly the right content, but may be missing key content or significantly more details are needed)

· An ethical approach to the communication situation

(1-5 points)

· Significant mismatches of document to audience needs (the document provides some of the right content, but is missing several key content areas or significantly more details are needed)

· Questionable ethics

(0 points)

· Failure to match audience needs (the document fails to provide the right content or level of details)

· Unethical aspects

Design

(20 pts max)

(16-20 points)

· Excellent match of design elements to document genre

· Effective use of design principles such as repetition, alignment, contrast, proximity, etc.

· Clear, readable typography for the given content section

· Excellent and ethical use of graphics

(11-15 points)

· Good match of design elements to document genre

· Good use of design principles such as repetition, alignment, contrast, proximity, etc.

· Clear, readable typography for the given content section, but a few minor issues exist

· Good and ethical use of graphics

(6-10 points)

· Adequate match of design elements to document genre

· Decent use of design principles such as repetition, alignment, contrast, proximity, etc. in most areas; but some areas lack design implementation

· Unclear, less readable typography for the given content section, and a few major issues exist

· Adequate and ethical use of graphics

(1-5 points)

· Poor match of design elements to document genre

· Poor use of design principles such as repetition, alignment, contrast, proximity, etc.; most areas lack design implementation

· Unclear, less readable typography for the given content section, and significant major/minor issues exist

· Poor use of graphics or graphics with questionable ethics

(0 points)

· Failure to match design elements to document genre

· Lacking use of design principles such as repetition, alignment, contrast, proximity, etc.; no design implementation whatsoever

· Severe problems with typography exist that defeat readability

· Lack of required graphics or unethical graphics

Style & Editing

(20 pts max)

(16-20 points)

· Clear and succinct prose

· Excellent matching of level of formality and technicality to audience

· Gender- and culture-appropriate language

· No grammatical, mechanical, or typographical errors

· Errors do not affect readability/usability

(11-15 points)

· Almost always clear and succinct prose

· Good matching of level of formality and technicality to audience

· Gender- and culture-appropriate language

· 1-3 grammatical, mechanical, or typographical errors

· Errors mildly affect readability/usability

(6-10 points)

· Somewhat unclear or wordy prose

· Mostly good matching of level of formality and technicality to audience

· Gender- and culture-appropriate language

· 4-5 grammatical, mechanical, or typographical errors

· Errors affect readability/usability

(1-5 points)

· Significantly unclear or wordy prose

· Clear mismatches of level of formality and technicality to audience

· Some problems with sexist or racist language

· 6-7 grammatical, mechanical, or typographical errors

· Errors distract or unintentionally amuse users; errors significantly affect readability/usability

(0 points)

· Unclear and wordy prose throughout

· Extensive mismatches of level of formality and technicality to audience

· Significant problems with sexist or racist language

· 8 or more grammatical, mechanical, or typographical errors

· Errors make the document fail in its goals; errors severely affect readability/usability

Structure

(20 pts max)

(16-20 points)

· Follows structural arrangement and conventions for the genre

· Uses coherent and clear headings, sub-heading, and transitions

· Arranges parts logically

· States the purpose clearly

(11-15 points)

· Follows arrangement and conventions for the genre; some deviations exist, but do not affect user’s expectations of the genre

· Uses mostly coherent and clear headings, sub-heading, and transitions

· Arranges parts logically, but a few minor illogical arrangements exist

· States the purpose mostly clearly

(6-10 points)

· Follows structural arrangement and conventions for the genre; some deviations exist that affect user’s expectations of the genre

· Uses a few incoherent and unclear headings, sub-heading, and transitions

· Includes several minor illogical arrangements

· States the purpose, but not clearly

(1-5 points)

· Fails to follow some structural arrangement and conventions for the genre; several deviations exist that affect user’s expectations of the genre

· Uses ambiguous or non-descriptive headings, sub-heading, and transitions

· Includes significant/major illogical arrangements that cause difficulty in reading

· States the purpose in a way that confuses the reader

(0 points)

· Fails to follow significant structural arrangement and conventions for the genre; severe deviations exist that affect user’s expectations of the genre

· Fails to use headings, sub-heading, and transitions successfully

· Includes severe illogical arrangements that cause difficulty in reading

· Does not state the purpose

Assignment completion

(20 pts max)

(16-20 points)

· Fulfills assignment description precisely and fully

· Includes all parts of the assignment

· Complete, appropriate, and correct citation of sources

(11-15 points)

· Fulfills assignment description mostly

· Includes all parts of the assignment, but a few minor aspects are missing or underdeveloped

· Complete, appropriate, and correct citation of sources, but one or two minor weaknesses exist

(6-10 points)

· Fulfills assignment description mostly

· Missing one or more minor parts of the assignment

· Complete, appropriate, and correct citation of sources, but several minor weaknesses exist

(1-5 points)

· Does not adequately fulfill assignment

· Missing a significant part of the assignment

· Incomplete, inappropriate, and/or incorrect citation of sources; several major weaknesses exist

(0 points)

· Does not fulfill the assignment

· Missing multiple significant parts of the assignment

· Incomplete, inappropriate, and/or incorrect citation of sources; severe major/minor weaknesses exist or completely missing source information