Instructions
Instructions are among the most common types of documents in
technical writing. Instructions are everywhere informing readers how to make,
assemble or create something. You may have followed instructions on how to log
onto a computer at work to download and use an App on your Smartphone or how to
put together furniture. It is likely that you will create instructions often in
your career if not as a formal document then at least in a variety of informal
written and oral communications.
Keep in mind the differences among instructions, process
descriptions, and procedures:
Instructions inform readers how to assemble, make, create
something or perform a specific task
Process descriptions tell how something works (e.g., how a
drug works to relieve systems of seasonal allergies). While instructions are
about how to use something, descriptions are about how that thing works (e.g.,
how to take a prescription drug vs. how that drug works in the human body).
Procedures are standardized ways of doing things in
organizations.
For this assignment, you will focus on writing and designing
effective instructions.
Assignment Guidelines
Choose a Technical or Scientific Topic. Begin by reviewing
the assigned reading for unit 4. You will then choose your own topic for this
assignment. In order to give you practice in technical writing, you must choose
a technical or scientific topic. Recipes are not technical or scientific, and
thus are not allowed. Ideally, a topic requires a series of steps for assembly
or various specific tasks to complete. A
topic relevant to nursing may be a good idea, but topics such as "checking
blood pressure" "collecting a urine sample" are too common and
are not allowed for this assignment.
Choose a topic involving ten (10) or more steps. The
following are a few examples of projects from previous classes:
Setting up a small network in your home office
Building and hosting your own website
Installing a solar heating system
Assembling a skateboard
How to change an electrical outlet
How to sew an A-line skirt
Write to a specific audience. You must specify an audience
for your instructions. In most instances, your audience should be
novice--someone who has never performed the task before. Sample audiences for
the instructions mentioned above include home computer owners, small business
owners, and homeowners.
Acknowledge all sources. If you use any sources for your
instructions, acknowledge your sources on an APA reference page and include
this page with your instructions. If you use or adapt illustrations from
another source, use APA captions and provide a reference for each illustration.
Format
Regardless of your task, you must include all of the
following contents (any omission of the following contents will result in grade
deductions):
Introduction. Here you will give your reader the following
information:
The audience in terms of its knowledge and need for the
instructions
What the instructions will allow readers to do
What skill level the audience should have to perform the
task successfully
An overview of the steps needed to complete the task
A sense of how long the task will take
Where they should perform the task, i.e., in a well
ventilated area, outside, on a flat surface, etc.
List of Materials, Tools, or Ingredients
Figures (Diagrams, Drawings, Photographs, Illustrations, or
Tables)
Include captions for each figure
Label figures using APA guidelines
Give attribution to all figures in references
List of Steps, in chronological order, with the following
characteristics:
Ten (10) or more steps
Use of the imperative mood, i.e., "Attach the red
wire" rather than "The red wire is attached." With the second,
passive sentence, readers will not know whether the wire is already attached or
if they need to attach the wire.
Each step must have one specific action only, e.g.,
"Turn the knob one complete turn." and not an elaboration or comment,
e.g., "Turning the knob will result in a better fit."
Each step must have one or two sentences max
Use of the second person (you)
Include warnings or cautions before readers will encounter
problems
Parallel form (see page 97 in the course textbook)
And, if needed, your instructions should also contain:
Warnings
Glossary of terms
References
Appendices
Document Design and Figures
Give careful thought to figures and design elements that
will make your instructions effective.
Make sure all of your steps are numbered, 1-2-3, throughout
Single space the text in paragraphs
You must include two figures. You may create your own or
adapt from other sources. Make sure you provide figure information for each one
and document with APA standards
Use as many of the four basic design principles, CRAP, as
possible
Design your document for consistency (grid patterns,
margins, justification, negative space, indentation, typeface, font style and
size)
Design your document for navigation and emphasis (headings,
color, shading, boldface, italic, and underlining, bulleted and numbered lists)
You must use a two-column format
