7/17/2019 Instruction Assignment

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Assignment 2.2: Instruction Set  Due: 10.6 

Whether it’s telling users how to run a piece of computer software, training a new colleague in how to

operate a machine, or helping fellow scientists across the globe replicate your experiment—clear and easy to

follow instructions are key to technical communication. Thus, building from Assignment 2.1, in Assignment

2.2 you will build a set of instructions that tells your reader how to write the genre you’ve analyzed. Indeed,

you might imagine using a time machine to send this set of instructions to your past self to make Assignment2.1 a little easier. Following the production of this written instruction set you will give a brief 4 to 5-minute

 presentation to the class on the key information of your instruction set.

Advice•  Make things easy for yourself by drawing information directly from your genre analysis.

•  Imagine an audience who has never written this genre before.

•  Predict questions and problems your audience might have in writing the genre.

•  Calculate the ways in which your audience might like to customize the genre/make it their own. How

can you plan for this personalization?

•  Use two visuals.

•  Break the process down into manageable steps as to not overwhelm your reader.

• 

Create an easily scannable and logically ordered text using the document design tips we’ve discussed

thus far.

•  Your task should be explained in around 3 single-spaced pages.

Contents: Should Follow Anderson 572-597 1.  Introduction and Background

•  What will these instructions help me do?

•  Is there anything I need to know to be able to use these instructions effectively?

•  Includes subject, purpose of procedure, intended readers, scope, organization, conventions,

motivation, and safety.

2. 

List of Materials•  Before she begins to write the genre/follow the set of instructions, is there certain information that

your reader needs to collect? In order to write a lab report, for instance, your reader will have to have

completed an experiment—are there special things to pay attention to/collect while performing the

experiment?

•  Where do I gather materials from?

•  Are there tools I need? What are they and what do they look like?

3.  List of Steps and Sub-Steps

•  Once I’m ready to start, what exactly do I do?

•  Written for scanning, rapid comprehension, action-oriented headings, branching steps clearly

represented, notes on what might go wrong on specific steps.

• 

How can you incorporate bits and pieces of the examples from your genre analysis?

4.  Trouble-Shooting Tips

•  Something isn’t working correctly. How do I fix it?

5.  Glossary of Key Terms and Definitions

•  Key terms that you might have to use that I might not know.

•  Key websites and other sources of information that might prove useful.