How to Create and read Instruction Manuals

Student Objectives Analyze technical instructions to learn what makes them effective or ineffective for an audience. Analyze and describe the audience for a set of instructions, noting what that audience needs from that document. Use document and audience analysis, drafting, peer response/user feedback, and revision to create effective technical instructions. Reflect on their writing process, noting how this assignment will be useful to them in future writing.

What are Instructional Manuals? When did you last read a manual? From your own experience, how helpful were they? What parts were difficult? What did you do if you had trouble understanding the instructions? Or, what did you do if your product stopped working properly? Write your answers on a piece of paper and be prepared to share out.

Effective and Ineffective

Analyzing Technical Instructions You will see a set of technical instructions. As a group, analyze your set of instructions for the following items. Take notes as you discuss. 1. Audience: Who is the audience for the instructions? How do you know? 2. Purpose: What are the instructions helping the audience do or create? 3. Rate Instructions—Easy vs. Difficult: Are these instructions easy for the audience to use? Why or Why not? 4. Effective vs. Ineffective Elements: Identify both good and bad parts of instructions. 5. Visual Appeal: How does the set of instructions look? What about its the look and design that is effective or ineffective for the audience? 6. Language: What kind of language does the document use? Is it appropriate for the audience? Give examples.

Effective vs. Ineffective Share out your answers for each of the manuals. Which one was more effective than the other? What made them effective? What made them difficult? What could you have done better if you were in charge of writing a manual?

Writing Instructional Manuals technical writing tips http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/technical/instructions/tips.htm

Small Group Activity In your group you will be creating instructions for one of the following tasks: How to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich How to ride a bicycle How to download a song from your iPod Include 3 trouble shooting tips You have 10 min. to create your directions: *Remember* Create detailed chronological order directions that ANYONE can follow

Homework (Individual Assignment) Put the following on Your Desk The Manual of one product that you use on a regular basis The Planning Sheet and the Visually Drafting Sheet The Product Manual Rubric AND your Poster Board You will be creating a small product manual poster Due: Tuesday Remember to include: visuals 10 trouble shooting tips Chronological detailed step by step instructions

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY Along with the product manual poster, you will create a short power point about your favorite food recipe. (slide count is up to you) Write the recipe and its steps. Include 5 trouble shooting tips in case someone makes a mistake while cooking, or if they are not able to find an ingredient. Include a video or photos of yourself following the recipe Bring your final product to class to share! Tips: Watch your favorite cooking show on TV or youtube Notice how they break things down step by step and see if they include trouble shooting techniques in case you do something wrong or don’t have an ingredient.