Your next assignment is to write a set of instructions which a reader can follow while performing a specific task. This memo gives you details about the task, information to include, document design, schedule, and evaluation criteria.

Task Selection

You should choose a task with which you are very familiar and which the reader can perform while following the instructions. Select a task technical enough to require instructions (something more difficult, say, than washing a car), but not so technical that it cannot be treated in a short pamphlet (something less difficult, say, than constructing a complicated deck or patio).

The instructions should be as long as necessary, but aim for something you can explain using at least 10 slides and in about three to five pages: e.g., conducting a lab procedure or installing a personal computer. You can choose this task from skills you’ve acquired in school, on the job, or in a hobby.

The audience for your instructions will be people who have never performed the task before but who have basic knowledge of your topic area.

You will need to submit both an electronic version of the instructions and a print-version (i.e. brochure, pamphlet, or manual).

For the electronic version, you can use FrontPage or Dreamweaver to design your pages if you can use this software. If you are unfamiliar or do not have access to these, you can design and publish your project on http://pages.google.com.  I will be providing some short videos on how to use googlepages.

 Information to Include

The instructions should contain all necessary information for the audience to perform the task efficiently and successfully. (Consult your textbook, http://www.prismnet.com/~hcexres/textbook/instrux.html for more details.) Generally instructions will include the following:

Introduction—establishing the context, purpose, and organization of the instructions. The introduction may include other matters—as outlined in your textbook—depending on the nature of the task and the audience.

Requirements—tools, materials, etc. needed to perform the task. (These can be included in the introduction, if appropriate.)

Any necessary cautions.

The main steps of the process—divided into steps and sub-steps if necessary. Use chronological order, and address the audience directly (active voice, and imperative mood).

Trouble-shooting—if appropriate.

Conclusion—if appropriate.

Document Design

Designing effective visuals (figures, tables, etc.) and well laid-out pages is an important part of this assignment. You are producing a set of instructions— in digital and text format—not an essay. All visual cues—graphics, headings, white space, size and type of print, etc.—should be chosen to help the reader follow the instructions while completing the task.

 Schedule

Due Date , ______________. Hand in plans for your instructions. These should be in the form of a proposal (see proposal folder); be sure to identify the task you’re dealing with.

Due Date, __________. Complete a draft of the introduction to your instructions for a Rough Draft Workshop.

Due Date, _______. Bring to class a complete draft of your instructions, including page layout, for a Rough Draft Workshop.

Due Date, __________. Turn in instructions to me for evaluation.

Evaluation Criteria

Your instructions will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

1. Is the task appropriate to the assignment?

2. Is all necessary information included?

3. Does the introduction successfully orient the reader to the task ahead?

4. Are the major steps and sub-steps of the process clearly organized?

5. Is each step or sub-step explained separately?

6. Is the audience addressed directly?

7. Do the graphics and other visual cues of the document make the information more accessible?

8. Is the style clear, concise, and active?

9. Are the instructions free from disconcerting mechanical errors, such as spelling and grammatical mistakes?

Rhetorical Choices (Reflection) Paper Prompts

 Use the following prompts to help you write your paper on the rhetorical choices you made when assembling your instructions, and feel free to write about other rhetorical choices you made too.

• Who is your audience?
• What visuals did you choose to include Why? If you included a visual, why did you choose to include this particular visual?
• What are the important or essential design elements of your set of instructions?
• In which medium do you anticipate these instructions would be used?
• What changes did you make to your instructions after user testing them? Did the results of usability testing surprise you?

 There are not any wrong answers in this part of the assignment. The only way you can receive less than full credit on this portion of the assignment is by cutting yourself short and not fully documenting your rhetorical choices