Instructions and Procedures Assignment
Length:
Value:
Est. Time:
Due Dates:
750-1000 words plus minimum of 3 visuals
245 points
16 to 20 hours
Rough Draft (20 pts.): March 11
Final Draft (225 pts.): March 25
Goal:
Write a set of instructions or procedures. The document should be instructional in
nature and not merely the description of a process such as something which can
only be manufactured in a factory. A major criteria of this assignment is that you
will have to test your instructions; consequently, testability should be a major
concern of your topic selection. This testability not only concerns the logistics
involved in testing (such as finding a test subject, controlling physical conditions,
and availability of tools and materials), but you will also likely have financial
constraints that will inform your choices. Remember, writing is only a small part
(25%) of this assignment. Planning, research, and gathering/creating visuals is the
other 75%.
Length:
The instructions document should be 750 to 1000 words in length and needs to
effectively incorporate at least three visuals, but ultimately your topic selection
will determine how many visuals are required. The completed assignment must
include three items: the completed instructions, a completed “usability test plan,”
and a test memo which is a report about the conditions of your test and the
changes you made to the document based on the test.
Testing:
You will be required to conduct an effective usability test for your instructions.
This test should help you identify problem areas in your document and will act as
your best editing tool.
Audience:
Your usability test should be geared toward a target audience that will challenge
the assumptions you make in the construction of the document. In your test
memo, you should describe this target audience and explain your choice.
Topic:
It’s important for you to identify a “do-able” topic early in the process. You may
choose to write a completely new set of instructions, or you may choose to rewrite
an existing document that is poorly constructed (such as a lab experiment).
However, bear in mind that I need to be able to understand the instructions in
order to fairly evaluate them. While some topics have been permanently
outlawed, such as poker and simple card games and recipes, the door remains
pretty wide open. A simple topic, such as carving a pumpkin, can be extremely
well executed even if it’s not as challenging as a more difficult one, such as taking
good photos. Your chances of success are improved if you stay in an area that you
know well or have some way of obtaining the knowledge through documentation
or another person. Frequently, parents or friends engage in hobbies that offer
instructional possibilities.