Questions
Review assignments
Periodicals report
Internet resources report
Edit by 7-17 (20 minutes)
Submit revised copy by 7-21
Punctuation review
Instructions
Small group work in D2L
hyphens
Use hypens to Hyphens divide words and numbers
Call me at 507-389-5402. to join compound adjectives.
He caught a blue-green fish in the blue-green sea.
[Ctrl]-[Shift]-[-] creates a non-breaking hyphen. en dashes
Use en dashes to indicate a range.
Read pages 528–544 for next week.
[Ctrl]-[minus] creates an en dash.
Typing [Space], [-], [Space] also creates an en dash. em dashes
Use em dashes to indicate a break in thought
He was quite sure that he was finished—or so he thought. to introduce an informal list.
He gave away his last possessions—a tooth brush and a technical communication textbook.
[Alt]-[Ctrl]-[minus] creates an em dash.
Typing a character followed by 2 hyphens and a character also creates an em dash.

non-breaking spaces
Use non-breaking spaces to keep information together a title and a name or a first and a last name a day and a month or the date and the year a value and a unit
[Ctrl]-[Shift]-[Space] creates a non-breaking space.
Commands
Active vs. passive voice
Organization
Samples
Three moods in English:
Happy, sad, indifferent… Maybe, but…
Indicative mood
Subjunctive mood
Statements contrary to fact
I wish I were the king.
If I were you, I would…
Imperative mood (commands)
Begin with verb base
Pay attention. Look sharp.
Vocative
Nominal element added to a sentence identifying one or more people to whom the sentence is addressed.
Biff, look out!
Buffy, give me some advice.
Ole, you are one ornery grandfather.
You, get out of the way!
Stranger, this town isn’t big enough for the two of us.

Transitive verbs = verbs that take an object
Sentence pattern = SVO or SVOO
Emphasis
Active voice -> emphasis on agent/actor
Who threw the brick?
Biff threw the brick.
Passive voice -> emphasis on object of action
What was thrown through the window?
A brick was thrown through the window.
Sentences in the active voice can be transformed into the passive voice:
S V O -> S + be + V + by agent
The experimenter reward s the subjects. ->
The subjects are reward ed by the experimenter.
Sentences in the passive voice can be transformed into the active passive voice:
S + be + V (+ by agent) -> S V O
The process was design ed by our engineers. ->
Our engineers design ed the process.
The process was flawed. (S V C)
The process was hopeless. (S V C)
The process was working smoothly. (S V A)
Sentences in the passive voice can be transformed into the active voice:
S +be + V (+ by agent) -> S V O
The products were being imported by our competition. ->
Our competition was importing the products.
The products have been tested. ->
Our QA engineers have tested the products.
Template for analyzing instructions

Front matter
Definition, benefits, and purpose of the procedure
Intended audience
Prior knowledge and skills needed by the audience
Brief overall description of the procedure
Principle of operation
Materials, equipment (in order of use), and special conditions
Working definitions
Warnings, cautions, dangers (previewed here and spelled out at steps)
List of major steps
Required steps
First major step definition and purpose materials, equipment, and special conditions for this step substeps
Second major step (and so on)
Troubleshooting or follow-up advice
Sample documents :
 Guide-nails
 “Little Easy” Universal Remote
 Whirlpool Air Conditioner
 SMC Portable Hose Reel
 MSU Equipment Instructions
 Information and Instructions for the Patient Who Has Had Major Surgery after
Arriving Home
Websites
 Bay details: Load bearing details. n.d. Shepley UK < http://www.shepley.com/bay2.htm
>
14 July 2008.
 How to change a car battery. n.d. WikiHow < http://www.wikihow.com/Change-a-Car-
Battery > 14 July 2008.
 How to install a Microsoft pointing device and the IntelliPoint software. 11 October
2007. Microsoft Help and Support < http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258785 > 14 July
2008.
 Learn2 change a car battery. n.d. Learn2.com
< http://www.americredit.com/Customers/tools/Learn2ChangeCarBattery.htm
> 14
July 2008.
 MSU Library catalog exercise. n.d. Memorial Library
< http://lib.mnsu.edu/distlearn/exercises/catexercise.html
> 14 July 2008.

Sentence exercises
Complete the following exercises collaboratively:
Sentences: commands (10 points) -- collaborative, in-class
Sentences: passive --> active voice (10 points) -- collaborative, in-class
Attach the files to an email message.
Provide the subject line “Eng 271: Collaborative sentence exercises” (without the quotation marks).
CC all group members.
Analysis of instructions
Analyze the following instructions
MSU Library catalog exercise. n.d. Memorial Library
< http://lib.mnsu.edu/distlearn/exercises/catexercise.html
>14 July 2008.
Summarize your group’s discussion in the body of an email message.
Provide the subject line “Eng 271: Analysis of instructions” (without the quotation marks).
CC all group members.