Instruction Paper

LOW STAKES EXAMPLES FROM THE CLASS, Friday Apr. 24, 2020


 TF  comments are in bold, but I welcome your comments in the comments section:

During this time of quarantine, it's important to stay sane and realize that this pandemic may be prolonged and what better way to maintain sanity than to keep busy. This is a great opportunity to learn something new. This homemade lightbulb experiment is not only simple and fun but allows you to be creative due to its malleability. You only need  [With] simple ingredients: [We don't need to use a sentence fragment.]  a [A]  pack of batteries,two clear different sized cups(large and small),two copper wires with 4 small alligator clips, lead, tape.  

The Set Up

1.tape all of your batteries from your pack (fair amount [This expression could be confusing; just say 2-4) 2-4) together ensuring that the opposite forces are stuck to each other (+/-)

2.will [You don't need will--which signifies the future tense; all of the verbs should be parallel in structure]  grab one end of one  copper wire and tape it to the bottom of the small cup facing up. Then do the same with the other copper wire and tape it across the first wire.

3.Obtaining lead is quite simple as it can be found in any automatic or plain pencil. (Graphite will work just fine.) [Use periods to end all sentences.] The thinner the more effective. You will clip it on the stand you just created in step  two, ensuring each clip is assigned to one end of the lead. [The first two sentences should be AFTER the actual instruction: Clip the lead on the stand....]

4.Place the larger cup over your initial contraption, ensuring that the free ends (non taped) of the copper wire are outside.

5. Just [You don't need the preposition: by]  placing (toughing) [I think you mean: touching] one end of copper wire to the positive end and the other one to the negative will allow the electrons from the batteries to flow through the wire into the lead and heat it up, creating a glow effect mimicking a light.

[I think that we basically have the whole instructions, or maybe most of them, since there might be a concluding warning about how to avoid injury and I think that these instructions are clear enough that even I could do it. Hmm, if I have time, maybe I will!]

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How To Use A Butt Splice Connector 

A butt splice connector is an accessory used to create a seamless electrical connection between two wires. This accessory is inexpensive, safe, effective, quick to apply and very easy to use, making it a desirable appliance for both professionals and hobbyists. The items that you will need are: the butt splice connector, wires, wire strippers, wire crimpers, and goggles for safety.

(Photos of all the tools will be placed here)

[This is a very clear, concise, precise account of the purpose of this connector and items used; it is very suitable for an introduction. There are no grammatical issues.]
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Please note: Keep saved files only AND Remove all are bolded by the writer; I have done other bolding:

Step 2: Launch the tool [You need to mention what the tool is in step 1; you probably know that you can alternate between the name and "the tool," but I'm just saying it for everyone's benefit.] and select any one option from the prompt on your screen. Choose the option Keep saved files only to keep all personal files -or- choose the Remove all option to delete all files. [In this case, bulletin points for these 2 items would be easiest to read. If other class members disagree with me on this, speak up.] (Warning: In any case, this tool will perform a complete re-installation which will remove all manually installed applications in order to install new built-in apps. [This sentence is a little challenging for some average readers. I don't think the phrase "In any case" is necessary, but also you should put "will remove... applications" first and then the part about re-installation; This tool will remove all ... built-in apps, This will be a complete re-installation.] It will reset all personalized settings and change to default settings which may affect the overall performance of your device) [Do you want to tell them HOW it will affect the overall performance? Would that be helpful?]

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To watch my video on the Instruction Paper, please click on this link:

https://youtu.be/jtNSWG8tYEI

I am inclined not to post a sample set of instructions, as I promised to do on the course schedule, because there are so many differences in products that any 1 or 2 examples of the Instruction Paper could not cover the whole range.

During this time of isolation for some of us, and a time when those of us who have to leave home to go to work don't have time to do homework when they're on the job, it's best to look around your home for the subject matter of the Instruction Paper, which is longer, more involved, and more technical than what you've done so far. Your paper might deal with installation, use, or repair of:
computer software
  "            hardware
     involving a:
desktop
laptop or tablet
I-phone
robot  

If you're going to be an engineer involved in household product development, think about a:
TV
CD player
toaster oven  
radio  
microwave  
washing machine dryer

Some of you have expertise in auto repair. Is that a viable possibility?

EXPLANATION OF LOW STAKES WRITING: ONE PARAGRAPH OF THE INSTRUCTION PAPER for Friday, Apr. 24, 2020

By "paragraph," I mean that you should write either the paragraph of introduction, which is rather brief
OR
one full step in the 4 or 5 step process.

I will be looking for clarity and specificity of language.





for Monday, Apr. 27, 2020

USABILITY TEST

Did you or someone you know ever follow a set of technical instructions and get frustrated because the job took too long to complete? Did you or the other person feel that the instructions were not clear or well expressed? The usability test is supposed to measure the effectiveness of a set of instructions.

In a professional situation, your company would carry out the test with five or more users, and if problems were found with the instructions, the revision would also undergo the same testing with five more users, and so on. If you are living with other people and want to perform a test to measure the effectiveness of what you have written in the Instruction Paper for an item that you have at home, you might learn something, even though you don’t have a large enough statistical sampling. Then again, you can test any set of instructions for a product in your home that you think might be improved. 

Procedure for Usability Test:   

1.  In the instructions that you would test, there should be between 4 and 8 steps for the reader to do to perform the overall task.  

2.  Decide in advance the dividing line between a successful or unsuccessful attempt at doing the task. This would include the maximum number of errors made along the way, and the overall result during the time limit.

3. Present the instructions to the reader. Explain the procedure of the test, but do not give any explanation about the instructions themselves. The reader should get 10 minutes to fulfill the task.

4. Observe the reader of the instructions as s/he tries to perform each phase of the task. Write down: 

·     the time it takes to do each step of the task

·     the overall time taken to do (or give up trying to do) the whole task

·     the achievement or lack of achievement of each step in the task

·     the achievement or lack of achievement of the whole task

·     their comments about problems they find with the instructions.

5.  When you write up your description of what you observed on the basis of notes you took and then write your evaluation of the relative success of the instruction paper based on your criteria, you will see if anything needs to be written different, and you can specify what changes seem logical to implement.