The first writing assignment in the class involves writing a set of instructions on how to input information into a website. This discussion topic is designed to help you prepare for that assignment.
In this discussion topic, you will not examine instructions on how to navigate a website. Rather, you will examine instructions on how to use a Sony digital voice recorder. Nonetheless, this discussion topic will help us begin the class by examining principles and strategies in writing instructions for an audience.
1. Please peruse the four resources listed in Resources on Writing Instructions, which is in Content for week 1. The four resources listed there are the following:
Technical Writing Essentials: Writing Instructions
Wikibooks: Professional and Technical Writing–Instructions
Jerz’s Literacy Weblog: How to Write Guides for Busy Grouches
Writing Commons: Creating Rhetorically Effective Instruction Manuals
2. Then download the document titled Poorly_written_instructions_How_to_use_Your_Sony_Digital_Voice_Recorder. The document is posted in Content for week 1.
3. Identify at least three problems with this set of instructions. Use the advice from at least two of the resources to inform the problems you identify. In your response to this discussion topic, please list the three problems you found.
