Giving Instructions

Giving Instructions • Adhere to Purposes: • Execution of procedures • Legal protection for manufacturers • Use chronological, numbered steps • Include operator, desired outcome, precautions, and analysis of outcome • Utilize precise title • Novice • Intermediate • Technical

Introductory Material • Preliminary material • Name intended operator and equipment • Delineate expected skills of operator • State objective • Define key terms • Notes, Precautions, Warnings, Dangers • Place prominently • Use boxes, icons, etc.

Introductory Material con’t • Specify necessary conditions and background information • Provide conceptual information here • Do not mix concepts in with instructional steps

Precautions Sample Notes, Cautions, Warnings, Danger Alerts

Tools and Supplies • Tools, materials, apparatus • Provide a list • Include the obvious i.e. old newspapers, running water • Consider including a visual with labeled parts

Giving Instructions cont. • Sequence steps chronologically • Use precise, active-voice verbs • Express component steps in parallel, grammatical form • Use visuals, drawings, photographs throughout

The Steps • Each step must be a command • NOT “A washer must be placed…” • But “Place a washer…” • Thus, begin each step with a verb • Use numbers for steps, bullets for options

Graphics • Can be essential to instructions • Label and locate close to step • Use only quality graphics • Consider the graphics of document design

Sample instructions

Giving Instructions