Giving Instructions
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Adhere to Purposes:
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Execution of procedures
Legal protection for manufacturers
Use chronological, numbered steps
Include operator, desired outcome,
precautions, and analysis of outcome
Utilize precise title
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Novice
Intermediate
Technical
1
Introductory Material
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Preliminary material
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Name intended operator and equipment
Delineate expected skills of operator
State objective
Define key terms
Notes, Precautions, Warnings,
Dangers
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Place prominently
Use boxes, icons, etc.
2
Introductory Material con’t
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Specify necessary conditions and
background information
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Provide conceptual information here
Do not mix concepts in with instructional
steps
3
Precautions
Sample Notes, Cautions, Warnings, Danger Alerts
4
Tools and Supplies
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Tools, materials, apparatus
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Provide a list
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Include the obvious i.e. old newspapers,
running water
Consider including a visual with labeled
parts
5
Giving Instructions cont.
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Sequence steps chronologically
Use precise, active-voice verbs
Express component steps in
parallel, grammatical form
Use visuals, drawings, photographs
throughout
6
The Steps
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Each step must be a command
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NOT “A washer must be placed…”
But “Place a washer…”
Thus, begin each step with a verb
Use numbers for steps, bullets for
options
7
Graphics
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Can be essential to instructions
Label and locate close to step
Use only quality graphics
Consider the graphics of document
design
8
9