TCOM 2010 Quiz #5 Instructions
There are several reasons why a set of instructions should contain a technical description. Which of the following is/are valid reasons?
- So the reader will know what prep work needs to be done - So the reader will know what the final result will be - So the reader will know s/he is the intended audience - So the reader will understand any unfamiliar terms
What's the difference between a technical description and a set of instructions?
A set of instructions explains how to use something; a technical description explains how something works
What's the difference between a simple procedure and a complex procedure?
A simple procedure involves just one task, but a complex procedure involves multiple, semi-independent tasks.
What's a task-oriented approach to instructions, and why is it desirable?
A task-oriented approach to instructions tells the user how to accomplish what s/he wants to do. This approach helps the user achieve her/his goal quickly.
A troubleshooting section is a special type of instruction set. What, in particular, is so special about troubleshooting sections?
A troubleshooting section contains actions that can be performed in practically any order, so you can use a bulleted list or perhaps a table for the various possibilities.
Where should you place safety notices in instructions?
Both in the introduction and next to any hazardous step.
Who should write instructions that carry a "Danger" label?
Experienced technical communicators who have lots of insurance through their employers.
When you're writing instructions, which audience should you write for?
People who read instructions like computers read programs
What's the most effective way to start a step?
Start with an action verb
Let's say you've bought a brand-new Eazy Choppa lawnmower from The Home Depot, and you're excited about your purchase. ("Awright! I'mma get my mulch on! w00t!") You open the box, pull out the instructions, give them the once-over...and get really bored really fast, 'cuz the to-do list is a solid block of twenty pages, listing steps 1 through 143. You're no fool, though. You've used a lawnmower before! So you dump the instructions, fill the machine with gas, give the starter cord a yank, and start scalping the yard. In about two minutes, there's a awful grinding noise, followed by a deafening bang! The engine block cracks in half. Your new mower is DEAD. It turns out that you ditched the instructions before getting to the part where it told you to add oil before starting the engine the first time. Hence, the engine overheated and seized up. You're out $600. Who's at fault, and why?
The Eazy Choppa company is at fault. They did a bad job of documenting their product
You've just assembled a new turnip twaddler, but it looks...odd. Perhaps that's the nature of a turnip twaddler, but you aren't sure. What should you look for the instructions' conclusion, and why?
You should look for a feedback statement that describes the finished device. Every instruction set should tell the reader what s/he will end up with
What verb tense and mode should you use when writing instructions?
present tense and imperative mode
