To: Nancy Myers

From: Serenity Haines

Date: April,28 2022
Subject: APLED 121- chapter 15 summary

Chapter 15 summary

Why Write Instructions?

 To instruct and inform people of the operations of a product such as,

1. How to operate a mechanism or install equipment
2. How to assemble a product
3. How to change a tire or the oil in a car

Criteria for Writing Instructions

 Audience Recognition- identify your audience, so your instructions can reflect necessary
information.
 Ethical Instructions- it is a company’s responsibility to supply up to date information on product
features and safety protocol.
 Components of instructions- there are many ways to list instructions, but the instructions need
to complement the process.
 Title page- adding things like your topic, purpose, and graphics in a preface title page can grasp
your audience’s attention.
 Safety Requirements- make your readers aware of hazard. Using larger text size, color coding,
and icon you can alert importance to the hazards of the process.
 Table of Contents- for easy access to specific information a table of contents helps direct
readers to information on as-need basis.
 Introduction- personalize introductions by using positive words (thank you and pleasure) and
pronouns (you and your) to establish good customer-company relationships.
 Glossary- define your acronyms and terminology to properly communicate with the reader.
 Required Tools or Equipment- provide a list or graphics depicting the tools and equipment
necessary before the instructions.
 Instructional Steps- this vital step includes the actions required by one to carry out the task. The
instructions should: start with a verb, be clear, concise, and not lengthy.
 Additional components- provide your customers with additional information for any situation
that may occur
1. Appropriate callouts (detailed information on parts of a product or process)
2. Schematics (drawings or images)
3. Warranties (detailed information on what you will be held responsible for and when you
can hold the company responsible)
4. FAQs page (common customer concerns that can be addressed immediately)
5. contact information.
 Graphics- images can help your reader work through difficulties, identify your audience and
decide whether your image is detailed enough to need text.

Collaboration to Create user Manuals

  User manuals can be long and complex, it can take a whole team to create a finished manual. A
project managers can help delegate responsibilities including how the manual will look,
budgeting for the manual, mockups of products, and test groups to check the useability of a
product or its manual.

Instructional videos

 Animated screen visuals and video instructions can help the reader connect with the project.
Visual learners and hands on learners can gain understanding by watching someone go through
the step-by-step process with them.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

 Reasons for writing an SOP- to ensure government regulations are followed, reference SOPs for
accurate procedure protocol.
 Components of SOPs- SOPs need to maintain organization. follow specific steps to compose
your SOP. The manual needs to include
1. A titlepage
2. Definitions of terms
3. safety warnings
4. Personal qualifications and responsibilities
5. Equipment and supply’s
6. Procedures
7. References

Test for Useability

 Compose a usability test by selecting an audience, asking the audience to test the instructions,
monitoring the audience, and quantify the audiences’ responses.

Sample instructions

 As a writer, sample your instructions to make sure your reader can follow along.

The writing process at work

 Prewriting- brain storm your topic and accumulate your information.

 Writing- compose your main idea and categorize your information.
 Rewriting- fix any mistakes or technical errors before presenting your finished product.