Homework Exercise 1:  Study user knowledge

List and evaluate situations requiring instructional writing; people and activities. The idea of this assignment is to identify software users and analyze it according to principles of task orientation. 

Steps

  1. Identify  three persons in a workplace situation where you know software is used.
  2. Phone or visit each person and conduct a brief (under 30-minute) interview.
  3. Ask the person to describe the kinds of software programs he or she uses in the workplace.
  4. Ask these questions: 

    Describe the job: "What are your main workplace activities (overall job description)?"

    Describe the job tasks: "What are your main workplace actions (job duties and task responsibilities)?"  Ask about actions that form sequential units to achieve an overall workplace goal.

    Identify user knowledge: "What have you learned about a software program that wasn't taught in the manual?"  "What tricks or special techniques have you developed for working with your favorite program?"
     

  5. Write a brief, one- to two-page report about your findings.  Your reader is your publications manager wanting to know  how would you structure a software manual or help system to support this person's work with this specific program?  

Homework Exercise 2: Write a terrible procedure

Break the rules of good language in documentation. In this exercise you are to write a procedure for a task that breaks all the rules.  The more rules you break the better.  For help in finding what rules to break, consult WSD, Chapter 12:  Getting the Language Right.

The trick to this exercise is to make the procedure "good/bad" so that you can show off your writing skills while making mistakes. You should focus on bad style rather than bad format.   Write a parody of bad instructional prose.  Have fun.

Write a brief, one-page (maximum) memo to me telling the rules you broke and why. 

Homework Exercise 3:  Un-design and test a document

Remove the formatting (layout and graphics) from a web page or other instructional document and test it in the un-formatted form. Describe the problems your user had with the document.  Write a brief report on the difference that the layout and graphics make.

Homework Exercise 4: Take the Learning Styles Inventory and write a short report.

Visit this site:  Learning Styles.

Process:  read about the learning styles and predict what you think you characteristics will be.  Then take the inventory and see what it says. Write a brief report (one-page memo) telling how well you think the inventory predicted your learning style as you see it.  

Practice applying learning styles concepts using the Learning Styles Workshop

Homework Exercise 5: Plain Language Strategies

The link below takes you to a site devoted to writing government regulations in plain English.  

http://www.plainlanguage.gov/

Visit the site and navigate to the examples section for manuals:  Manuals.

Select one of the "before" and "after" examples and study them both. Write a brief evaluation of one of them in terms of 1) compromises in cultural sensitivity you can identify, and 2) overall efficiency of the revised ("after") version.

Example:  http://www.smartny.com/sm_whitepaper.pdf

B E F O R E

STANDBY MAGNETIC COMPASS

The STANDBY MAGNETIC COMPASS provides aircraft heading information. It is intended for use if a failure of both primary displays occurs.

STANDBY ATTITUDE INDICATOR./COURSE DEVIATION INDICATOR SYSTEM

The Model ADI-355 Attitude Indicator (Photo 8) provides a visual display of pitch and roll attitude and both enroute

Course Deviation Indicator (CDI)/Very High Frequency Omnirange (VOR)/Dis-tance Measuring Equipment (DME)/Flight Management System (FMS) navigation aids and precision approach Instrument Landing System (ILS) information. The indicator may be used as a long range standby attitude reference, during a primary power failure, when coupled with an emergency power supply. After complete loss of power, nine minutes of useful attitude information is presented.

A F T E R

STANDBY MAGNETIC COMPASS

The standby magnetic compass supplies information for the aircraft heading. This compass operates when there is a malfunction in the primary systems.

STANDBY ATTITUDE INDICATOR AND COURSE DEVIATION INDICATOR SYSTEM

The Attitude Indicator Model ADI-355 (see photo 8) has a display for pitch and roll. This

display also includes these indicators:

• Course Deviation Indicator (CDI)

• Very-High Frequency Omnirange (VOR)

• Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)

• Flight Management System (FMS)

• Instrument Landing System (ILS)

When there is a power failure, the model ADI-355 can supply an attitude reference for the next nine minutes. After nine minutes, see the Emergency procedures.