TechJournal: Technical Writing Project Instructions Critique
Send an email message to Dr. Pagnucci with the information below.
To: the email address of the instructions writer AND pagnucci@iup.edu
From: your email address
Cc: your email address (always keep a copy of all your course emails!)
Subject: 322 TJ: Technical Writing Project Instructions Critique
Body of the Message:
(Copy the questions below into your email message. Type your answers after each question. Then send your completed TechJournal to Dr. Pagnucci. Write answers that are as complete as possible. Note also that grammar and spelling will not be counted for eJournals, so just do your best.)
Your Full Name (include your full name at the top of EVERY EMAIL so I can give you credit for your work)
- Who wrote the instructions you are critiquing? List their full name.
- Briefly describe the instructions you are critiquing.
- Does the author explain the purpose of the instructions?
- Could this overview statement be improved?
- What equipment is needed to complete these instructions? Is this information provided to the reader at the beginning of the instructions?
- What terms might be important to define?
- What steps could be made clearer?
- How could the format of the instructions be improved?
- Can the steps be grouped/chunked into smaller sub sets? If so, how?
- How can a reader check his/her progress following these instructions? Is this progress check clearly explained in the instructions?
- Are there any spots in the instructions where a reader might get confused or make a mistake? Is there any way the author can prevent a reader from getting lost at these trouble spots?
- Are there any warnings readers should be given about potential hazards from following these instructions? Consider hazards like accidentally deleting data, breaking items, etc. Does the writer make the reader clearly aware of vital information or could this be improved in some way?
- How can a reader tell if they have successfully completed these instructions? Is this completion check clearly explained at the end of the instructions?
- Using a scale from 1-10 where 10 is the best, rate the overall effectiveness of this set of instructions.