Analyzing Instructions Samples
Read over the real world instructions samples which you received in class. Then analyze the quality of each set of instructions. For each set of instructions, you will need to answer the questions below.
Email Your Critique to Dr. Pagnucci
After you finish critiquing the real world instructions, send your critique in an email message to Dr. Pagnucci. Use the format below for your email:
To: pagnucci@iup.edu
From: your email address
Cc: your email address (always keep a copy of all your course emails!)
Subject: English 322 Critique: Real World Instructions
Body of the Message:
Copy the questions below into your email message. There are 4 sets of instructions for you to look at, so you will need to copy and paste the questions 4 times. When you are done, you should have 20 answers total, 5 answers for each set of instructions.
Your Full Name:
Instructions Set Number (1-4):
Instructions Set Description: Briefly describe each set of instructions you are critiquing. Then answer the questions below for all 4 sets of instructions:
- Which features/elements of the instructions help the reader to follow the directions correctly? (What are the strengths of this set of instructions?)
- Which aspects of the instructions are likely to cause problems for the reader? (What are the weaknesses of this set of instructions?)
- Does any language in the instructions make them appear to be gender-biased? In other words, is any of the writing in the instructions geared more towards male readers or more towards female readers? Explain your answer.
- Does any language in the instructions make them appear to be educationally-biased? In other words, does it appear that a reader would need a specific level of education (grade school, high school, college, post-college) to be able to understand these instructions? Explain your answer.
- On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best, rate the overall quality of each set of instructions.