Project 2: Technical Instructions
For Project 2, you will write three 2-page technical instructional documents for one application listed below. Feel free to pick an application that isn’t listed below. The list is merely a suggestion. The assignment will be the same no matter what application you use. The purpose of the three 2-page technical instructional documents is to supplement the chapter you reported on for Project 1. To clarify, the application we use must relate to the chapter content of the chapter chosen in Project One? The application you choose should be significant to the chapter you chose, and should be used for Project 3 where you will actually use the instructions to create content for The Being-Not Rich at UA and Pima Community College Guide.
Why Write Technical Instructions?
Writing technical instructions is a staple in technical writing. Whether your exigence is immediate, asking someone to quickly help, or more carefully planned, like producing documentation for a company product, you must provide help that circulates within a given context so that the intended audience receives the just-in-time support. There are some great resources out there on technical instructions like this one. And this one. Then here’s another one.
Some Preliminary Questions to Get Started
● Previous experience: Do you have previous experience with this application? If so, how will you be learning something new during this project (for example, if you’ve already worked with Photoshop before, what new aspects/strategies/tools within Photoshop will you be learning and using for this project)?
● Access: Where/how/why do you have access to this application?
● Learning: Where/how will you learn about this application? Where are the places you might go for help during the project? Be specific, don’t just say “YouTube” or “the help page,” provide links to specific videos and/or the help page.
● How might you use what you will learn for future academic or professional projects?
● What are you concerned or worried about? Why?
To complete this assignment you will select one of the digital applications from the list below; please select something you have never used before (or something you’re not proficient with) and to which you already have access. You will be responsible for developing three 2-page instructional documents for how to use the application. Each instruction document must focus on a very specific element like, but not limited to, adding a hyperlink, editing an image, sharing an item, publishing an item, and/or commenting. Your instructional documents must smoothly incorporate your text and images; therefore, you will be using a program like Canva or Adobe InDesign (through the UA Adobe Creative Campus License) to produce your final document. Do we have to use the list of applications below or can there be another source?
Possible Applications
Zoho Apps (only pick one)
Project Management
● Asana
● Trello
● Basecamp
Presentation Softwares
● Google Slides
● Prezi
● VoiceThread
Diigo
Google Maps (making a map)
Google Forms
Audio (Audacity)
Images
● Photoshop Express
● Canva
● Pixlr
● LunaPic
● PhoXo
● Paint.Net
● GIMP
Stormboard
Realtime Board
Padlet
Adobe Creative Cloud Applications (UA student license information)
Mind/Cluster Mapping
■ Popplet
■ MindMeister
■ Mindomo
■ Gliffy
■ Cacoo
■ Lovely Charts
■ Webspiration
■ LucidChart
Timelines
■ Capzles
■ All of Me
■ Smile Widgets Timeline
■ TimeGlider
■ OurStory
■ TimeRime
■ Dipity
■ Timetoast
Video
● Powtoon
● Animoto
● iMovie
● Windows Movie Maker
● Final Cut Pro
● Adobe Premier
● YouTube (more than just playing; editing, making lists, etc.)
● Vimeo (more than just playing)
● WeVideo
● Loopster
Requirements for Technical Instructions
● A cover sheet with your identifying information
● An introduction that states the rationale for choosing your specific application and how it contributes to and furthers the content and message of The Being-Not Rich at UA and Pima Community College Guide.
● Three 2-page technical instructional documents (all three on one application)
● MLA or APA format
● A two page reflection on the process of writing the three technical instructional documents, taking note of: Do we have to do a two page reflection for each technical instructional document?
○ How you’d use this skill set in the future
○ What previous experiences impacted your ability to do this project?
○ How does the design of your instructional documents influence how the reader understands the instructions?
○ How this project contributes to fulfilling at least THREE of the Course Goals outlined below.
How You Will Be Graded:
You will be graded based on the 5 Course Goals outlined below:
- Write, edit, and design with and for readers, users, and stakeholders with a focus on user research in technical contexts (COLLABORATION & ACCOMMODATION) – 20%
- Implement flexible strategies for designing and redesigning communication in technical contexts (DESIGN STRATEGIES) – 20%
- Analyze and manage information and technologies in ways that are responsive to specific readers or users in technical contexts (INFO & TECH) – 20%
- Reflect on growth as professional/technical communicator in technical contexts (GROWTH PROCESS) – 20%
- Write, edit, and design ethically and inclusively for specific people and situations in technical contexts (ETHICS & INCLUSION) – 20%
-Will you be able to look over our rough drafts to make sure we are completing the assignment correctly?
Could we submit this assignment early to receive your input and suggestions to make it better?
Will we have a chance to work with a partner again?