English 421Y: Technical Writing Online

NOTE: This set of instructions is too large to upload to this site. I zipped the PDF and uploaded to another site. The link to download is posted below .

http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/files/433/Beginner_instruction_draft.zip

When performing the usability test, I would like to user to make notes along the way. Are there places of confusion? Is some of the language hard to understand?. I would like the user to think about these questions (as seen in the usability test) as they go through the instructions.

I’m sure at some point we have all used products that we thought had poor usability. Did they really? Or were we blind to see the true operation of a certain product? I know there are a lot of products out there that are blatant poor designs but others are just being used improperly. Looking at the website with all of the “problem products” was pretty entertaining. Yes, there are some bad designs on there, but who says there isn’t some user error? Does everything we use in our daily life need to have huge red letters instructing people on the proper operation of a tool/product/device?

Page size - 7 x 9.25

When I look at an article or document, one of the first things I notice is the design/layout or lack thereof. There have even been times that I have skipped over a particular article/document because at first glance it looked too chaotic and poorly designed. If something is well designed and pleasing to the eye, nine times out of ten I will take the time to see what it has to say.

For my instructional process I have chosen to prepare and cook a beef tenderloin (fillet). I will outline the steps, ingredients, and tools necessary to complete this task as well as some insight on cooking technique and process. With these instructions I’m hoping to take some of the “fear” people have out of cooking and show them it can be fun and rewarding.

Instructions are a funny thing. We like to claim that we can do without them, but the reality is sometimes they are necessary. However, when you actually crack open the user’s manual it’s hard to find what you are looking for. Thankfully, I have the internet and more importantly, Google. If I ever find myself in need of an answer or directions, I just search on the internet. No point in wasting time looking for the user’s manual.

1- Thorough enough without being too detailed?
2- Do I come off as eager for the opportunity or over confident?