English 421Y: Technical Writing Online

Please complete the usability test below by replying to this blog entry.

My instructions might look out of order in the PDF but that is due to the fact that it is meant to be printed out and folded into a booklet. Sorry for any confusion it might cause. There are page number at the bottom to help.

Please review the “How To Install EMG Pickups” novice or advance instructions and complete the survey below. After completion of the survey, please contact me via email at gscameho@purdue.edu with the attached survey filled out.

My instructions sets are designed to teach people how to download and play poker at fulltiltpoker.net. The novice version uses much more detail to describe both the instalation process and how to play the games. I also did not use terms a person who has been playing poker would understand. I even included hints to help them through the process. Because of the extra space, I was able to add more content in the expert. I designed both to be tri fold brochures to hand out to people.

Links to both my instructions manuals can be found by following the link, here.

Overall, my instructions sets are similar, showing each type of user a different way of approaching the same goal. My novice audience is someone who has installed Microsoft Office, but has never took advantage and tried Outlook. The novice audience is also someone who has limited knowledge of how a PC works, and my instructions show a detailed walkthrough. My expert audience is someone who knows a little about setting up e-mail systems, but may not know exactly how Outlook operates.

Novice Instructions = For people that are unfamiliar with basic techniques and equipment. Several graphics illustrate these.

Advanced Instruction = For people who have done some cooking before and are comfortable with some of the techniques listed-but not explained. This format is more on the lines of an entry in a cookbook with margin asides.

For the test: I've attached a pdf of the questions here. You can send a message to me via this websites messaging system or email me at smstella@purdue.edu

My instructions are pretty similar. The novice instructions are more detailed and explain the tools used and terminology for the user. The expert instructions really assume you know you way around the OS and cut to the point with less explanation of why your doing each step and are more cut to the chase type of thing. They provide the same commands and accomplish the same thing though.