For my instructions project, I will be writing instructions on how to successfully install a simple wall shelf into drywall without having to use the studs. I am qualified to write these instructions because I have spent 6 years of my life working in a hardware store and have had a lot of hands on experience with all of the materials used in the process. I have frequently had customers come to me trying to install shelves in walls for all sorts of things like picture, speakers, and storage boxes. The materials used in the installation process changes depending on what the shelf will actually be used for. Especially with the current state of the economy, more and more people would rather do a simple job like this on their own than hire a contractor to come in and do it for them.
The two audiences that I will be writing for are the first timer who has previously hired contractors to do all home repairs and the more experienced do-it-yourselfer who is more familiar with the different tools and fasteners used in the process. For the first timer, I will go in depth into choosing the right type of fastener to attach the shelf to the wall and the weight limits for each. I will also go in depth into exactly which tools and materials are needed to complete the project in the shortest amount of time. For the more experienced person, I will spend less time on tool and fastener selection and focus on helping them complete the project as fast as possible.
For graphics, I will take pictures of all of the steps as I complete a sample shelf installation. These graphics will be used for both sets of instructions but I may use less of them for the more experienced users. For the less experienced users I plan on also including pictures of the different tools and fasteners used in the process. This way when they go to the store to buy the materials they will have an idea of what to look for and not have to spend hours searching for them. I also plan to include a chart of the different types of fasteners, sizes, and weight restrictions to help the reader choose the ones that they will need.
Instructor Feedback: Bill D
Overall it seems as though you are on the right track. You establish your credibility and discuss the purpose of your graphics well. There are two main issues where I would like to direct your attention. The first is that there is some ambiguity about precisely what your instructions will cover. You state: "I have frequently had customers come to me trying to install shelves in walls for all sorts of things like picture, speakers, and storage boxes. The materials used in the installation process changes depending on what the shelf will actually be used for." If this is the case, then how comprehensive are you going to be? Are you planning to structure your direction by task (i.e., "installing a shelf for speakers," "installing a shelf for picture frames," etc.)? If so, how many separate tasks will you cover? Is this something that would differentiate the novice and expert instruction sets? For example, would the novice instructions be structured by task, but the expert instructions be structured by weight limits? You can see how this issue has major implications on just about all aspects of your design, so you should push yourself to determine precisely what task or tasks you will cover.
The second issue is that when you differentiate your audiences you tend to position the expert audience as the negative of the novice audience. For example, you state: "For the first timer, I will go in depth into choosing the right type of fastener to attach the shelf to the wall and the weight limits for each. I will also go in depth into exactly which tools and materials are needed to complete the project in the shortest amount of time. For the more experienced person, I will spend less time on tool and fastener selection and focus on helping them complete the project as fast as possible." Notice that you have a few statements about going "in depth" about topics for novices, but then for the experts you mostly state that the difference is that you won't have to give them the same amount of help. It is vitally important that you are treating your two audiences as distinct entities. You don't want your two instructions sets to differ only in degree (i.e., the expert set is just a cut-down version of the novice set); you want them to differ in kind (i.e., the expert set is qualitatively different from the novice set). Treat your audience groups as individual units with individuated needs. Don't treat one as the negative of the other.
Shelves
Nice choice on choosing how to install a shelf. Even though this is an easy task for some people to accomplish, there are quite a few people that do not know how to do this. I also believe this I a great topic because it is something that everyone might have to use at some point in their life. This is also the same reason why I decided to use changing oil as my topic. It is an relatively general topic that many people may want to know so they would be able to work on their on projects on their own.