Technical Writing

Day 5 Continued - Challenge: Play Testing

Continue testing your instructions to get feedback! To earn the WW Milestone, you must:

• 1. At least one of your instructions must be tested and critiqued by someone else without any help from you.

  2. All three of your instructions need a critique sheet, from either you or a partner.

Day 5 Challenge: Play Testing

Your challenge today is to find a partner and you’ll work together to complete Mid-Drafting Evaluation- Technical Writing for each other for each of your instructions. The fun thing about today is that not only do you get to see how your instructions work, but you get to test other instructions so you get to use software, build, and make things! 

Once you complete the Mid-Drafting Evaluations, you may use the rest of the time to make changes to your writing using the feedback you received. 

Day 4 Challenge: Drafting & Organization

Your challenge today is to continue drafting! You have three more days, including today, to draft all three sets of instructions. Next time, you’ll get to test what you have so far on one of your studiomates, to see how well you’re progressing.

In order to do this, you’ll need to bring any materials necessary for your instructions to be tested. If you are going to have someone make food, then bring the right ingredients. If you are knitting, bring the yarn and needles. Remember, only one person will be testing your instructions, so you only need enough materials for one. Good luck, writers!  

Day 3 Challenge: The Main Steps

Your challenge today is to begin drafting your sets of instructions! All instructions should begin with an introductory paragraph that explains what the user will be doing and why it is significant. This is your time to research, write, and put yourselves in the shoes of your audience. Ask yourself, “What seems confusing?” “How can I make this point clearer?” “Is there anything in my instructions that would frustrate me as the user?” As a reminder, choose three of the following four categories for your instructions: 

• • How to use a software program (e.g. Khan Academy)

  • How to build something (e.g. a popsicle-stick bridge)

  • How to make something (e.g. hat, fishing pole, website)

  • How to do something (e.g. kick a soccer ball)

Day 2 Challenge: The Main Steps

Your challenge today is to complete The Main Steps- Technical Writing. This worksheet will walk you through the process of choosing what you want to write about and then coming up with some of the key steps. The form lists 10 steps but your instructions will likely include more than that.   

Day 1 Challenge: Technical Writing Mentor Texts

Today you’ll be the audience following instructions so that you can evaluate different techniques. Your challenge is to:

• 1. Complete the origami task below based on the instructions "mentor text".

  2. Fill out the Learning from Technical Writing Mentor Texts evaluation form. for the origami instructions. This is your first task to complete in the prewriting stage. 

1. Once you've finished #1 and #2 above, repeat those steps for either the rice crispy treats or slime. (Completing the origami is your ticket for the ingredients for the next recipes.)

   • Activity: Hopping Frog Origami

   • Recipe: 3 Minute Rice Crispy Treat Recipe

   • Recipe: Favorite Slime Recipes