16 July 2012

Examples of (Good/Bad) Instructions

You need to find an example of instructions, good or bad. So you're looking for a How-To type of article, one that gives a step-by-step on how to complete a specific process.



Paste a link to an example below. Make sure to identify a good or bad point about it too.

This is due Wednesday before class.
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22 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 16, 2012 at 9:05 AM

    http://www.closetcooking.com/2011/10/perfect-grilled-cheese-sandwich.html

    I thought this was great! I loved the voice he decided to use. It was casual, personal, yet informative. He was telling me about the general techniques, and then expanding on that by what he has discovered works best from all of his grilled cheese making experience. The pictures were also beautiful and made me hungry.

    -Nicole Krantz

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJuly 16, 2012 at 11:15 AM

    http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/easystepsweb/

    To think that all these years I've simply put the helmet on my head...life is so much clearer now. Seriously though, I think pictures are the best instructional tools.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 16, 2012 at 3:25 PM

    http://izismile.com/2009/12/01/oldie_of_the_day_child_care_instructions_28_pics-14.html

    The visuals are so simple, yet so effective. The instructions are also as simple as possible. They have cut out all unnecessary parts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 16, 2012 at 3:26 PM

    The above is Bryce Cook

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJuly 16, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    http://www.totieatie.com/windsor.asp

    Beautiful way to tie a tie. The visuals are very clear and I like that they are mirror images. They show what it would look like if you were standing in front of a micro. Other instructions I found were not mirror images making it harder to follow along

    -Andrew Black

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJuly 16, 2012 at 6:25 PM

    I meant, they show what it would look like if you were standing in front of a "mirror", not "micro"

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJuly 16, 2012 at 9:51 PM

    http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_perfect_hard_boiled_eggs/

    I tought these were good instructions except that she over explained some things and included some info that wasn't needed.

    Stephen Kitto

    ReplyDelete
  8. AutumnJuly 17, 2012 at 7:17 AM

    http://www.ikea.com/assembly_instructions/alrik-working-chair__AA-510850-3_pub.PDF

    Pictures were perfect for the entire instruction manual. Words (except for the one page) weren't needed to further explain anything.

    Part of the reason the instruction manual was so straightforward is that the assembly was also straightforward. However, I bet a more complex assembly with this same instruction set-up would be just as helpful.

    My favorite part is the step to throw away a piece.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJuly 17, 2012 at 11:17 AM

    http://www.bighappiehair.com/images/instructions.png

    Who doesn't love the Utah poof? These instructions are so straightforward, even a guy could do it. It emphasizes the important steps, so you can have perfect volume with your bumpit. It even gives a warning that says "Bumpits are not edible."

    Lexi Nielson

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousJuly 17, 2012 at 11:29 AM

    http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-take-screen-shots/?ALLSTEPS

    If you haven't seen a bad set of instructions - you need to see these! This person's instructions are some of the worst I've seen. They are covered with spelling and grammar issues. Also, they leave a lot of detail out which would allow the reader to easily get lost. If you're looking for instructions on how to take a screen shot - definitely look somewhere else.

    Tanner

    ReplyDelete
  11. MorganJuly 17, 2012 at 1:33 PM

    http://www.tie-a-tie.net/fourinhand.html

    If you are dying to learn how to tie a tie, here are some good instructions on how to tie a "four in hand" knot for your tie. I like that they explain it three times. Once with pictures and text, then if you are real lazy, they have a video with the same visuals that includes voice over, and lastly they show it to you again with an actual person demonstrating it to you.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Andrew WelchJuly 17, 2012 at 5:37 PM

    http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1680&bih=949&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=uVRLB54fEMl9hM:&imgrefurl=http://sarah.geek.nz/blog/2005/08/bad-instructions/&docid=IX1f3Puw5G9gfM&imgurl=http://www.techstandards.com/images/honorable_mention_3_back_05.JPG&w=500&h=800&ei=oAMGULOaGYec2AWJufGWBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=314&vpy=107&dur=20363&hovh=284&hovw=177&tx=114&ty=172&sig=100865740189362780500&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=87&start=0&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:79

    Wow. I really can't figure out what happened here... These instructions for solving a Rubix cube were written by a large fingered person on a tiny keyboard (hence the multiple typos) with very little sense of hierarchy and flow. It's like someone vomited Rubix cube and typos onto a piece of cardboard.

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownJuly 17, 2012 at 6:52 PM

    http://www.ncgraphicarts.com/ryan/other/masterglins.gif

    I like how it has pictures and shows you what to do and tells you clearly as well. I just wish they had it in a clearer order with numbers.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Baurak ShinehahJuly 17, 2012 at 8:58 PM

    http://www.showmenow.com/?q=showme/gallery&page=14

    Number 10. Great set of instructions! gives you the materials needed. it uses strong verbs and even zooms in to show important details. The illustrations are a plus.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Logan WilliamsJuly 17, 2012 at 9:32 PM

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/arkov/4325436435/

    Horrible instructions....
    I wouldn't even know where to start.
    There's no organization or clear steps.


    -Logan Williams

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousJuly 17, 2012 at 9:34 PM

    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JHDb2YjLKqM/TXqVzLr2l6I/AAAAAAABARQ/F3zRCn3QYfo/s640/diy_paper_plane_03.jpg

    These paper airplane instructions look simple, but when you actually try to make the airplane it gets a lot harder. The diagrams are great and they show crease lines. I feel it would be helpful to have a few succinct words to explain where exactly to fold the paper and explain some steps that are skipped.
    -Dan Nielson

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousJuly 18, 2012 at 5:49 AM

    http://s4.hubimg.com/u/1820179_f520.jpg

    This is a really handy way to learn how to make a tie very professional. it could have also used movements instead of static pictures for reference.

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownJuly 18, 2012 at 6:07 AM

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/montanaraven/18461280/

    I think they had a good idea going when they decided to use sketches in their instructions, but they completely missed the mark with organization. The arrows are hard to follow and I get lost every time I look at the sheet.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Aaron GustinJuly 18, 2012 at 6:31 AM

    http://helenweselcouch.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/good-and-bad-assembly-instructions/

    I like how the second set of instructions have dashes that show the how things insert into one another.

    ReplyDelete
  20. ValerieJuly 18, 2012 at 6:35 AM

    http://www.pickyourown.org/applepie.php

    This is a good set of instructions because it tells you what to do and has pictures to guide you. It is not great, however, because it does not have enough details.

    ReplyDelete
  21. KennyJuly 18, 2012 at 6:48 AM

    These are tutorials that my wife used for sewing skirts. The first one is unclear and lacks a lot of details and even refers to things that weren't specified before. The second one is very detailed and has pictures at every step so as to leave no question of what to do. It is completely clear and assumes the reader has only very basic knowledge on the subject.

    http://www.sewinginnomansland.com/2012/03/28/taking-notes-revisited/

    http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-a-simple-skirt.html

    ReplyDelete
  22. Kevin WagnerJuly 18, 2012 at 7:10 AM

    http://www.ehow.com/how_4878043_cook-pinto-beans.html

    This is a simple set of instructions on how to cook pinto beans. It would be nice if there were some pictures to clear up the more confusing steps.

    ReplyDelete

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