Chapter 13

The main topic that this chapter dealt with was instructions. Instructions are great for furthering a persons knowledge about something, in a clear and concise way. One thing that I agreed with was need for warning signs. Warning signs are vital for any product that could have the potential of adversely affecting an individual. Instructions may be self-explanitory for some people, but for others, having that vital information at their disposal is crucial. Not everybody is going to point out the obvious, and as a writer, you must keep this in mind at all times. Another thing you must do is try to make your bullet points as short and clear as possible. It is very likely that the people who are reading an instructions manual, are trying to read and perform a desired task at the same time. So, if you make the directions long and confusing, your audience will more than likely be ineffective when trying to complete the certain task. Clarity is an essential ingredient for a successful instructions manual.