Prompt 3

This week during class, I received feedback from my fellow classmates about my instruction manual and information report. One of the biggest things I took away from those workshops was to be more specific and increase the simplicity of my instruction manual. I realized that there should be little to no assumptions made for an instruction manual to be effective. That means that every step, no matter how seemingly simple, should be covered. For my next draft, I plan on adjusting my manual to include more detailed steps so that anyone without a technical background can use the manual. As of now, I am pleased with how the instruction manual has come out, but I am concerned that as I continue revising that the manual that it will become too long and complex. To me, this is a seemingly simple task but from a non-technical standpoint, this could be a difficult operation so it requires lots of clarification. The challenge there is being able to communicate the process in a condensed manner while still being effective. One failed idea I had was to include how to utilize some of Windows’ features. Another difficulty I have faced while writing this manual is knowing where to end it. After Windows is installed, there are tons of possibilities to illustrate some of the key features that it offers. I’ve realized that as I write this, I need to keep in mind that if someone wants to know how to utilize Windows, then they’ll research how to use Windows, not Boot Camp. This confusion in the ending point of the manual goes hand in hand with confusing the reader. If Windows is installed and Boot Camp is fully setup, then why should they be reading about how to install Microsoft Office? These are some ideas I’ll have to consider as I move forward in my drafts.