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Home › Classroom Resources › Lesson Plans
Lesson Plan
Writing Technical Instructions
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| Grades | 9 – 12 |
| Lesson Plan Type | Standard Lesson |
| Estimated Time | Five 50-minute sessions |
| Lesson Author |
Waterloo, Iowa |
| Publisher |
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MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY
- Sample technical instructions (Manuals, user guides, etc.)
- Household items for writing instructions
- Access to computer with Internet connection, Microsoft Word or Publisher, and printer
- Large white paper (Chart-sized sticky notes work well for hanging items on wall)
- Digital camera (optional)
STUDENT INTERACTIVES
Grades 3 – 12 | Student Interactive | Organizing & Summarizing
Useful for a wide variety of reading and writing activities, this outlining tool allows students to organize up to five levels of information.
PRINTOUTS
- Analyzing Technical Instructions
- Sample Technical Instructions Rubric
- Technical Instructions Planning Sheet
- Visually Drafting Your Instructions
- Using ReadWriteThink Notetaker to Draft Instructions
- Conducting a Usability Test
WEBSITES
- The Process of Writing a Technical Manual
- Instructions: How to Write for Busy, Grouchy People
- How to Install Curtain Rods
- How to Wash Your Car
- Ikea Assembly Instructions
PREPARATION
- Collect a variety of written technical instructions for household items for students to use to analyze. Try to collect both effective and ineffective examples. Examples are also available online, at the Websites listed in the Resources section. Review the examples to familiarize yourself with their features and effectiveness.
- Prepare three or four examples of effective and ineffective written technical instructions, using those you gathered or online examples, to be shown on an overhead or a document camera.
- Make sure students have access to computer labs during sessions two through five.
- Prepare copies of all handouts for distribution in class.
- Test the NoteTaker on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tool and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page.