Chapter 20, Additional Case 6: Comparing Web-Based Instructions

Chapter 20, Additional Case 6: Comparing Web-Based Instructions

Background

The director of your college or university's writing center is interested in providing a link on the center's website to web-based instructions for using Word's Table of Contents feature. The director found several sets of web-based instructions by searching the Internet for "Word tutorial." However, he does not know which one he should use. He has asked you to study a few of these sites and let him know which one to link to from the center's site.

Your Assignment

To complete this case, perform the following tasks:

  1. Study Chapter 20, concentrating on the discussion of drafting effective instructions.
  2. View the web-based instructions on the following sites:
    • Florida Gulf Coast University's "Table of Contents"
    • Worcester Polytechnic University's "Creating a Table of Contents"
    • Microsoft Word Legal User's Guide: Complex Documents in Microsoft Word
    • Study the different instructions. Consider the following questions:
    • Is the introduction adequate?
    • Are the step-by-step instructions simple, clear, and accurate?
    • Are appropriate graphics included?
    • Is the conclusion effective?
  3. Write a 1,000-word memo addressed to the writing center director that describes the strengths and weaknesses of each set of instructions and recommends which set to link to from the center's website.