This is an analysis of instructions and procedures, for my class ENC3241-Writing for Technical Professional
I need all kind of observations, this is not an essay so the rules for writing are based on the analysis format.
Analysis of the at&t Manual for the Motorola C139
The Motomanual is a clear example of a user's guide. It starts on the first page with the phone overview and an image of the front/back keypad layout. Customers can easily identify the location of most important keys and parts such as the power on/off bottom, the menu key, the battery compartment and so on.
The second page displays the content of the document in a sequential and organize way, using numbers for each procedure and bold font for the sub headings. On the third page we have the menu map where users of the Motorola C139 can see what sub options they will find on each icon on the phone menu.
The document presents a clear and transparent writing format. However, one can tell it was written in a function-oriented style, making it not always simple for the inexperienced and non-technical reader to follow the instructions. For example, the headings read 'Volume', 'Customize','Navigation key', and some more.
Who is the intended audience for using this information?
- The Motomanual is primarily intended for customers who opt for the use of prepaid phones or those who don not qualify for regular postpaid service because of their credit history. However, people who buy them as a cheap replacement option are an indirect audience.
- The manual has been also compiled considering a Spanish speaker audience, on one side of the document we have the English version and if you flip it over on the opposite side is the Spanish version.
What is the purpose of this document?
- The purpose of the Motomanual is to provide information about all the features of the phone such as voice message, text message, multimedia message, media net, and some others.
- It also gives details about the functionality this Motorola phone posses, for example it tells about the calendar, flashlight, add a new event as well as other specifications.
- The Motomanual purpose is ultimately to give to all audiences the step by step directions in the use of these features and functions.
Which guidelines for organizing instructions are present and which ones are missing?
- This documents contains all components for writing a document of instruction and procedures. From the title MOTOMANUAL all the way to the troubleshooting.
- The procedures and instructions are listed and numbered which makes it easy for the reader to follow the sequence of directions.
- The headings and subheadings are writing in a classic bold style to differentiated from the instructions.
- The table of contents have been organized by similar types of information, for example, use and care of the phone, essentials, basics, main attractions, customize functions, call features, other features, troubleshooting and index. The number of steps for each instruction are limited to less than ten as Woolever specified.
- The Manual also uses a special note at the beginning of each instruction called 'Find it:'. Such note is followed by the graphic that identify the bottom on the keypad and the sequence of options they must select to perform an specific function on the Motorola
- I think the document is losing points on the fact that was not entirely written in a task-oriented way.
What is the document's relationship to other document or screen interface?
- The Motomanual has a close relationship to its online version found on the at&t wireless website, known as the device tutorial. The tutorial is a set of three instructional modules designed in a drop down box style. The instructions also includes very crucial screen shots. The user can easily navigate between procedures by moving up or down with the click of the mouse. The screen shots make it easy for the non-technical customers to know where they are at when performing a task.
- This tutorial also gives customers a more dynamic assistance with procedures for basic troubleshooting. If a reader cannot send or receive a text message on his/her Motorola C139 phone, then device tutorial will give them the steps to follow for some basic troubleshooting and hopefully resolve the issue. At the end of the instructions for troubleshooting the reader will find a note stating that if the issue is not resolved then to contact customer care.
Is the author of this manual writing on any specific style that Woolever recommends?
- The rhetorical strategy developed is quite effective, simple but not oriented to the non-technical reader. The instructions are written in a function-oriented format oppose to what Woolever recommends. They may not be so easy to follow for the inexperience user.
- Perhaps, elderly people who are not very good with following instructions specially if it is new technology. For example, Woolever recommend to write the heading as to, 'How to change a ring-tone?", and instead the book just do it as to 'my tones".
- The approach used in this manual to define a technical problem is to rephrase the issue as a question. A clear example is located in the troubleshooting section.
What changes need to be made, if any, to this set of instructions or procedures?
- I think one of the changes that should be made is perhaps to extend the introduction and to move it from page eight to the first or second page.
The Motomanual is primarily intended for customers who opt for the use of prepaid phones or those who do not qualify for regular postpaid service because of their credit history.
The manual has been also compiled in consideration of a Spanish speaking audience, on one side of the document we have the English version and if you flip it over on the opposite side is the Spanish version.
It also gives details about the functionality this Motorola phone possesses , for example it tells about the calendar, flashlight, add a new event as well as other specifications.
The Motomanual purpose is ultimately to give to all audiences the step by step directions in the use of these features and functions.
The procedures and instructions are listed and numbered, which makes it easy for the reader to follow the sequence of directions.
The headings and subheadings are written in a classic bold style to differentiate from the instructions.
The table of contents has been organized by similar types of information, for example, use and care of the phone, essentials, basics, main attractions, customize functions, call features, other features, troubleshooting and index.
The Manual also uses a special note at the beginning of each instruction called 'Find it:'. This note is followed by the graphic that identifies the bottom of the keypad and the sequence of options they must select to perform a specific function on the Motorola.
The instructions also include very crucial screen shots. The user can easily navigate between procedures by moving up or down with the click of the mouse.
This tutorial also gives customers more dynamic assistance with procedures for basic troubleshooting.
Is the author of this manual writing on any specific style that Woolever recommends?
The instructions are written in a function-oriented format. oppose to what Woolever recommends. They may not be so easy to follow for the inexperienced user.
I hope this is helpful!
:)
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
"the power on/off button "
"The second page displays the content of the document in a sequential and organized way"
"However, one can tell it was written in a function-oriented style, making it not always simple for the inexperienced and non-technical reader to follow the instructions" Perhaps you should explain this a bit more, including a discussion of better alternatives that could have been used.
"The manual has been also compiled considering a Spanish speaking audience: on one side of the document we have the English version and if you flip it ove r on the opposite side is the Spanish version."
