Tutorial Assignment

Purpose of the assignment:

• Use of principles of reader-centered technical writing
• Use of visual design and awareness reading processes
• Introduce practical considerations of usability of a communication's stakeholders in writing
• Introduce principles and dynamics of group work and group settings
• Use of visuals, graphics and text in a usable and practical manner

Assignment:

Working in groups of 3 or 4, design a step-by-step tutorial (a set of instructions) that will allow a user to perform a specific task.

• For example, you can demonstrate how to use a piece of software that we have in the computer labs on campus (Microsoft Word, however, is off limits). Also, think about tasks that you do in your everyday life that you can use as a topic for the set of instructions. Be careful not to use a topic for your tutorial where everyone does it differently (i.e. tying your shoelaces). You will be writing the tutorial for the members of this class, so keep your audience in mind. What is their skill level on the particular software you chose? Alternately, what might be their general experiences with the task and how can you accommodate the success of their interactions in doing the task? Seeing as we will have usability workshops, where people who have not written the tutorial will have to perform the task, you should make your instructions as usable as possible. In addition, your usability project should be able to be performed in a regular classroom equipped with computers (this means you have to bring the equipment and or material that you describe in your tutorial). Make sure your tutorial has the reader complete a specific task and that they have a finished product at the end.
  
  
• This project will involve cross-disciplinary interaction with your peers. That means that you will be challenged in your ideas and assumptions by others coming from other disciplines. This is not to aggravate you, but to allow you to work in diverse group settings and gain experience in finishing a project that has a specific goal to be accomplished. The ability to work in groups is an important experience that will allow you to gain an understanding of group dynamics and the process of completing time-constrained projects. There should be specific tasks and goals that the group sets for itself, as well as certain group roles that members of the group take on. For this paper it is a good idea to divide the roles so that each one of you will be responsible for a specific aspect of the document next to your role as team-member:
  
  
• A Group manager who keeps their eye on deadlines, the overall direction of the project, and determines the agenda for group tasks
• A Document manager who overviews all written documents and keeps track of specific elements that need to be added
• A Visual manager who works on and designs the graphical aspects of the tutorial and assures that this is implemented successfully in the document
• A Usability manager who overviews the usability of the document and determines where it needs to be clarified in order to be usable.

• However, the above roles are just a recommendation to keep things organized, and you will have to determine if this particular setup will work for your group. Group dynamics have been studied by communication theorists for quite some time, and the only thing that is certain is that it takes a lot of time and effort to arrange that everyone is on the same page and has the goals of the group project in mind. Don't just assume because you'll be working in a group that it will involve less work than on your own! Likewise, each member of the group should contribute equally to the project. Any instance of abuse of group work privileges will be penalized accordingly. In addition, you will have to evaluate each member in your group.

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Elements of the Tutorial Project

This project will consist of the following parts:

1. A Formal Group Proposal Memo - (1-2 pages; see TCT Chap. 13) - where your group will propose your subject and project goals for writing the tutorial, the specific roles group members will play in the project, and a preliminary schedule with deadlines for deliverables that will allow you to have your first draft ready in time for usability testing.
2. A Group Member Evaluation - your evaluation of your group members' contributions to the project. (See this link)
3. Usability Testing - A randomly picked subject will perform your instructions to see if your instructions are usable
4. Tutorial - Your group's final tutorial (based on the notes and issues identified in usability testing) that is at least 10 pages long, involves visuals, texts, and a navigatible, visually effective structure that allows different readers (think sequential, key, reference readers) all to use your text successfully to perform a specific task.
5. Oral Group Presentation - A presentation that is accompanied by visuals; detailing your experiences in creating your tutorial; the choices made; difficulties encountered; and experience of group work

Grading Criteria Final Tutorial
Each of these are worth 4 points

1. Does the tutorial address various kinds of readers (sequential, reference and key readers) succesfully throughout the document by using modular design?

2. Does the tutorial differentiate between actions and background info, by giving action-oriented steps first, followed by responses that can be observed as a result of these actions?

3. Does the tutorial divide the information visually (i.e. bolding, headers, sections; Balance, Alignment, Grouping, Consistency, Contrast) and textually in logical and user-friendly major and minor steps?

4. Does the tutorial use user-centered visuals effectively and integrate these into the text in a usable and consistent manner? Does the tutorial use clearly defined terms and use these consistently?

5. Does the tutorial display a clear understanding and consideration of usability issues associated with doing the steps (i.e. safety warnings, order of steps, clarity)?

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