Document Development Exposition: Instructions and Usability Test Script

Explain in detail your document’s development from planning to finish, describing your
challenges, how you overcame them, and what you learned.

Planning
First, I had to figure out what kind of instructions I wanted to write. I knew that I wanted to write
instructions for a recipe, but then I had to figure out which recipe to write. I did not want the recipe
to be too complex or advanced. I decided to write a recipe for s’mores dip because I have made it so
many times and I knew it would be simple for me to write and for readers to use.

First Draft (for peer editing)

I was not exactly sure how to start, but I knew the ingredients and steps I needed to include in the
instructions. I felt that pictures were not completely necessary because the instructions were simple.
I also wanted to include examples of how the recipe is flexible and how to store leftovers. I began
writing everything and then I formatted the document in a way that made sense to me.

Second Draft (for your packet)

After receiving feedback, I incorporated suggestions into the instructions. I added a photo and
specified what kind of chocolate should be used. One thing that was challenging to me was deciding
how much detail I wanted to add into the instructions. The recipe itself is simple, but everyone has
their own methods when cooking. I decided to err on the side of caution and be specific because
extra detail could be helpful to beginner cooks.

Final Draft (for your portfolio)

For the final draft, I incorporated the suggestions from the instructions and usability packet
feedback. My main challenge was figuring out how to add detail without making the instructions too
wordy. I also had to figure out how to use some of Word’s formatting features. With this document, I
learned how to think about the readers’ experience while reading my document. I learned to decide
how much specificity was required in the document and how to make the language clear without
technical phrases.