Motorola Brute User Manual Critique
Motorola Brute User Manual Critique
Scott I. Wright
ENG 221
August 20, 2011
Tiffany Griffin-Minor
[pic]
Motorola Brute User Manual Critique Though it was not in my budget to get a new cell phone, I could not resist buying the Motorola Brute™ i686. After reading about its functionality in a magazine, I determined to at least check it out to see if all the hype was warranted. My old phone, after three years of faithful service, was beginning to show signs of wear and to be perfectly honest, it was just time for a change. I was looking for a phone with some of the latest features such as a camera, a datebook, GPS, memo features, and a voice recorder. After purchasing the phone, I immediately went home to read the user manual and learn how to operate and care for it properly. The user manual turned out to be quite lengthy, but full of useful information. I’d had some issues with the vagueness and ambiguity of other manuals in the past, so I began to read this manual looking for some key criteria. I was searching for these things to be represented in this user manual: ❖ Audience Recognition ❖ Ethical Instructions ▪ Legalities ▪ Practicalities ❖ Glossary ❖ Graphics ❖ Instructional Steps ▪ Chronological Organization ▪ Numbered Steps ▪ Highlighting Techniques ▪ Limit of Information Within Each Step ▪ Thoroughly Developed Points ▪ Short Words, Sentences, and Paragraphs ▪ Beginning Steps with Verbs ▪ Personalization of Text (Write to people, not things) ▪ Inclusion of Articles (a, an, the, etc.)
Audience Recognition As I read through the manual, I was impressed with the way the writer immediately recognizes the fact that the user is most likely someone who is unfamiliar with the Motorola brand. He or she approaches the subject matter of each section as if the reader has never owned a cell phone before. The language is
Scott I. Wright
ENG 221
August 20, 2011
Tiffany Griffin-Minor
[pic]
Motorola Brute User Manual Critique Though it was not in my budget to get a new cell phone, I could not resist buying the Motorola Brute™ i686. After reading about its functionality in a magazine, I determined to at least check it out to see if all the hype was warranted. My old phone, after three years of faithful service, was beginning to show signs of wear and to be perfectly honest, it was just time for a change. I was looking for a phone with some of the latest features such as a camera, a datebook, GPS, memo features, and a voice recorder. After purchasing the phone, I immediately went home to read the user manual and learn how to operate and care for it properly. The user manual turned out to be quite lengthy, but full of useful information. I’d had some issues with the vagueness and ambiguity of other manuals in the past, so I began to read this manual looking for some key criteria. I was searching for these things to be represented in this user manual: ❖ Audience Recognition ❖ Ethical Instructions ▪ Legalities ▪ Practicalities ❖ Glossary ❖ Graphics ❖ Instructional Steps ▪ Chronological Organization ▪ Numbered Steps ▪ Highlighting Techniques ▪ Limit of Information Within Each Step ▪ Thoroughly Developed Points ▪ Short Words, Sentences, and Paragraphs ▪ Beginning Steps with Verbs ▪ Personalization of Text (Write to people, not things) ▪ Inclusion of Articles (a, an, the, etc.)
Audience Recognition As I read through the manual, I was impressed with the way the writer immediately recognizes the fact that the user is most likely someone who is unfamiliar with the Motorola brand. He or she approaches the subject matter of each section as if the reader has never owned a cell phone before. The language is