Replacing a Flat Tire
The challenges of technical writing often are overlooked or discounted. Writers must consider many elements, such as audience analysis and skill of the craft.
Consider a procedure for replacing an automobile flat tire. Some people might consider the task trivial. Some people would be almost clueless about replacing a flat tire. The contents could include the following.
- Assessing the type of tire needed.
- Assessing where to obtain the replacement tire.
- Verifying the tire contains sufficient air.
- A list of required tools:
-
- Air pressure gauge
- Lug wrench
- Car jack
- Gloves
- A flat slab of wood for mounting the jack on uneven surfaces.
- Instructions to operate specific types of car jacks.
- Instructions to remove lug nuts. For example, many people learn the hard way to first loosen lug nuts before lifting the car with the jack.
- Safely removing the tire.
- Safely installing the spare tire.
- Attaching the lug nuts.
- Safely lowering the car.
Observant and experienced people might notice missing steps. For example:
- How to remove the spare tire? Some spare tires are inside cars and some are outside.
- What if the spare tire is an “emergency” tire that is not the same size as the damaged tire?
- What tools are needed to remove the spare tire?
- What if the damaged tire has a hub cap?
- How to safely remove and install the hub cap?
- What if the spare tire does not contain sufficient air?
- Lug nuts often are installed with air tools, which means a lot of muscle to remove by hand. Perhaps another tool is a long pipe to provide an extension for the lug wrench in order to create sufficient leverage and torque.
An experienced writer sees both the forest and trees.
Posted: Category: Usability Tagged: Tech Writing
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