IB Docs (2) Team
Set of instructions, guidelines
KEY FEATURES
context, audience, purpose -
* the question will set up a context that requires telling people exactly what to do in precisely which circumstances: such a context will probably be fairly commonplace, but will require thoughtful and detailed analysis of what is required
* the audience will be specified in the task, but is likely to be the Average family - competent in language and understanding, but not necessarily very sophisticated
* the purpose of both of these text types is the same: to analyse behaviour in a given situation, in order to break it down into clear and detailed advice - with the difference that the 'set of instructions' will follow a step-by-step sequence, whereas guidelines will attempt to give a coherent overview of more generalised advice
register and tone -
* will adopt a semi-formal register
* will adopt a tone which is direct, clear and supportive
conventions -
* will have a clear and focused heading / title
* will include a short introduction and conclusion
* will set out the guidelines clearly, using techniques such as bullets, sub-headings, numbering, etc
* will directly address the intended audience
Appropriate?
A set of instructions or guidelines will be appropriate if the task requires you to give information in a clear and methodical way. The task will involve telling people what they have to do (instructions) or what they ought to do (guidelines), and in both cases it is important that the audience can keep the text so that they can refer back and check that they have understood correctly. Above all, this text type is intended to help, not to sell or to convince.
Not to be confused with...
... brochure / leaflet or 'proposal' ... a 'brochure / leaflet' is intended to present information widely, in a clear and direct way. The audience will usually be the public in general, and the purpose of the text type is to make as many people as possible aware of the ideas - it is best to get across general ideas, rather than particular, practical information. A 'proposal' is usually a formal document presenting facts and figures for serious discussion, aimed at a very specific group of people - it is not really a form of publicity, selling something (persuading, yes, but that's different).
Format and Approach discussed
The essence of these two related but distinct text types is that they both aim to give precise guidance as to how to handle a practical situation. The key to good instructions is that they give concrete explanation in a precise sequence, whereas the key to good guidelines is that they give general explanation, which may or may not involve precise sequence.
Basic Format
- main heading / title
- secondary headings (guidelines)
- numbered sections (instructions)
- short paragraphs
Approach
> control of language - * plain & clear i.e. functional and efficient * explanation of technical terms – where technical terms have to be used, are they explained / defined ?
> clear sequence (for instructions) – a sense of logical steps
> attention to detail + control of essential, useful information
> anticipation of difficulties – understanding which parts of the process may cause problems for the uninformed
> empathy with audience – most easily detected by the ability to anticipate difficulties, (e.g. explanation of technical terms, above), but may also involve use of encouraging, helpful comments
Relevant writing purposes
Above all, students should be taught the skills of effective, methodical, step-by-step Explanation - which in turn needs to be based on the careful observation and analysis that is involved in sound factual Description)
Materials & models
> TASKS Teenage frictions ... stimulus script about arguments with parents leads on to writing guidelines to be given to parents
> Model instructions ... sample student script + projection + activities
> Instructions, marked ... two more student samples, same task as above - showing range of approaches
> Instructions 1 ... classroom activity practising the organising and expressing of practical instructions
> Bricks ... description of Chinese acrobatics ... methodical explanation of the apparently impossible!
> Step by step Explanation ...concentrates on the techniques of assembling clear chains of logic, with an entertaining exercise in thinking up exotic excuses!
> Gap years proposal ... provides a couple of models of concise advice in the handouts Gap years overall plan and Gap years Advice
> Gap years 2 ... the handout Gap Year Knowledge forms the basis for practising the devising of lucid guidelines, in this case particularly about appropriate behaviour in a different culture.
> Adapting to English B ... much of this page of overall advice is actually a model of Dos and Don'ts guidelines in action
Suggested 'new style' exam tasks
The following are possible adaptations of some of the 'old style' tasks listed below. Each provides three optional text types, arranged in the order of (i) appropriate; (ii) generally appropriate; (iii) inappropriate - if you use them, clearly, you should randomise the choices.
Two versions are presented: one for HL, with three required elements, and one for SL, with two required elements.
(HL) Visitors to other countries are often advised to find out about the local customs in order to fit in well and not to give offence unintentionally. A group of students are coming to visit your school on an exchange programme - and you are concerned to help them feel at ease. Write a text providing advice, describing general rules of social behaviour, and explaining both particular rules in formal occasions, and also how to fit in comfortably in informal relationships with fellow students.
(i) Set of guidelines .... (ii) Proposal .... (iii) Email
(SL) Visitors to other countries are often advised to find out about the local customs in order to fit in well and not to give offence unintentionally. A group of students are coming to visit your school on an exchange programme - and you are concerned to help them feel at ease. Write a text providing advice, describing general rules of social behaviour, and also how to fit in comfortably in informal relationships with fellow students.
(i) Set of guidelines .... (ii) Proposal .... (iii) Email
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(HL) Social media like Facebook or Twitter, Instagram or Tik Tok, can all be amusing and entertaining - but they can also create problems, either because some people use them too much, or because they are used in harmful ways. It has been suggested that your school's website should help students to use social media properly. Write a text for the website which describe the positive ways to use social media, but will also explain why the negative ways are wrong, and suggest a code of conduct for using social media.
(i) Set of guidelines .... (ii) Proposal .... (iii) Blog
(SL) Social media like Facebook or Twitter, Instagram or Tik Tok, can all be amusing and entertaining - but they can also create problems, either because some people use them too much, or because they are used in harmful ways. It has been suggested that your school's website should help students to use social media properly. Write a text for the website which describe the positive ways to use social media, but will also explain the negative ways.
(i) Set of guidelines .... (ii) Proposal .... (iii) Blog
Recent exam tasks ('old' style)
A friend from a different country and culture has written to tell you that he/she has been invited for a weekend to celebrate a special event in your country but has no idea what will happen! Write a set of guidelines explaining what will take place and what he/she should do. (SL M13)
Write a set of guidelines for your fellow students who use social media accounts such as Facebook or Twitter. This is to be uploaded on the school’s website and will describe ways in which these accounts can be useful but will also show how they can be harmful. (SL M14)
Visitors to other countries are often advised to find out about the local customs in order to fit in well and not to give offence unintentionally. To help foreign students in your school to achieve both aims, write a set of guidelines about customs in your country. (HL N14)
The inappropriate behaviour of young people at a formal event you recently attended led you to comment on it in your personal blog. Write your blog entry and include a set of guidelines to describe how young people should behave during formal functions (such as weddings or conferences). (SL N15)
Many of your classmates will be applying for part-time jobs in an English-speaking country this summer. Write a set of guidelines to be posted on your school website, giving tips on what to do and what not to do when they attend an employment interview. (SL N16)
Your English B class is planning to go on a month-long exchange visit to an English-speaking country. Write a set of guidelines for the class, describing what customs or traditions they will find different there and explaining what is acceptable or should not be done in the host culture. (SL N18)