1. How-To Explanation Introduction A Writer’s Checklist Choosing your project Thinking about your purpose Considering your audience Planning and writing your instructions A Writer’s Model Your Turn: Write a “how-to” explanation

2. What if... you want to build a house for your dog? you need to change a bike tire? you want to climb a rope? Introduction You can’t do any of these things unless you know ”how-to.”

3. Introduction Building or doing something is a project involving a series of steps. These steps are called a “how-to” process because they tell “how to” do something. You can write a how-to explanation to teach others how to build or do something that you are good at or how to achieve something.

4. A Writer’s Checklist When you write a “how-to” paper, you should:  Choose a project on which to instruct your audience.  Think about the purpose for which you are writing.  Consider the audience who will be reading and following your instructions.  Plan and write the instructions, with steps presented clearly and in the correct order.

5. Choosing your project Start by choosing a project on which to instruct an audience. The topic you pick can be: a product—something you can make, such as a birdhouse or a favorite recipe a process—something you know how to do, such as wash a car, do a skateboard trick, or get into college

6. Choosing your project What do I know how to do well? Ask yourself these questions to come up with ideas for a project to write about: What things have I built or put together? What have I made for school projects? Do I have any hobbies I could write about?

7. Choosing your project As you brainstorm possibilities, consider how much you know about each one. Have you built this product or done this thing yourself? Firsthand experience is always the best. Will you be able to clearly explain the steps to others?

8. Choosing your project Also think about whether the “how-to” project you are considering is simple or complicated. You do not want to: Pick a project that takes between three and five steps. choose a project so simple that most people would not need instructions choose a project so big that it would take a book to explain it

9. Based on his answers to these questions, Michael decided to write about making a mobile. Choosing your project Possible project (topic) Have I done or made this myself? Does the project take between three and five steps? Can I explain it clearly? Making a chart is a good way to organize your possibilities. Here is Michael’s chart: A birdhouse A macaroni casserole A mobile Yes, but a friend helped me No, it has many more than that Yes Yes, twice No, but I saw one made on TV

10. Remembering your purpose As you plan, remember the purpose of writing a set of instructions. Your purpose for writing instructions is to teach someone how to make, build, or achieve something. After reading your paper, your reader should have a clear grasp of what is involved.

11. Considering your audience Consider the audience for your “how-to” paper. Who are the people in your audience? What might they already know about your subject? What will they probably not know? What information will they need to be able to follow your instructions?

12. Considering your audience Before he began his paper, Michael answered these questions in his notebook: Who is my audience? What words should I define in my paper? What steps caused me trouble when I did the project? How did I make those steps easier? my fellow classmates my classmates may not know what a “mobile” is getting the string lengths right was tricky, so I used a ruler

13. Planning and writing your instructions You must plan the instructions for your paper so they will be easy to understand and follow. A good “how-to” paper: gives a complete list of what is needed to complete the process or build the product lists all of the steps necessary to complete the project/process presents the steps in a clear and useful order

14. Planning and writing your instructions A “how-to” paper begins with a list of what needed to do the project or complete the process. Make sure your list is complete so that you don’t frustrate your audience. Brainstorm an initial list of what your readers will need. Keep your list handy as you proceed. Add to it as other necessary items occur to you. coat hangerthin string or yarn construction papera ruler scissors a sharp pencil, markers or crayons

15. Planning and writing your instructions After finishing your initial list, write down all of the steps your readers will need to follow. Your instructions will not work if you: leave out steps assume that your readers can finish up without you telling them “how-to” do so

16. After listing your steps, look for instructions that might distract the reader. If your audience is likely to know how to do a step without instructions, leave it out. He realized that his audience would already know how to cut paper and string, so he left out the instruction. Use scissors to cut your shapes and your string. Michael noticed this step when he checked his work: Planning and writing your instructions

17. You must arrange your steps correctly for your instructions to be clear. “How-to” papers are usually written in chronological order, with steps arranged in the order in which they are performed. Charting your steps on a timeline is a useful way to organize your instructions. Step one Step two Planning and writing your instructions

18. When Michael realized he had arranged his steps incorrectly, he revised the order. draw and cut your shapes tie the hanging shapes to the coat hanger attach a string to each shape tie a string to the coat hanger’s hook for display Michael arranged his steps on a timeline. Planning and writing your instructions

19. Peer Review Tip: Planning and writing your instructions Here is a way to double-check the steps of your project before you start to write: Arrange the steps from your outline into an ordered list. If your classmate didn’t understand the process or left our important steps, it may be a sign that you should add or rearrange the steps in your list. Read the list aloud to a classmate. Have the classmate describe to you how to complete your project/process.

20. Planning and writing your instructions As you write your instructions, remember to use clear and specific language. Include enough detail to make your instructions easy to follow. He changed the instructions to make them more specific: Draw some shapes. When Michael reread his rough draft, he noticed this: Draw four or five shapes on construction paper. If you like, you can trace around solid objects such as coins or cookie cutters.

21. Planning and writing your instructions Here are some types of specific language you can use when writing your “how-to” paper: Use numbers to tell how much or how many. Use descriptive words. Use exact verbs. Draw four or five shapes on construction paper. Cut a section of thin string for each shape. Tie the free ends of the strings along the bottom part of the hanger.

22. Use transitional words and phrases to show the order of the steps in the process. afternext beforeoften finallythen first (second, third...)when EXAMPLES: First, you should... Next, attach the... Before you perform the final step,... Planning and writing your instructions

23. A Writer’s Checklist Use this checklist as you look at the following Writer’s Model and as you evaluate and revise your own “how-to” paper.  Choose a project/process on which to instruct your audience.  Think about the purpose for which you are writing.  Consider the audience who will be reading and following your instructions.  Plan and write the instructions, with steps presented clearly and in the correct order.

24. attention-grabber definition and description of product Making a Mobile Does your home or classroom look a little dull? Would you like to decorate it? Making a colorful mobile is a good way to brighten a room. It is fun, easy, and inexpensive. A mobile is a hanging decoration that is moved by air currents. It is like a set of wind chimes, except that it does not make sounds. You can make a mobile that is simply pretty, or you can make one with a theme. The only limit is your own imagination. identification of product and reasons for making it

25. list of materials step one, with transitional word To make a mobile, you will need these materials: A coat hanger Some thin string (or colored yarn) Construction paper A sharp pencil Markers or crayons A ruler (or tape measure) Scissors First, draw four or five shapes on construction paper. If you like, you can trace around solid objects such as coins or cookie cutters.

26. step one continued step two, with transitional words Next, use markers or crayons to decorate your shapes. When you are finished, cut them out. Use a sharp pencil to poke a hole near the top of each shape. Then cut a section of thin string (or yarn) for each shape. Make each section a different length, using a ruler to measure them. When your strings are cut, put the tip of one through the hole you have punched in each shape. Then tie the shapes to the end of their strings.

27. step three, with transitional word step four, with transitional word instructions for use (display) Now, tie the free ends of the strings along the bottom part of the hanger. Space the dangling shapes evenly so your mobile will balance. Finally, cut one more length of string and tie an end to the coat hanger’s hook. Use this string to hang the mobile someplace where it can move freely. Pay attention to your mobile as it hangs. You might be surprised by how slight a breeze it takes to move your cool new decoration. conclusion and restatement of reason

28. Write a “how-to” paper in response to one of the prompts below. Use the Writer’s Checklist as a guide to evaluating and revising your work. Write a “how-to” paper about something you have built at home. Remember that your purpose is to teach others how to make or build the product. Choose a process that you know well, such as washing the dishes or performing a specific soccer drill, and write a paper that tells others “how-to” do it. Your Turn: Write a “how to” book

29. The End