21st-Century Skills: Exploring Procedural Texts

21st-Century Skills: Exploring Procedural Texts

What is the most important reason to consider typography when creating a procedural text?

D. It helps the reader find important information.

To make a plain apron, first measure and write down the measurements below.

1. If you're making an apron that will be tied, extend this length by at least 1 ½ times the measurement.
2. Decide how wide you'd like the waistband to be, adding 1 inch for the seam.
3. Decide how far down you want the apron to fall and measure that, adding at least 2 inches for seams and the hem.
4. Measure the width you'd like the apron to be from one side to the other, adding 1 inch for hems.
5. Cut your selected fabric in the dimensions you've written down.

Which step is missing from this procedure?

A. Measure your waist and add 2 inches.

Which organizational type is most appropriate for a procedural text?

C. chronological order

Instructions within procedural texts should be phrased as __________.

C. commands

Instructions in procedural texts should appear in the form of __________.

B. commands with active verbs

Why must the audience be considered when creating a procedural text?

A. to help determine word choice

"How to Prevent Onions from Making You Cry"

Chill onions in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before peeling or chopping them. Sulfuric vapors move slower in the cold—think about how garbage smells worse during hot weather. Leave the onion root intact until the last possible moment to prevent irritants from escaping into the air. The root contains the largest concentration of sulfuric compounds in an onion. Chop or cut the onion with a sharp knife. Fast, clean slicing puts less pressure on the onion tissue and minimizes the release of sulfuric compounds. A sharp knife also allows you to expedite your slicing and reduce your exposure to the onion fumes. Open a window or light a scented candle close to your chopping station. The hot flame of a candle attracts tear-causing vapor and reduces the amount of vapor circulating in the air.

What is the most important thing that can be done to make these instructions easier to follow?

C. using numbers to help readers see the various steps easier

The study of what a person must do in order to accomplish a specific task is called __________.

A. a task analysis

"How to Prevent Onions from Making You Cry"

You should chill onions in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before peeling or chopping them. Sulfuric vapors move slower in the cold—think about how garbage smells worse during hot weather.
Think about leaving the onion root intact until the last possible moment to prevent irritants from escaping into the air. The root contains the largest concentration of sulfuric compounds in an onion.
Now you can chop or cut the onion with a sharp knife. Fast, clean slicing puts less pressure on the onion tissue and minimizes the release of sulfuric compounds. A sharp knife also allows you to expedite your slicing and reduce your exposure to the onion fumes.
If light a scented candle close to your chopping station, the hot flame will attract tear-causing vapor and will reduce the amount of vapor circulating in the air.

Which revision should be made to these instructions to make them more effective?

D. making each statement a command by beginning each sentence with an action verb

"How to Make a Paper Airplane"

Supplies:

ruler, crayons, notebook, or printer paper, colored pencils or colored pens

Instructions:

1. Find a rectangular piece of paper. A sheet of computer printing paper or notebook paper is a good size and weight.

2. Lay the paper on a table with one of the long edges closest to you.

3. Fold the paper in half lengthwise. When the two edges match up, use your thumbs to make a sharp crease along the fold.

4. Take the upper left corner of the top layer of paper and fold it diagonally down toward the first crease you made. When the edges match up, use your thumbs to make a sharp crease along the new fold, which should create a small triangular flap.

5. Turn the paper over.

6. Take the upper right corner of the top layer of paper and fold it diagonally toward you, until the edge lines up with the first crease you made. When the edges match, make a sharp crease along the new fold. (This is a mirror of what you did in step 4.)

7. Take the newly formed diagonal edge on the right side of the paper, and fold it straight down toward the first crease you made. When the edges match, make another sharp crease.

8. Turn the paper over and again fold the diagonal edge toward the first crease you made; make another sharp crease. The paper should now look like a triangle with a 90-degree angle.

9. Form the wings by flipping the airplane over and repeating steps 7 and 8.

10. Hold the paper in one hand along the first crease you made. Let the wings of the plane flare out.

11. At a point 4 or 5 inches from the nose of the plane, make a half-inch rip in the bottom part of the plane; make another rip half an inch behind it. Fold up this tab.

12. Hold the airplane near the tab and toss the plane with an overhand, horizontal forward motion.

What could be done to make these instructions clearer and easier to follow?

A. adding images illustrating the various folds