1.5 Texts that instruct
Instructions are everywhere. Whether you choose to follow them is another matter entirely. Instructions can be anything from how to open a box of cereal to the step-by-step details of how to put together a flat-pack piece of furniture.
Instructions contain imperatives (bossy verbs) – commands which tell you what to do or what not to do, such as ‘shake the packet’ or ‘do not leave the box open’.
Activity 5 Safety instructions
Read the following text and note down:
- who it is written for
- why it was written
- what makes its message successful.
| DO | DON’T |
|---|---|
| ALWAYS wear a seatbelt | DON’T leave valuables in a parked car |
| ALWAYS plan your route and have a map | DON’T leave your driving licence in your car |
| DO tell someone where you are going | NEVER leave your car unlocked |
| DO join a national breakdown service | NEVER leave children alone in the car |
| DO park in well-lit places | NEVER pick up hitchhikers |
Discussion
Who? The text is written for drivers and people who travel by car.
Why? The purpose of the text is to instruct people on how to keep safe when travelling by car.
What makes it successful?
- The way the text is laid out highlights the key points that you are likely to remember.
- It tells you what you should do and what it is best not to do.
- The instructions are very clear and easy to understand.
- The first words – ‘ALWAYS’, ‘DO’, ‘DON’T’ and ‘NEVER’ – are in capital letters so that you notice them.
- It uses short sentences.
- It uses imperatives to tell you clearly what to do and what not to do, such as plan, tell, leave and pick.
The purpose of texts like these is to tell somebody what to do or how things should be done. You get instructions if you buy a new piece of equipment like a food processor. Instructions are often in a particular order and may be numbered or in bullet points. They are often arranged under subheadings.