Re: PB&J--not just for lunch anymore (was: Getting Experience -- was Volunteer TW Services)

["Palmer, Phyllis" <PPalmer -at- SPHERECOM -dot- COM>]

I am looking for a similar illustration to open our technical training.
We can't seem to get folks to read the manual (another topic, I
realize), but once they do, they see that it was written for them to
follow it!    Anyone with a good "hook" for training these folks?
Thanks,
Phyllis

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Taylor, Steve [SMTP:steve -dot- taylor -at- ALLEGIANCETELECOM -dot- COM]
> Sent: Thursday, June 25, 1998 3:03 PM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      Re: PB&J--not just for lunch anymore (was: Getting
> Experience --             was Volunteer TW Services)
>
> A piece of trivia on PB&J. I recently interviewed with Microsoft and
> they
> used the PB&J in the technical interview.
>
> Fortunately, I did not get the job, nor would I have taken it I think.
> They
> don't offer enough money...
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Steve Taylor
> Consultant for Technical Directions, Inc.
> On location at:
> Allegiance Telecom, Inc.
> Dallas, TX
> (214) 853-7182
> steve -dot- taylor -at- allegiancetelecom -dot- com
> http://www.alegiancetele.com
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Deborah Ray [SMTP:debray -at- RAYCOMM -dot- COM]
> > Sent: Thursday, June 25, 1998 1:29 PM
> > To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> > Subject:      Re: PB&J--not just for lunch anymore (was: Getting
> > Experience -- was Volunteer TW Services)
> >
> > At 01:42 PM 6/25/98 -0400, you wrote:
> > >As a writing manager, I've accepted samples including a procedure
> for
> > making
> > >a peanut and butter sandwich (much more complicated than most
> realize)
> >
> > Yes, it is. In fact, I use making a peanut butter and jelly
> > sandwich to introduce instructions in TW classes
> > that I teach. I bring in all the supplies, ask the students
> > to write instructions for making a PB&J sandwich, then
> > ask for a victim--er, um--volunteer to read his/her
> > instructions while I follow them. It's amazing what
> > information is left out. For example, they usually forget
> > to include steps like opening the PB jar (at which point,
> > I'm sitting there stabbing the lid with a knife) or
> > mentioning how much PB to put on the bread (at which point
> > I pile, say, half a jar of PB on the bread). Based on the
> > exercise, I then can talk about writing procedural documents,
> > identifying audience needs, being familiar with materials,
> > distinguishing steps from supplemental information, using
> > action words, including appropriate details based on
> > audience needs, and so on.
> >
> > Good exercise. Students remember the lessons, that's for
> > sure.
> >
> > Deborah
> > *************************************************************
> > Deborah S. Ray, RayComm, Inc.
> > My opinions DO represent those of the company....
> >
> >
> &^~~
> > ~
> > Send commands to listserv -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu (e.g., SIGNOFF
> TECHWR-L)
> >
>
> &^~~~
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