Instructional texts are texts that show how to perform a specific action through a series of instructions or steps that guide the reader.
- These readings are usually listed in chronological order, which is why they are sometimes numbered.
- In addition to instructions, educational texts can also contain explanations that help the reader carry out the action and understand certain concepts.
- Instruction texts are classified as function texts. They are intended for the player to use to perform a specific task. That is, your reading has a specific purpose; they are read because they serve something or are useful to the recipient.
- That’s why functional texts use the appellative characteristic of language, which focuses on the receiver to capture her attention or direct her behavior. Some examples of functional texts, in addition to training texts, could be job applications or resumes.
Characteristics of the instructional texts
Clarity and precision in explanations or indications. The wording must be neat and the language must be suitable for the recipient to receive the message. This is very important because the primary purpose of educational texts is to teach or instruct.
Instructions are written with verbs in the infinitive (ar, er, ir), in impersonal forms (se) or in a formal or imperative mood (referring to you or you). This is explained in the following example of a pasta recipe:
1. Pour the pasta into the boiling water. (formal imperative mood)
2. Add salt and pepper to taste. (formal imperative mood)
3. Let cook until the pasta is completely cooked. (Infinitive verb)
4. Drain the water. (Infinitive verb)
5. Add butter and basil. (impersonal form)
6. Served in individual portions. (impersonal form)
- They are aimed at a specific audience. For example, the user manuals of some industrial machines are intended for this sector; cookbooks are for people who love to cook or need to cook; the indications of the drug are intended for people who are going to use it, etc.
- Use of numbers and paragraphs.
- Use of graphic resources such as markers, diagrams, tables, charts, illustrations, etc. For example, the instructions for a building toy might be accompanied by a series of illustrations showing how to assemble the toy’s components.
instructive texts can be divided into different sections/parts, making them easier to see. For example, in the operating instructions for a mobile phone, some sections may be: device setup, updating the clock and time, installing or deleting applications, files, memory, locking, resetting the device, calls, messages, music etc.
See Also! Functional Texts: Definition, Example, Types & Characteristics
In some cases they use technical or specialized language. For example, car manuals use words or technical details that are unique to this industry and that not everyone knows, such as: power steering, chassis, supercharger, cruise control, clutch, differential, ring gear. , among others.
How to Write Instructional Text?
Steps to write an abstract
1. Read the text and underline the main ideas
The abstract should contain the most important points of the text. The main ideas are those that summarize or contain the most important ideas that make up the text. Each paragraph usually contains one or two significant ideas.
2. Write an introduction containing the general points of the text.
The summary can begin with an introduction, in which the most significant data of the entire text are recorded or, in general, those points to which the text as a whole is devoted are explained.
3. Write the main ideas that were underlined using the paraphrase.
Once the general introduction has been written, the main ideas should be developed. A good summary is not just copying the main ideas, but also collecting in your own words (paraphrasing) extracts from the most important points of what you have read. The organization and structure of ideas depends on each reader.
4 . Do a general review of the abstract.
Finally, review the summary to clarify what is not clear, check for appropriateness of organization, and correct any grammatical or spelling errors.
20 Instructional Text Examples
A text that indicates how to prepare a cooking recipe.
A text indicating how to send money electronically.
A text that indicates how to operate a computer.
A text that indicates how to make homemade oil.
A text that indicates how to repair a cell phone.
A text that indicates how to use an electrical appliance (a blender, a stove, a refrigerator, etc.).
A text tells us how to install a cell phone screen.
A text indicating how to install a wireless phone.
A text that indicates how to install an irrigation system .
A text indicating how to restore a computer.
A text that indicates how to assemble a toy.
A text indicating how to scan a document.
A text that indicates how to install software on the computer.
A text indicating how to play a board game.
A manual of use of a vehicle.
A text indicating how to uninstall a cyber virus.
A text indicating how to edit a video.
A text that indicates how to disassemble a computer.
A text that indicates how to explore the different functions of a camera.
A text that indicates how to use a cleaning product.
