Writing a How-To - Let’s Get Started

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Stanford

A guidebook on writing clear, complete instructions for teaching others how to do something. The text explains that successful how-to writing requires careful planning and inclusion of every step, warning that even a missing step can prevent reaching the goal. It uses relatable examples to show how details and structure make instructions easy to follow, encouraging learners to think of personal skills and hobbies they can teach.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time1 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

How Did They Do That?

You Can Do That!

What You Need

Step-by-Step

Use Details!

See What I Mean?

Final Changes

Glossar

For More Information

Index

About the Authors

CWriting aHow-To能”By Cecilia Minden and Kate Roth 上 # Writing aHow-To By Cecilia Minden and Kate Roth Published in the United States of America by Cherry Lake Publishing Ann Arbor,Michiganwww.cherrylakepublishing.com Reading Adviser:Marla Conn MS,Ed.,Literacy specialist,Read-Ability,Inc. Book Designer:Felicia Macheske Character llustrator:Carol Herring Photo Credits:C Oleg Mikhaylov/Shutterstock,5:◎wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock,7:◎AAraujo/Shutterstock,11;◎ suriyachan/Shutterstock,13;◎LightField Studios/Shutterstock,17 Graphics Throughout:C simple surface/Shutterstock.com;◎ Mix3r/Shutterstock.com;◎ Artefficient/Shutterstock.com;◎lemony/Shutterstock.com;◎ Svetolk/Shutterstock.com;◎EV-DA/Shutterstock.com;O briddy/Shutterstock.com;◎ IreneArt/Shutterstock.com Copyright ◎2019 by Cherry Lake Publishing All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in anyform or by any means without written permission from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been filed and is available at catalog.loc.gov Cherry Lake Publishing would like to acknowledge the work of The Partnership for 21st Century SkillsPlease visit www.p21.org for more information. Printed in the United States of AmericaCorporate Graphics Table of CONTENTS CAAPTER ONE How Did They Do That? 4 CHAPTER TWO You Can Do That! 6 CHAPTER THREE What You Need 8 CAAPTER FOUR Step-by-Step 10 ………… CAAPTER FIVE Use Details! .12 ………….… CHAPTER SIX See What I Mean? 16 …………………………… CHAPTER SEVEN Final Changes 20 .……………………… ..·…·…........· GLOSSAR………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………22 F0R MORE INFORMATION……………………………………………………………………………………………23 INDEX ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………24 24 ABOUT THE AUTHORS…………………………………………………………… ………………………… How Did They Do That? Think of all the things you know how to do.Can you tie yourshoes?Do you know how to make your bed?You might knowhow to make a paper airplane.Do you think you could teachsomeone else how to do one of these things? Writing how to do something takes careful planning.You need to include all the instructions.A missing step will keep youfrom reaching your goal.Imagine baking a cake and leaving outthe sugar.How would it taste? You are going to learn how to write instructions that arecomplete and easy to follow.Let's get started! S +(and u169 nonf+uDtnodun. s.su4onu+su Gup K29南敏 You Can Do That! We all know how to do many things.We sometimes forget that we had to learn how to do them.For example,you had to learnhow to read the words on this page! What can you do that other people might like to learn how to do?Think about your hobbies or a chore you do at home.Do you think you could teach someone how to do one of them?Thinkcarefully!Instructing others is sometimes harder than it seems.

FAQs

What makes writing a how-to effective?

Effective how-to writing includes careful planning and all required instructions. A missing step can prevent the reader from reaching the goal.

Why should you include every step in the instructions?

Because instructions must be complete and easy to follow. Leaving out a step can cause the process to fail or not work as intended.

How does the book help you choose what to teach?

It asks readers to think about skills, hobbies, and chores they already know how to do. It also encourages careful thinking about teaching others.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Stanford