Culturally Situated Do-It-Yourself Instructions for Making Protective Masks: Teaching the Genre of Instructional Design in the Age of COVID-19

Sushil K. Oswal University of Washington Tacoma ; Zsuzsanna B. Palmer Grand Valley State University

Abstract

This article employs cross-cultural communication approaches to teaching instructional design in the times of COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on instructions from France, India, Spain, and the United States for making protective masks, the authors highlight how the writers and designers of these four documents from each culture approach their audiences, organize their DIY instructions, make language choices, employ images and other illustration devices, and culturally persuade users. While acknowledging cultural differences, the authors urge students to identify and adopt design strengths from diverse cultures in their own ideas about composing instructions.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2021-01-01
DOI
10.1177/1050651920959190
Open Access
OA PDF Bronze
Topics

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly

Cites in this index (3)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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