- Maker: Stefan Henry
- Genre: Instructions (Replacing a leaking shower cartridge)
- Level: Graduate
- Program: Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media
- Course: WRIT 5400: Technical Writing
- Instructor: Dr. Eric Mason
- Semester Created: Fall 2025
Description
This project originated from practical necessity: on one hand, the urgent task of fixing a leaking shower faucet, and on the other, the academic requirement of completing a Technical Writing assignment. As I am not the most “handy” of individuals, I undertook the task of researching the process; i.e., I viewed a large number of YouTube tutorials on the subject. The result a set of instructions to replace a shower cartridge.
See the project here: https://www.instructables.com/Instructions-to-Change-a-Shower-Cartridge-Single-H/
Reflection
Having thought about it, I would have liked to have chosen another project; however, the feedback I garnered, especially from other students, helped me to understand that some of my assumptions of what is clear and succinct may not actually be clear and succinct.
I think that the experience of actually sitting down to write clear, concise instructions was an insightful process; there were considerations that became far more evident in the midst of developing the instructions and completing the process of replacing the cartridge. I think that doing both simultaneously was advantageous overall, as I was able to work out any issues of clarity in real time.
While I would have liked to have completed a different project, I appreciate the experience of completing these instructions; the practical skills garnered from the assignment are marketable and the project will be a great addition to my portfolio.
