Write Instructions or How-To Steps
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Learning Objectives
- 1Write a clear how-to text with title, materials list, numbered steps, and finishing tip in order
- 2Begin each numbered step with an imperative verb that names one action
- 3List materials with specific quantities and sizes before Step 1
- 4Arrange instruction steps in the exact sequence a reader must follow
- 5Add a finishing tip that helps the reader check, store, or improve the result
Mini Lesson
Instructions are the most practical kind of writing there is — and the hardest to do well. A recipe, a craft guide, a science experiment, an assembly manual: all of these depend on the reader being able to follow the steps in exact order without confusion. One missing step, one vague verb, and the whole thing falls apart.
The four parts of a how-to text
- Title — tells the reader exactly what they will be able to do. Start with "How to..." for maximum clarity: How to Make a Paper Airplane, How to Plant a Seed, How to Tie a Bow.
- Materials list — lists everything the reader needs to gather before they begin. Use bullet points. Be specific about quantities and sizes: "one sheet of A4 paper" not "some paper." The reader should be able to collect everything before reading Step 1.
- Numbered steps — each step is numbered and describes exactly one action. Each step begins with an imperative verb — a command verb that tells the reader what to do: Fold, Cut, Mix, Press, Stir, Place, Hold, Wait. Steps must be in the exact order the actions occur.
- Finishing tip — an optional but useful final sentence that tells the reader how to check their work, how to store the result, how to make a variation, or what common mistake to avoid.
Imperative verbs — the engine of instructions
- An imperative verb is a command. It is the base form of the verb with no subject: Fold (not "You fold"), Mix (not "You should mix").
- Imperative verbs make instructions direct and easy to follow — the reader does not have to decode who is supposed to do what.
- Strong imperative verb bank: Fold, Cut, Pour, Stir, Press, Spread, Stack, Wrap, Attach, Slide, Twist, Place, Hold, Allow, Let, Check, Wait, Remove, Repeat.
The test of good instructions
- Give your instructions to someone who has never done the task. Can they complete it without asking a single question?
- If they ask "how much?" or "which one?" or "for how long?" — those are gaps in your instructions.
- Every step needs: the action (imperative verb) + the object (what to act on) + any needed quantity or detail.
Ask yourself: Have I listed all the materials? Does each step start with an imperative verb? Are the steps in exactly the right order? Could a stranger follow these without asking a question?
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