Audience and purpose are two of the most important ideas in writing instruction, and they are easier to teach with a concrete example. Albert Jung's "What's Your Name?" is a how-to guide aimed at readers who want to write their names in Hangul without learning Korean. Students can analyze how the author's decisions are shaped by that specific audience.

Ask students to identify who the book seems written for and what that reader needs. A beginner with no knowledge of Korean needs simple steps, minimal terminology, and reassurance. Seeing those features helps students understand that effective writing responds to a reader's needs.

Then ask them to consider what would change if the audience were different. A linguist would want technical detail, while a young child would need shorter steps and more images. Imagining these alternatives sharpens their sense of how choices follow from audience.

From Analysis to Their Own Writing

After analysis, students can write their own how-to guide for a different skill, aimed at a defined audience. They must explain, in a short memo, how their choices fit that reader. The memo is a rich source of assessment evidence because it shows the thinking behind the writing.

• A named audience with specific needs and prior knowledge
• Steps that are sequenced and use precise action verbs
• Vocabulary adjusted for the audience
• At least one anticipated mistake with advice for avoiding it
• A short rationale explaining how audience shaped each choice

Assessing Instructional Writing

Instructional writing is easier to evaluate than many genres because it can be tested. Have a classmate follow the guide and report where they got confused. Those observations become evidence for revision and for grading.

Rubric rows can address clarity of steps, appropriateness for the audience, completeness, and conventions. Weighing clarity heavily reflects the real purpose of the genre. Students see that a well-organized guide matters more than elaborate language.

Feedback on Clarity

Common problems include skipped steps, unclear pronouns, and steps that combine several actions. Feedback should point to the exact step and model a revision. Showing how to split a crowded step into two works better than telling a student to "be clearer."

Encourage students to read their own guide aloud while performing the steps. They often catch missing details that were invisible on the page. This habit is transferable to technical writing in later courses.

Making Grading Practical

A set of how-to guides is quicker to grade than long essays, but the testing step adds time. Use peer testing to share the load and have students record results on a simple form. You can then review the forms rather than testing every guide yourself.

AI-assisted tools can evaluate the written guides against the rubric and highlight missing steps or unclear instructions. Teachers verify the findings and handle the final scores. This reduces repetitive review while maintaining teacher authority over the grade.