Reading Consumer Documents WarrantyInstructionsProduct Information Feature Menu Introducing

Reading Consumer Documents Warranty/Instructions/Product Information Feature Menu Introducing the Selections Informational Text Focus: Reading Consumer Documents Reading Skills Focus: Comparing and Contrasting Details Writing Skills Focus

Reading Consumer Documents Warranty/Instructions/Product Information What kind of information do you need to be a successful consumer?

Reading Consumer Documents Introducing the Selections Have you ever bought something, brought it home, opened the package, and found out. . . it’s not what you thought it would be? it doesn’t look or work like it did in the ads? it’s not really what you wanted? What a disappointment! [End of Section]

Reading Consumer Documents Informational Text Focus: Reading Consumer Documents Whenever you buy or use a product, you are a consumer. To be a successful consumer, you need to read many kinds of consumer documents. These documents will help you • choose the best product for your needs and budget • operate the product easily and correctly • enjoy the product

Reading Consumer Documents Informational Text Focus: Reading Consumer Documents Often, the more complex a product is, the more paperwork comes with it. Common consumer documents include: technical directions product information service contract instruction manual warranty

Reading Consumer Documents Informational Text Focus: Reading Consumer Documents Common consumer documents include: • Product information— description of a product and what it does • Service contract—a legal agreement spelling out the rights and obligations of the purchaser and manufacturer or seller

Reading Consumer Documents Informational Text Focus: Reading Consumer Documents Common consumer documents include: • Warranty—a legal document stating what the manufacturer will do if the product fails to live up to the manufacturer’s claims and what the purchaser must do to obtain service. • Instruction manual—instructions on how to use the product and how to troubleshoot problems. • Technical directions—directions for installation and use [End of Section]

Reading Consumer Documents Reading Skills Focus: Comparing and Contrasting Details Each type of consumer document contains certain elements, or basic parts. However, you should focus on the features, or specific details, of the documents when you want to compare products.

Reading Consumer Documents Reading Skills Focus: Comparing and Contrasting Details Say you are comparing two MP 3 players. They look alike. They cost about the same. You will probably look at the product information for answers to questions such as: • What’s the player’s capacity? How much music can I put on it? • How easy is it to organize my music? • Is the interface with the computer simple?

Reading Consumer Documents Reading Skills Focus: Comparing and Contrasting Details Into Action: As you read the consumer documents, keep track of the elements and features that you find. Document Elements Features Warranty/service contract Coverage details Operating parts and labor – 2 years [End of Section]

Reading Consumer Documents Writing Skills Focus Preparing for Timed Writing Consumer documents often use headers, various fonts, and graphics to emphasize main ideas. Make notes about how the different elements and features in these consumer documents are highlighted. [End of Section]

Vocabulary

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary claim n. : demand for something due. clause n. : single provision of a law or agreement. void v. : cancel legal force or effect. discretion n. : power to choose or act.

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary The noun claim has several meanings. The sentence below will help you understand how it is used in this selection. After the accident, my parents filled out an insurance claim so that we could pay for the car repairs.

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary The original root of claim was a Latin word meaning “to call out; to shout. ” If you think of this root meaning, you can see how a claim is a demand for something that is due to you, or something you are legally entitled to: • a claim for money you’re owed • a claim against your insurance to pay for damages covered by your policy • a claim against a manufacturer to make good on a defective product

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary The consumers’ claims against the company were not honored because the company had gone out of business. What happened to the consumers? The consumers could not get what was owed to them.

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary The sentence below illustrates how the word clause is used in the selection. One clause in the lease prohibits pets in the apartment.

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary A clause in a formal or legal document is a part of the document that concerns a single area or subject. If the document is well organized, everything about a particular subject should be covered in the clause about that subject.

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary If someone told you to read the cancellation clause in your insurance policy, would you look for a a. word? c. paragraph? b. sentence? d. section? The word section is often a good replacement for clause in this meaning. Sometimes the word article is used.

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary The sentence below may help you understand what the verb void means in the selection. Jon didn’t mean to void the warranty. All he wanted to do was customize his computer system.

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary To void literally means “to make empty or vacant. ” When you take an action that voids a contract or agreement, you make it empty of meaning or effect. That means you broke the deal, and now the other side doesn’t have to keep up their end of the agreement.

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary What is the best word to replace voided in the following sentence? When I tried to repair the toaster myself, I voided the warranty. a. invalidated c. destroyed b. emptied d. cancelled

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary The word discretion has several meanings. This sentence will help you understand how it is used in the selection. At the discretion of the principal, a student may be prohibited from leaving campus during lunch. That means the principal can decide to revoke a student’s offcampus lunch privileges.

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary We often think of discretion as meaning only “good or responsible judgment. ” Use discretion in choosing your friends; people judge you by the company you keep. Discretion, however, also includes the idea of ability or power—the ability to make decisions or the power to decide, choose, or act.

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary When you see phrases such as at her discretion, at the company’s discretion, at the discretion of the awards committee, the person or group has been given or has given itself the power to make a certain decision or take a certain action.

Reading Consumer Documents Vocabulary What kinds of situations would require you to use your own discretion? Can you think of situations in which you would not be able to or allowed to exercise your discretion? [End of Section]

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