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DSST Technical Writing

Subjects : dsst, writing-skills
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Detailed - usually multipage commercial document containing descriptions of product/servive/project for marketing purposes.






2. Explaining what the term does not mean.






3. Writers developing a formal document should avoid _______________ - but thee occasional use in semiformal or informal documents is acceptable.






4. Audience consists of laypersons with no training in the subject matter; data needs to be translated into simple language that can be easily understood e.g.; a physician giving a report to a patient's spouse regarding lab results - symptoms - and trea






5. Use a synonym or clarifying phrase to explain the meaning of an unfamiliar word; easy to set up links in electronic documents.






6. External proposal written and submitted without request






7. Written for repair technicians; contain troubleshooting charts for diagnosing problems






8. These kinds of reports answer the following questions: What has been accomplished since the last progress report? - What tasks still need to be accomplished? - Have there been any unanticipated problems? - What is the expected timetable for completio






9. External proposal written in response to a request for proposals (RFP) or an invitation for bids (IFB)






10. Describes the physical appearance of an object or area beginning at one point and ending at another; useful for product or mechanism descriptions






11. External proposal that may be short or long depending on the size of the potential sale






12. ___________ - such as 'who -' are more likely to decrease clarity in a document.






13. A ____________ is the final document or product that will be submitted once a project is completed.






14. Included on the title page; summarizes in a few sentences the scope and purpose of the document.






15. Use comparison to define - but they are less likely to be used for terms with multiple meanings.






16. External proposal written to request funding for a project or study.






17. Written to accompany a resume when seeking an internship or employment; explains how skills and experience match a specific job position.






18. Audience consists of people with some technical knowledge but less than experts; data needs some explanation e.g.: a physician giving a report to a first-year medical student regarding a patient's lab results and symptoms






19. Show how components of a principle - process - or system function together - useful to people assembling and installing things.






20. Included before full report; combines main points of a report or proposal; often persuasive






21. Informal written communications used in business between colleagues. The provide a record trail of decisions that can be used legally.






22. Illustrate relationships in systems - such as components in an electronic device






23. Written to describe events like safety emergencies - equipment problems - and workplace accidents.






24. Single ___ for larger typeface; double for smaller typeface. Avoid orphans and widows.






25. Organization Name __________ To: Name/Title of addressee From: Name/Title of sender with handwritten initials Date: For record keeping purposes Subject: Key words Introductory Paragraph: purpose and background Body Paragraph(s): details - explanation






26. Show real or imaginary objects; highlight specific parts; use exploded view to show how parts fit together.






27. Left ____________ improves the flow of a document.






28. Increase the wordiness of a sentence






29. The page area that contains no text or graphics - and it helps draw a reader's attention to a particular page element. Improves the readability of a document for all types of readers. Although it limits the amount of information on a page - it does n






30. This supplements or clarifies information in the text body. It is in the back and there may be more than one per topic. For example: experiment details - complicated formulas - interview questions and answers - long quotes - maps - photos - tests - v






31. Rules and guidelines provided to people who know how to perform a task - These ensure safety within a group. For example - guide on how to exit a building during a fire. Policemen have ________ they do after at a crime scene.






32. Written for unskilled individuals. The steps required to complete a task safely and efficiently - such as installing a memory card into a laptop. i.e. printed manuals - user manuals.






33. Emphasizes important information; reasons or examples are arranged in decreasing or increasing order of imporance; used when making recommendations or proposals.






34. These kinds of reports answer the following questions: The reason for conducting the test or investigation - Problems - Results and Conclusion






35. The _______ is the left-hand column of a table - and it lists the items being compared.






36. Show trends and changes over time - cost - size - rates - and other variables.






37. Written in short proposal format; used frequently in organizations for minor spending requests.






38. Dividing information into manageable pieces so that the document is easier for readers to follow and understand - Writers use various sequencing methods to do this.






39. Use these to show the meaning of a process or concept.






40. Sentences with an average of ____________ words are appropriate for technical writing. Sentences of fewer than 15 words are too short and choppy - and ones longer than 20 words are cumbersome and confusing.






41. Describing the terms origin - such as Greek or Latin words






42. Appear on the top of every page in a document to indicate the page number and document title.






43. The _________ of a brochure is its front page - and its purpose is to catch the attention of the audience. Usually contain a visual image and a small amount of text. Concepts and overviews appear inside the brochure.






44. Used when requesting large amounts of money






45. A single line carried over the top of a column






46. Titles or brief statements that describe a visual.






47. ______ ______ ______ is as follows: Introduction: background information and purpose statement - Body: Review of options being considered based on criteria like costs and staff - Conclusion: Interpretations of findings - Recommendation: Author's opin






48. The _____________ explains what an organization wants to do and justifies the proposal with primary and secondary research.






49. A word on a line by itself at the end of a column






50. Using '______________' to link the two sentences best contrasts the information.