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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. Data organized visually for easy comparison






2. It emphasizes abilities and skills rather than work history. This type of resume is appropriate for people who are changing careers or who have limited work experience. Education and references are included but not stressed.






3. ____________________ in a sentence indicates the relationship between ideas; structuring a sentence with effective ______________ improves conciseness.






4. Written for both skilled and unskilled users of a product; include instructions regarding setup - operation and maintenance as well as safety warning and trouble-shooting tips






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






6. Advantages: gaining a better understanding of how the audience will read the document - each member of the group provides more questions and suggestions Disadvantages: disjointed writing styles - increased time to complete the project - and reduced m






7. Explaining what the term does not mean.






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






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






10. 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.






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






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






13. Commonly used to outline longer documents like reports - proposals - and manuals.






14. Explain policies - and proposals persuade readers to follow a plan of action.






15. These build unity and clarity by creating a smoooth flow of ideas. Achieved by using ______ words (therefore - meanwhile etc) Repeating major points or words - summarizing information in previous paragraphs - using numbers to indicate steps.






16. 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.






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






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






19. Increase the wordiness of a sentence






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






21. Included before full report; summarized version of report






22. Used for complex terms or when term has multiple meanings. Follows a fixed patter: indicate the term to be defined - the class in which the time belongs - and the features that make the item unique in its class.






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






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






25. Boldface - italics - capital letters - font style - and font size are common ways to show readers the difference between _________________ headings.






26. These kinds of reports answer the following questions: Is the plan likely to be successful? - What are the benefits and risks of the plan? - What are other options? - Is funding available? - How would the employees be affected?






27. Follows a sequence of events; useful for explanations of how something is done or how an accident occurred.






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






29. The attitude expressed by a writer. Use formal or semi when writing for superiors/professionals - Use semi or informal when writing for colleagues and subordinates - Use informal when conversational style is desired. Avoid profanity or slang.






30. Begins with either the cause of the effect; useful in reports discussing problems and solutions






31. Show how the phases of a project relate to each other






32. Written to ask about a product - service or procedure; brief - direct and clearly worded so the reader understands what is needed.






33. When using a ______________ - center the return address - date - and closing - and align body paragraphs to the left.






34. 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






35. Margins ________ on the left are easier to read; fully ______ is appropriate for multiple columns.






36. Useful in highlighting sections of a document to draw reader attention






37. These help readers decide whether to read the document - find a particular section - divide information into logical pieces - highlight main points and topics - signal topic changes






38. Used when requesting large amounts of money






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






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






41. Indicate organizational structure and help readers find information; type size or font should differ from main text.






42. Used in in presenting steps - materials - and recommendations






43. Used for writing step-by-step instructions.






44. This describes how something works and breaks down something into steps or parts. (e.g. how to make a dvd player - how to apply for a loan)






45. Show steps in a process.






46. Explain how an item or process works






47. _______ are documents written to persuade readers to take some type of action.






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






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






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