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Test your basic knowledge |
DSST Technical Writing
Start Test
Study First
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. 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
Collaborative writing
Pie charts
Manuals
Orphan
2. External proposal written and submitted without request
Color
Routine Internal Proposal
Unsolicited proposal
Full-block style
3. 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.
Headings
Tone
Data Validity Questions
Thumbnails
4. 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
Operator's Manuals
Memorandum Structure
Incident or trouble reports
Headers and footers
5. ______ ______ ______ 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
Justification
Feasibility Report Structure
Proposal
Tutorials
6. Show steps in a process.
Memorandum Structure
Schematic diagrams
Captions
Flowcharts
7. 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.
Drawings
Partition
Appendix
Sentence Definition
8. Reduces costs by minimizing customer calls and the need to release document updates. Product sales and customer satisfaction also benefitsfrom this - although this enhances product safety - it does not eliminate a firm's legal responsibilities.
Usability testing
Data Validity Questions
Table of Contents
Orphan
9. Explain how each element of a complex item works - which is especially beneficial to laypersons attempting to understand a technical subject.
Data Validity
Negation
Justification
Analysis of parts
10. _______________ terms are clearer than general ones.
Plan of work
Precise
Spatial pattern
Topic outlines
11. 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
Appendix
Executive Summary
Although
Diagrams
12. Writers developing a formal document should avoid _______________ - but thee occasional use in semiformal or informal documents is acceptable.
Deliverable
Contractions
Collaborative writing
Partition
13. Use comparison to define - but they are less likely to be used for terms with multiple meanings.
Use Manuals
Negative definitions
Closing Summary
Chunking
14. ______ are documents that help people how to understand how to assemble - use - and repair products.
Partition
Manuals
Contractions
Tutorials
15. Involves dividing an idea into different parts and explaining each part separately.
Partition
Service Manuals
Descriptive Abstract
Relative pronouns
16. Show trends and changes over time - cost - size - rates - and other variables.
Collaborative writing
Transitional phrases
Line Graphs
Thumbnails
17. A formal document longer than ten pages usually includes a table of contents to simplify the process of locating information. It's included after the title and abstract - but before the list of tables - forward and preface.
Drawings
Procedures
Table of Contents
Use Manuals
18. 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
Orphan
Incident or trouble reports
Progress Reports
Plan of work
19. Detailed - usually multipage commercial document containing descriptions of product/servive/project for marketing purposes.
Brochure
Headers
Operation
Line Graphs
20. Too brief and general to convey the complexity of a term with multiple meanings.
Progress Reports
Memos
Gantt charts
Parenthetical definition
21. 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.
Sentence definitions
Glossary
Instructions
Justification
22. Informal written communications used in business between colleagues. The provide a record trail of decisions that can be used legally.
Memos
Headers
Widow
Brochure
23. Show how the phases of a project relate to each other
Widows
Parenthetical definition
Appendix
Gantt charts
24. Emphasizes important information; reasons or examples are arranged in decreasing or increasing order of imporance; used when making recommendations or proposals.
Brochure
Negative definitions
Headers
Emphatic pattern
25. 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.
Relative pronouns
Table of Contents
Feasibility Report Structure
15 to 20
26. External proposal written to request funding for a project or study.
Topic outlines
15 to 20
Procedures
Grant or Research Proposal
27. 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
Semi Technical
Chronological pattern
Proposal
Relative pronouns
28. Use these to show the meaning of a process or concept.
Training Manuals
Parenthetical definition
Headers
Visuals
29. External proposal that may be short or long depending on the size of the potential sale
Appendix
Unsolicited proposal
The functional resume format
Sales Proposal
30. Audience consists of experts in the subject matter - data does not require lengthy explanation e.g.: a physician giving a report to a surgeon about a patient's lab results and symptoms
Data Validity Questions
Directives
High Technical
Solicited Proposal
31. Explain how an item or process works
Comparison
Titles and headings
Memos
Operation
32. Describing the terms origin - such as Greek or Latin words
Etymology
Chronological pattern
Resume
Use Manuals
33. Used when requesting large amounts of money
Descriptive Abstract
Appendix
Procedures
Formal Internal Proposal
34. Written to accompany a resume when seeking an internship or employment; explains how skills and experience match a specific job position.
Job Application Letters
Background
Letters
Tone
35. 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
Gantt charts
Chronological pattern
Non Technical
Grant or Research Proposal
36. Explain policies - and proposals persuade readers to follow a plan of action.
Resume
Parallel sentences
Topic outlines
Directives
37. Written in short proposal format; used frequently in organizations for minor spending requests.
Sentence definitions
Routine Internal Proposal
Sequential pattern
Analogy
38. Written for repair technicians; contain troubleshooting charts for diagnosing problems
Service Manuals
Feasibility Report Structure
First-level and second-level
Expanded Definition
39. Illustrate relationships in systems - such as components in an electronic device
Etymology
Drawings
Diagrams
Cover panel
40. Written to ask about a product - service or procedure; brief - direct and clearly worded so the reader understands what is needed.
High Technical
Conclusion
Inquiry Letters
Feasibility Reports
41. Used in in presenting steps - materials - and recommendations
Tables
Lists
Inquiry Letters
Justification
42. Included before full report; combines main points of a report or proposal; often persuasive
Cover panel
Solicited Proposal
Executive Summary
Lists
43. ____________________ in a sentence indicates the relationship between ideas; structuring a sentence with effective ______________ improves conciseness.
Negative definitions
The functional resume format
Pictograms
Subordination
44. 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.
Parenthetical Definition
Columns
Chunking
Headings
45. 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?
Columns
Justification
Deliverable
Feasibility Reports
46. What is the Web Site's sponsor and domain type(.edu.com.gov) - What is the purpose of the Web page and message? - When was the Web site most recently updated? - What are the author's credentials and expertise?
Negative definitions
Sentence outlines
Negation
Data Validity Questions
47. Included either at the beginning of the conclusion or at the end of the body; reviews main points and findings
Closing Summary
Partition
Chunking
High Technical
48. These are sentences clarity is increased by creating lists/clauses with similar grammer. (for example - every item on a list has 'a' before it)
Widows
Chronological pattern
Parallel sentences
Unsolicited proposal
49. A ____________ is the final document or product that will be submitted once a project is completed.
Deliverable
Sequential pattern
Inquiry Letters
Glossary
50. Useful in highlighting sections of a document to draw reader attention
Orphan
Relative pronouns
Analogy
Color