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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. 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






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






3. Increase the wordiness of a sentence






4. 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.






5. Often include section topic - date - page number - and title of document.






6. Show steps in a process.






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






8. Written as a self-study guide for the users of a product; intended to guide first-time users through the steps involved in operating a product.






9. 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.






10. 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






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






12. Included either at the beginning of the conclusion or at the end of the body; reviews main points and findings






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






14. Letter format most appropriate with letterhead stationery - all letter elements are aligned to the left margin - and company letterhead is commonly used.






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






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






17. Use images or icons to represent quantities; useful for non-experts to grasp ideas.






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






19. 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.






20. 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.






21. 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






22. Included before full report; summarized version of report






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






24. These are sentences clarity is increased by creating lists/clauses with similar grammer. (for example - every item on a list has 'a' before it)






25. 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






26. Left ____________ improves the flow of a document.






27. 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.






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






29. Explaining what the term does not mean.






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






31. _______________ terms are clearer than general ones.






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






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






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






35. Defining through __________ involves comparing two seemingly different objects that share a common characteristic.






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






37. Written to express disappointment with a product or service and to request a refund - replacement - or an apology






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






39. Are reduced images of pictures.






40. 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






41. ______ ______ ______ 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






42. They are different from Memos - since they correspond to people outside of the organization instead of inside.






43. This document contains: Name and contact information - Job Objective - Qualifications and Summary - Education and Work Experience - Awards - Skills and Activities - References






44. 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






45. 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






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






47. Most appropriate when a writer needs to define a multiple-meaning term with precision.






48. 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






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






50. Charts that show parts of a whole