Test your basic knowledge |

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. 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






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






3. 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






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






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






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






7. 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.






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






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






10. 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






11. Explaining what the term does not mean.






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






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






14. The extent to which data has been verified to be accurate






15. Too brief and general to convey the complexity of a term with multiple meanings.






16. 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.






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






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






19. Used when requesting large amounts of money






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






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






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






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






24. 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






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






26. 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






27. Included before full report; summarized version of report






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






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






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






31. Translate numbers into shapes or colors; show camprisons






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






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






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






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






36. Left ____________ improves the flow of a document.






37. Are reduced images of pictures.






38. Consist of brief phrases that indicate a document's method of development - and they are primarily used for short documents like letters and memos.






39. 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.






40. 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?






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






42. Major teaching tool in vocational jobs; used to train people in a procedure or skill and often paired with audiovisual information






43. What is the background of the audience? Global? - What is the reader's experience - What is the attitude of the audience on subject? - What are the needs/interests/expectations of the audience? - Will multiple audiences/skill levels read this?






44. 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.






45. Show steps in a process.






46. 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






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






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






49. 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)






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