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. 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






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






3. 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.






4. ______ ______ ______ 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






5. 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






6. 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






7. Explaining what the term does not mean.






8. External proposal written and submitted without request






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






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






11. 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.






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






13. Included before full report; summarized version of report






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






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






16. 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?






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






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






19. Single words or short lines carried over to the top of a column or page






20. 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)






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






22. Detailed - usually multipage commercial document containing descriptions of product/servive/project for marketing purposes.






23. Increase the wordiness of a sentence






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






25. 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?






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






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






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






29. 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






30. 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






31. 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.






32. 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.






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






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






35. 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






36. _______________ terms are clearer than general ones.






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






38. Discuss history - development - and applications for the term - unless readers are only attempting to perform a task related to the term.






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






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






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






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






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






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






45. 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.






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






47. 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






48. 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






49. 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.






50. Explain how an item or process works