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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. 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?






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






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






4. 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.






5. ______ are documents that help people how to understand how to assemble - use - and repair products.






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






7. Are reduced images of pictures.






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






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






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






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






12. External proposal written and submitted without request






13. Single ___ for larger typeface; double for smaller typeface. Avoid orphans and widows.






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






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






16. Explain how each element of a complex item works - which is especially beneficial to laypersons attempting to understand a technical subject.






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






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






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






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






21. Data organized visually for easy comparison






22. Involves dividing an idea into different parts and explaining each part separately.






23. 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.






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






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






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






27. 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






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






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






30. 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.






31. 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.






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






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






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






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






36. 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.






37. 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






38. Left ____________ improves the flow of a document.






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






40. Increase the wordiness of a sentence






41. Titles or brief statements that describe a visual.






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






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






44. 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






45. 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.






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






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






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






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






50. 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