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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. Are reduced images of pictures.
Solicited Proposal
Feasibility Report Structure
Thumbnails
Informative Abstract
2. Written to express disappointment with a product or service and to request a refund - replacement - or an apology
Inquiry Letters
The functional resume format
Claim Letters
Grant or Research Proposal
3. ____________________ in a sentence indicates the relationship between ideas; structuring a sentence with effective ______________ improves conciseness.
Semi Technical
Subordination
Expanded Definition
Thumbnails
4. Single words or short lines carried over to the top of a column or page
Widows
Bar graphs
Titles and headings
Headers
5. Included before full report; summarized version of report
Stub
Descriptive Abstract
Informative Abstract
Progress Reports
6. The extent to which data has been verified to be accurate
Spatial pattern
Data Validity
Descriptive Abstract
Manuals
7. Explaining what the term does not mean.
Sentence Definition
Negation
Training Manuals
Lists
8. Used when requesting large amounts of money
Glossary
Formal Internal Proposal
Executive Summary
Pictograms
9. External proposal written to request funding for a project or study.
Orphan
Bar graphs
Grant or Research Proposal
Color
10. 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
Cause and Effect
Etymology
Appendix
Analogy
11. Data organized visually for easy comparison
Emphatic pattern
Tables
Topic outlines
Grant or Research Proposal
12. Consist of brief phrases that indicate a document's method of development - and they are primarily used for short documents like letters and memos.
Color
Chronological pattern
Lists
Topic outlines
13. Written to accompany a resume when seeking an internship or employment; explains how skills and experience match a specific job position.
Process Description
Feasibility Report Structure
Job Application Letters
Stub
14. Explain how an item or process works
Operation
Deliverable
Feasibility Report Structure
Brochure
15. Titles or brief statements that describe a visual.
Full-block style
Color
Captions
Job Application Letters
16. Used when writing about one subject that is similar to another.
Tone
Parallel sentences
Conclusion
Comparison
17. 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
15 to 20
Non Technical
Although
Inquiry Letters
18. 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
Manuals
Directives
Subordination
19. A single line carried over the top of a column
Data Validity
Training Manuals
Audience Analysis Questions
Widow
20. Detailed - usually multipage commercial document containing descriptions of product/servive/project for marketing purposes.
Bar graphs
Widow
Brochure
Claim Letters
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
Sentence definitions
Thumbnails
Titles and headings
Solicited Proposal
22. _______ are documents written to persuade readers to take some type of action.
Relative pronouns
Table of Contents
Analysis of parts
Proposal
23. Show steps in a process.
Flowcharts
Job Application Letters
Use Manuals
Chronological pattern
24. 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?
Gantt charts
Data Validity Questions
Orphan
Schematic diagrams
25. 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
Tone
Analysis of parts
Collaborative writing
Analogy
26. Often include section topic - date - page number - and title of document.
Schematic diagrams
Tutorials
Headers and footers
Cause and Effect
27. Explain policies - and proposals persuade readers to follow a plan of action.
Cause and Effect
Memorandum Structure
Usability testing
Directives
28. Use these to show the meaning of a process or concept.
Spatial pattern
Analysis of parts
Visuals
Sentence Definition
29. Begins with either the cause of the effect; useful in reports discussing problems and solutions
Operator's Manuals
Cause and Effect
Headers and footers
Usability testing
30. 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.
Non Technical
Use Manuals
Procedures
Sentence Definition
31. Use a synonym or clarifying phrase to explain the meaning of an unfamiliar word; easy to set up links in electronic documents.
Proposal
Claim Letters
Captions
Parenthetical Definition
32. Follows a sequence of events; useful for explanations of how something is done or how an accident occurred.
Parenthetical definition
Inquiry Letters
Chronological pattern
Directives
33. Written in short proposal format; used frequently in organizations for minor spending requests.
Routine Internal Proposal
Job Application Letters
Topic outlines
Pictograms
34. Show trends and changes over time - cost - size - rates - and other variables.
Line Graphs
Non Technical
Partition
Visuals
35. Most appropriate when a writer needs to define a multiple-meaning term with precision.
Deliverable
Diagrams
Sentence definitions
Stub
36. 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?
Brochure
Audience Analysis Questions
Pictograms
Parenthetical Definition
37. Describes the physical appearance of an object or area beginning at one point and ending at another; useful for product or mechanism descriptions
Brochure
Appendix
Emphatic pattern
Spatial pattern
38. Written to describe events like safety emergencies - equipment problems - and workplace accidents.
Incident or trouble reports
Memos
Chunking
Stub
39. 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?
Passive voice and helping verbs
Feasibility Reports
Justification
Descriptive Abstract
40. The purpose of a ____ is to: Summarize information - Interpret Findings - Recommend action
Memos
Conclusion
Sequential pattern
Sentence definitions
41. 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.
Conclusion
Sentence Definition
Non Technical
Parenthetical definition
42. 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.
Pie charts
Pictograms
Precise
15 to 20
43. Show real or imaginary objects; highlight specific parts; use exploded view to show how parts fit together.
Modified-block style
Thumbnails
Drawings
Progress Reports
44. Informal written communications used in business between colleagues. The provide a record trail of decisions that can be used legally.
Justification
Instructions
Memos
Sentence outlines
45. They are different from Memos - since they correspond to people outside of the organization instead of inside.
Progress Reports
Letters
Sequential pattern
Descriptive Abstract
46. 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
Partition
Use Manuals
Pie charts
The functional resume format
47. Used in in presenting steps - materials - and recommendations
Lists
Flowcharts
Expanded Definition
Full-block style
48. A document with an alphabetical list of definitions. It defines terms without breaking the flow. If a document has five or more technical terms it needs one of these. Insert after the appendix and bibiolography
Contractions
Full-block style
Glossary
Operator's Manuals
49. Increase the wordiness of a sentence
Captions
Sentence Definition
Transitional phrases
Passive voice and helping verbs
50. This document contains: Name and contact information - Job Objective - Qualifications and Summary - Education and Work Experience - Awards - Skills and Activities - References
Resume
Precise
Conclusion
Claim Letters