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. 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






2. Used when extensive details are required about an item; may be a paragraph or numerous pages depending on the audience and purpose.






3. 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.






4. 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






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






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






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






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






9. 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






10. 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.






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






12. Increase the wordiness of a sentence






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






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






15. 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.






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






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






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






19. Explaining what the term does not mean.






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






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






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






23. 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.






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






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






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






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






28. ______ ______ ______ 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






29. 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.






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






32. Charts that show parts of a whole






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






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






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






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






37. 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






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






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






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






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






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.






43. It emphasizes abilities and skills rather than work history. This type of resume is appropriate for people who are changing careers or who have limited work experience. Education and references are included but not stressed.






44. Included before full report; summarized version of report






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






46. 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?






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






48. Useful in highlighting sections of a document to draw reader attention






49. 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






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