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






2. Titles or brief statements that describe a visual.






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






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






5. Translate numbers into shapes or colors; show camprisons






6. 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






7. _______ are documents written to persuade readers to take some type of action.






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






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






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






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






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






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






15. 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.






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






17. Show steps in a process.






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






19. The purpose of a ____ is to: Summarize information - Interpret Findings - Recommend action






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






21. 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






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






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






24. Used when writing about one subject that is similar to another.






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






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






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






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






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






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






31. Used in in presenting steps - materials - and recommendations






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






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






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






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






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






37. Included before full report; summarized version of report






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






39. Use comparison to define - but they are less likely to be used for terms with multiple meanings.






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






41. 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






42. 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?






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






44. 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






45. 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






46. 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






47. Used when requesting large amounts of money






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






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






50. Use a synonym or clarifying phrase to explain the meaning of an unfamiliar word; easy to set up links in electronic documents.