tech writing 1-5 final

Which of the following is * not * one of the four examples of misleading technical communication described by Chapter 2? Select only one answer. A. False implications B. Legalistic Constructions C. Lying by Omission D. Euphamisms E. Exaggerations

Lying by Omission

Which of these statements about working with someone from another culture is true? A. A topic of discussion that is common in one culture might be considered highly personal in another culture. B. People from other cultures find it easy to participate actively in group projects. C. People from other cultures have a knack for delivering criticism to teammates. D. People from other cultures find it easy to ask for help on a project.

A. A topic of discussion that is common in one culture might be considered highly personal in another culture.

Chapter 4 lists and describes several disadvantages of collaboration. Which of the following is NOT one of the disadvantages described in Chapter 4? A. Collaboration can lead to plagiarism from outside sources. B. Collaboration can lead to groupthink. C. Collaboration can take more time than individual writing. D. Collaboration can yield a disjointed document.

A. Collaboration can lead to plagiarism from outside sources.

How many "basic modes of communication" are listed in Chapter 1 and what are they? A. 4 modes - writing, speaking, listening, and reading B. 3 modes - writing, speaking, and reading C. 2 modes - writing and speaking D. 5 modes - writing, speaking, listening, reading, and seeing

4 modes - writing, speaking, listening, and reading

Chapter 4 lists and describes several advantages of collaboration. Which of the following is NOT an advantage described in Chapter 4? A. Collaboration helps certain employees prove they are the best leaders. B. Collaboration helps acclimate new employees to an organization. C. Collaboration provides a better idea of how the audience will read the document. D. Collaboration draws on a wider knowledge base.

A. Collaboration helps certain employees prove they are the best leaders.

Chapter 1 lists several "Measures of Excellence" for technical documents. Some of these measures are are honesty, clarity, and accuracy. What is another measure of excellence described in this section of Chapter 1? A. Comprehensiveness, which means the document includes background, sufficient detail, and supporting materials (perhaps provided as attachments). B. Expertness, which means established experts and /or scholars are referenced or quoted in the document to convince the reader of the veracity of the work. C. Influential, which means the document is successful when readers save it to refer to over and over again during their decision making processes at work.

A. Comprehensiveness, which means the document includes background, sufficient detail, and supporting materials (perhaps provided as attachments).

The section of Chapter 3 called "Seeking Help From Others," recommends that technical writers seek help from two kinds of people: subject matter experts (SMEs) and actual and/or prospective users of the document. Four techniques are offered for how technical writers can learn from SMEs and actual and prospective users. Which of the following techniques does NOT appear in this section A. Hire a research consultant to both survey prospective users' and revise the document according to their feedback. B. Interview SMEs about a draft of the document. C. Conduct a focus group to learn of prospective users' opinions about the document.

A. Hire a research consultant to both survey prospective users' and revise the document according to their feedback.

n the section of Chapter 4 called "Listening Effectively," which of the following is NOT a suggestion for improving your effectiveness as a listener? A. Record the speaker so you can listen to them again later. B. Don't get emotionally involved with the speaker's ideas. C. Listen for main ideas. D. Ask questions to clarify what the speaker said.

A. Record the speaker so you can listen to them again later.

Which of the following techniques is not included in a list of techniques in the section of Chapter 3 called "Drafting Effectively"? A. Source ideas from research resources B. Draft quickly C. Get comfortable D. Don't stop to get more information or to revise

A. Source ideas from research resources

Which of the following mistakes did McDonald's make when it printed takeout bags decorated with flags from around the world? A. The bags showed a Saudi flag, which depicts holy scripture from the Koran. The Saudis were offended because these bags would be thrown out. B. All responses are correct. C. The bags showed a pair of hands holding a flag in a way that customers in some cultures would interpret as an obscene gesture. D. The writing on the bags was in English, which offended numerous nonnative speakers.

A. The bags showed a Saudi flag, which depicts holy scripture from the Koran. The Saudis were offended because these bags would be thrown out.

How do you respond to a reader who is hostile to your subject or to your approach to it? A. You could organize the document so that your recommendation follows your explanation of the benefits, in order for the reader to understand your argument rather than rejecting it out of hand. B. Try to persuade the reader by characterizing them as an opponent and their disagreement with your position as a dispute. C. Find out what the reader's objections are and avoid discussing them directly in order to keep the reader from actively challenging your argument.

A. You could organize the document so that your recommendation follows your explanation of the benefits, in order for the reader to understand your argument rather than rejecting it out of hand.

Which term below is used in Chapter 5 to describe a type of audience? A. tertiary B. fundamental C. indiscriminate D. supplemental

A. tertiary

According to an "Ethics Note" in Chapter 3, it is completely ethical to ask subject matter experts (SMEs) and people who are similar to the intended audience of your document to critique a draft of it. A. You are ethically obligated to acknowledge the SME's contributions, particularly if they offer detailed comments or suggestions on the draft or send you a multi-page review - and if you use some or many of their ideas. Chapter 3 notes, for example, that you can do this in the introduction of the document they critiqued or you can send them a memo of appreciation that they can use for a future performance evaluation. B. You must pay the SME for their time and expertise, particularly if they offer detailed comments or suggestions on the draft or send you a multi-page review - and if you use some or many of their ideas. This is one item that should should always be included in the the budget you draft for a workplace writing project. Chapter 3 notes that the SME will often need official documentation about how much they were paid in order to submit the appropriate paperwork to abide by local, state, and federal tax laws.

A. you are ethically obligated to acknowledge the SME's contributions, particularly if they offer detailed comments or suggestions on the draft or send you a multi-page review - and if you use some or many of their ideas. Chapter 3 notes, for example, that you can do this in the introduction of the document they critiqued or you can send them a memo of appreciation that they can use for a future performance evaluation.

A writer is commenting on a first draft of a technical report written by another team member. Which of the following comments is most appropriate? A. "I'm working on several different projects right now. I've been able to proof the document. However, I leave it to you to check its organization. Also, I feel you didn't sell me on the benefits of usability testing." B. "Section 3 does a great job of making a case for the importance of our usability testing. Perhaps we should also include a graph showing a decrease in customer-service calls since we started testing. We may also want to add a section on user feedback."

B. "Section 3 does a great job of making a case for the importance of our usability testing. Perhaps we should also include a graph showing a decrease in customer-service calls since we started testing. We may also want to add a section on user feedback."

Chapter 4 offers seven suggestions for communicating diplomatically. Which of these is a suggestion from the chapter? A. Avoid qualifier statements such as "I think . . . ." or "It seems to me . . . ." B. Ask pertinent questions. C. Use strong language—it is better to appear overbearing than to appear weak and indecisive. D. Follow your emotions if someone opposes you.

B. Ask pertinent questions.

Your company has completed an audience analysis for the manual you are writing for users of a new accounting system. The manual will be given to the 750 employees in the company's accounting department. Some members of the audience are experienced accountants and others are not; some have MBA degrees and others have bachelor's or associate's degrees; some were recently hired and some are long-term employees; some are managers and some are bookkeepers. How might you best accommodate your audiences? A. Write the manual to the lowest level of the audience. B. Include different sections for the different audiences. C. Write the manual to the highest level of the audience.

B. Include different sections for the different audiences.

Chapter 1 describes six characteristics of a successful technical document. Here are four of the characteristics listed: 1) it addresses particular readers, 2) it helps readers solve problems, 3) it reflects the organization's goals and culture, and 4) it is produced collaboratively. What is one of the two remaining characteristics of a successful technical communication document? A. It flatters the customer, client, or reader who will ultimately need to use the document. B. It uses design to increase readability by being attractive and easy to use. C. It helps to ensure that you will be promoted more quickly than your colleagues. D. It serves as an example of good work for you to include in your professional portfolio.

B. It uses design to increase readability by being attractive and easy to use.

According to Chapter 2, what steps should a company take to improve its ethical culture? A. The organization can retaliate against "whistle blowers" to help ensure employee loyalty. B. The organization can create a code of conduct that is - among other things - specific, comprehensive, and enforceable. C. The organization's leadership, supervisors, and peers can set good examples to act ethically. D. The organization can prioritize protecting its own employees over protecting the general public.

B. The organization can create a code of conduct that is - among other things - specific, comprehensive, and enforceable. C. The organization's leadership, supervisors, and peers can set good examples to act ethically.

Why should you use an audience profile sheet for a writing project? A. It helps you summarize what you've learned about your target audience. B. All responses are correct. C. It prompts you to consider various audience characteristics. D. It helps you realize when you need to learn more about your target audience.

B. all are correct

According to Chapter 5, what should you do once you have analyzed your audience and purpose? A. Fill out an audience profile sheet. B. Outline the document. C. Begin drafting. D. Consider getting management's approval.

C. Consider getting management's approval.

In the section of Chapter 4 called "Guidelines: Managing Your Project," which of the following is NOT a suggestion for keeping your project on track? A. Put your decisions in writing. B. Break down a large project into smaller tasks. C. Report ineffective team members to a supervisor. D. Be flexible regarding schedule and responsibilities.

C. Report ineffective team members to a supervisor.

Why is it important to plan your document before you start drafting it? A. Planning can help you select an appropriate application (the type of document), design, and delivery method. B. Planning can make your final document more effective at fulfilling its purpose. C. All responses are correct. D. Planning can make the writing process more efficient.

C. all are correct

Which of these best describes the process of revising a document? A. developing an outline of major points you want to make B. reading closely to make sure you do not have errors in spelling and punctuation C. reexamining your draft to see if it serves your audience, purpose, and your subject D. changing your document to improve style, diction, and mechanics

C. reexamining your draft to see if it serves your audience, purpose, and your subject

Chapter 2 lists four factors governing the fair-use exemption, which allows you to use copyrighted material without permission under certain conditions. One factor is the nature and purpose of the copyrighted work. What is another factor? A. whether the copyrighted work was published on the Internet, in which case it can be considered to be in the public domain B. whether you intended to cause the copyright holder any harm—financial or otherwise—by using the copyrighted material C. the effect of the use on the potential market for the copyrighted work D. the degree of difficulty you might encounter if you did seek permission to use the copyrighted work

C. the effect of the use on the potential market for the copyrighted work

Chapter 5 suggests that you consider five other individual characteristics of readers in addition to education. Which two of the following characteristics does the chapter suggest you consider?(MULTIPLE) A. the reader's temperament B. the reader's gender C. the reader's professional experience D. the reader's job responsibility

C. the reader's professional experience D. the reader's job responsibility

Which of the following are examples of technical communication described in Chapter 1? A. an infographic B. a scientific journal article C. all of these answers are correct D. a press release

C.All are correct

In the section of Chapter 4 called "Setting Your Team's Agenda," which of the following is NOT a suggestion for helping your team work effectively and efficiently? A. Define tasks for each team member. B. Establish a procedure for resolving conflict productively. C. Create evaluation materials. D. Appoint yourself leader beforehand to save time during the meeting.

D. Appoint yourself leader beforehand to save time during the meeting.

In the section of Chapter 1 called "The Challenges of Producing Technical Communication," the author of our textbook describes multiple sets of factors that good communicators must consider. What are some of these factors that are specifically named in this section of the chapter? A. Budget, workplace hierarchy, and machinery related factors B. Translation, commerce, and currency-exchange related factors C. Timesheet, hardware, and software related factors. D. Audience, purpose, and document related factors.

D. Audience, purpose, and document related factors.

You are writing a report about new regulations that affect your company. Your primary audience of company executives is very busy and will read your report quickly, but secondary- and tertiary-audience members are likely to read more slowly and carefully. Which of the following options is most appropriate for your situation? A. Include detailed footnotes on each page. B. To save time, omit the executive summary and put more details in the body of your report. C. Follow the patterns of writing that were successful for you in college psychology, philosophy, or history classes. D. Break your report into sections and put highly detailed information in an appendix.

D. Break your report into sections and put highly detailed information in an appendix.

A team of writers is just beginning a new documentation project. The client for the team's last project complained that the completed document kept switching from active to passive voice and that the design of the headings was not visually consistent. Which of the following is the team's best approach to avoiding such problems on the current project? A. Discuss cultural differences. B. Establish clear work procedures. C. Create a document template. D. Create a style sheet.

D. Create a style sheet.

Which of the following is likely to cause a team writing collaboratively to produce an inferior document? A. Team members establish a style sheet and then divide up the workload. B. The team shares a common goal. C. Team members act as the audience for the document. D. The team engages in groupthink.

D. The team engages in groupthink.

According to Chapter 5, which approach is best when writing for multiple audiences? A. an attitudinal approach B. an experiential approach C. a linear approach D. a modular approach

D. modular approach

According to Chapter 3, how much time can someone expect to spend planning a writing project? A. about one-tenth of the total time spent on the writing project B. as little as possible C. one hour for every ten pages D. more than one-third of the total time spent on the writing project

D. more than one-third of the total time spent on the writing project

Which word best describes the process of writing technical documents? A. linear B. static C. fixed D. nonlinear

D. nonlinear

Chapter 5 identifies seven categories of cultural variables "on the surface." One category is political. Which of these is NOT a category of surface cultural variables? A. economic B. social C. religious D. philosophical

D. philosophical

Which of the following is not a technique for generating ideas about your topic, according to Chapter 3? A. Clustering B. Freewriting C. Talking with someone D. Asking the six journalistic questions E. Branching F. Considering the four innovator's steps

F. Considering the four innovator's steps

Styles are preformatted designs for different kinds of documents, such as letters, memos, newsletters, and reports. A.true B.false

False

When facing the challenges of producing technical communication documents, Chapter 1 asks you to consider factors such as audience, purpose, setting, document, and process-related factors. One example of a setting-related factor mentioned in this part of the chapter describes the issue of what hardware or software a technical writer has access to in his or her workplace. For instance, does the technical writer's employer own a color printer for in-house production of documents? Or will an outside printing service need to be arranged? A.true. B.false

False

According to several reports cited in Chapter 1, employers hiring new employees focus primarily on candidates' field-based knowledge. A. True - Candidates' knowledge of particular fields is most important to employers. B. False - Candidates' communication skills are actually more important to employers than candidates' field-based knowledge.

False - Candidates' communication skills are actually more important to employers than candidates' field-based knowledge.

According to Chapter 2, ethicists such as Manuel Velasquez (2011) argue that whistle-blowing is justified if three conditions are satisfied. One condition is that there is strong evidence that the organization is doing something that is hurting or will hurt other parties. What is another condition? A. The employee has suffered personal harm as a result of the wrongdoing, such as the loss of a promotion, a substantial decrease in salary, or physical injury. B. None of these answers is correct. C. The employee has made an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the problem through internal channels. D. The wrongdoing involves members of a minority group or affects individuals granted specific rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The employee has made an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the problem through internal channels.

Chapter 2 discusses ethicist Thomas Donaldson's concept of a "moral minimum," which describes the idea that companies working in cross-cultural situations are "ethically obligated not to reinforce patterns of discrimination in product information," though they "are not obligated to challenge the prevailing prejudice directly." A.true B.false

True

Which of the following is NOT a guideline for using social media ethically and legally, according to Chapter 2? A. Avoid false endorsements. B. Avoid revealing unauthorized news about your own company. C. Work efficiently by repurposing pieces of content you wrote for one job at another job. D. Keep your private social-media accounts separate from those at work.

Work efficiently by repurposing pieces of content you wrote for one job at another job.

Chapter 3 defines a "living document" as one that exists only as long as its writer who created it works at that company or organization. When the writer leaves the company or organization, the document becomes a "dead document." A.true B.false

false

What does the symbol ® indicate about a word, phrase, or symbol? A. It has been registered for trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, but with "reserved" status. B. It has been registered for trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. C. It has been registered for trademark protection under the Regency d'Internationale Agreement of 1996. D. None of these answers are correct.

it has been registered for trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

According to Chapter 1, people who are good at communicating in the workplace possess multiple skills -- or abilities -- including the abilities to speak and write clearly and analyze information. Which of the following is another ability mentioned in this section of the chapter? A. the ability to perform as a manager B. the ability to perform as a researcher C. the ability to be punctual D. the ability to speak more than one language fluently

the ability to perform as a researcher

Chapter 2 lists four areas of law relevant to ethical issues in technical communication. One is copyright law. What is one other area of law discussed? A. martial law B. procedural law C. criminal law D. trademark law

trademark law

In the section of Chapter 2 called "Using Social Media Ethically and Legally," several guidelines are offered. One of those guidelines is that you should avoid revealing unauthorized news about your own company. A.true B.false

true

Some college students may wonder how likely it is that their future employer will have a formal social media policy by which they will need to abide. Chapter 2 explains that, according to a survey of more than a hundred companies, more than two thirds of employers have social-media policies. A.true B.false

true

The section of Chapter 1 called "Skills and Qualities Shared by Successful Workplace Communicators," offers you several guidelines for communicating professionally. Some of these guidelines are to be honest and self-disciplined. Another guideline mentioned here involves being able to read body language and facial expressions. A.true B.false

true