Tech Writing Chapter 14 (Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions)

What is an effective way to conclude a description?

with a summary of major points and, in some cases, a brief description of how the parts or process steps work together

What is the primary way to indicate the nature and the scope of a description?

writing an effective title or section heading to precede the description

Read the following instruction steps for creating an automated index of web files. Then indicate which instruction steps are NOT effectively written.

2) Copy the folders containing your web files to the folder named "indexer." If autoindex does not contain an indexer folder, you must reinstall the software. See the installation booklet. 4) Indexer now has a folder called IndexSearch. The executable file, index.exe, may be run to view the searchable index of your web files.

Which of the following is the most effective title for a section in a set of instructions on bicycle maintenance and repair?

Adjusting the Yaw Angle of Caliper Brake Shoes

To minimize product-liability lawsuits in the event of improper use of Phillips lawn mowers, which of the following instructions should the company's lead technical writer NOT give to the company's manual writer?

For ease of use, place all safety information in the Introduction so that users can read through all of it at once before using the product. Then, in the instruction steps, merely cross-reference to the Introduction.

Which of the following provides the best conclusion to a set of instructions for children under age 10 on how to assemble a toy airplane?

Have fun with your toy airplane, but be careful about how and where you send it off.

While reviewing a draft of a trip report discussing the importance of a presentation she attended, a writer decides that some readers may not know the meaning of one of the terms she included. Which of the following strategies should the writer use if she wants to clarify the term briefly and unobtrusively?

Include a parenthetical definition

Several organizations have guidelines and standards for communicating information about safety. Which of the following is NOT one of these organizations?

Institute of Safety Ordinances (ISO)

You are writing a manual for a deep fryer designed for home cooks. Which statement would be appropriately set off with Note as a signal word?

The fry basket can hold 4-6 small doughnuts at a time.

Which of the following is an effective sentence definition?

Thermography is a printing process in which a special powder is added to the wet ink on the surface of the paper and then heated.

Which of the critiques listed below applies to the following description of a process? Getting a College Degree First, you must apply to schools you want to attend. Pick good schools to apply to. Next, you must enroll at a college. After you have enrolled, you must pick a degree program. Take every course you need. After you take all of your courses, you will have a degree. Congratulations!

This description lacks sufficient detail on substeps.

Which of the following best describes the definition "A conjunctive adverb is an adverb that has a conjunctive function between two clauses"?

This is a circular definition.

A writer is drafting the conclusion of a lengthy process description explaining to consumers how a company's new voice-recognition product works. Which of the following elements would be least appropriate for the conclusion?

a brief review of the uses of voice-recognition technology

What is one common way of concluding a set of instructions?

a troubleshooting guide

Which 2 types of organizational patterns are most commonly used for mechanism descriptions?

functional and spatial

H&G Garden Supplies is revising its instruction booklet for assembling and installing its redwood garden arbor. The set contains two 6-foot trellises, two planter boxes, and a pair of adjustable arches. Which of the following should you NOT include in the back matter of the instruction booklet?

safety information

An effective process description fully describes which of the following?

substeps

You are a technical writer for Landson Toy Company. Landson has just designed a new, more durable swing set for 6- to 10-year-olds. Which of the following should you include in the Introduction to the assembly guide for the swing set?

the reasons the user should carry out the instructions