Technical Writing FInal
True or False. A post hoc argument claims that because A preceded B, A must have caused B.
True
True or False. A sentence with a negative construction uses a word or phrase to describe what something is not. One example is the use of not many rather than few.
True
True or False. According to Chapter 6, a periodical index typically contains only citation information about journal and magazine articles, such as the title, subject, and author.
True
True or False. 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."
True
True or False. Government publications are classified according to the Superintendent of Documents system, not the Library of Congress system.
True
Which method of addressing opposing viewpoints is likely to be least effective?
A A. Avoid discussing the opposing viewpoint. B. Try to reconcile the opposing viewpoint with your own. C. Point out any problems in the logic of the opposing viewpoint or the facts used to support it. D. Show that the opposing viewpoint is less strong and attractive than your own.
Chapter 4 lists and describes several advantages of collaboration. Which of the following is not an advantage described in Chapter 4?
A A. Collaboration helps certain employees prove they are the best leaders. B. Collaboration provides a better idea of how the audience will read the document. C. Collaboration helps acclimate new employees to an organization. D. Collaboration draws on a wider knowledge base.
According to Chapter 5, what should you do once you have analyzed your audience and purpose?
A A. Consider getting management's approval. B. Begin drafting. C. Fill out an audience profile sheet. D. Outline the document.
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 A. Appoint yourself leader beforehand to save time during the meeting. B. Define tasks for each team member. C. Create evaluation materials. D. Establish a procedure for resolving conflict productively.
Chapter 4 offers seven suggestions for communicating diplomatically. Which of these is a suggestion from the chapter?
A A. Ask pertinent questions. B. Avoid qualifier statements such as "I think . . . ." or "It seems to me . . . ." C. Follow your emotions if someone opposes you. D. Use strong language—it is better to appear overbearing than to appear weak and indecisive.
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 A. Include different sections for the different audiences. B. Write the manual to the lowest level of the audience. C. Write the manual to the highest level of the audience.
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 A. It uses design to increase readability by being attractive and easy to use. B. It serves as an example of good work for you to include in your professional portfolio. C. It flatters the customer, client, or reader who will ultimately need to use the document. D. It helps to ensure that you will be promoted more quickly than your colleagues.
How many "basic modes of communication" are listed in Chapter 1 and what are they?
A A. 4 modes - writing, speaking, listening, and reading B. 5 modes - writing, speaking, listening, reading, and seeing C. 3 modes - writing, speaking, and reading D. 2 modes - writing and speaking
Which of the following can help you display your organizational pattern prominently?
A A. All responses are correct. B. frequent section headings C. a detailed table of contents D. topic sentences to begin paragraphs
Which of the following is not a technique for generating ideas about your topic, according to Chapter 3?
A A. Considering the four innovator's steps B. Branching C. Clustering D. Talking with someone E. Freewriting F. Asking the six journalistic questions
What does the symbol ® indicate about a word, phrase, or symbol?
A A. It has been registered for trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. B. None of these answers are correct. C. It has been registered for trademark protection under the Regency d'Internationale Agreement of 1996. D. It has been registered for trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, but with "reserved" status.
"Refer to the person first, the disability second" is one of the guidelines for using the people-first approach to writing about people with disabilities. Which of the following are other guidelines discussed in the chapter?
A A. None of the responses are correct. B. Refer to a person who uses a wheelchair as wheelchair bound or confined to a wheelchair. C. Remember that handicap and disability are synonymous terms. D. Refer to people with disabilities as abnormal, as opposed to atypical.
A writer's company has just adopted a policy of tracking employee emails to determine which employee is leaking confidential information. Because the writer knows that this policy will be unpopular with company employees, which is the best strategy for announcing the policy to employees in a memorandum?
A A. Present the reasoning behind the new policy and then state the policy. B. State only the new policy and avoid discussing the reasoning. C. State the policy and then provide the reasoning.
Which sentence below shows a comma splice?
A A. The 728B polo shirt is our most popular model, it offers an unequaled blend of comfort and durability. B. The 728B polo shirt is our most popular model, because it offers an unequaled blend of comfort and durability. C. The 728B polo shirt is our most popular model, and it offers an unequaled blend of comfort and durability. D. The 728B polo shirt is our most popular, comfortable, attractive, durable, and cost-effective model.
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 A. The employee has made an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the problem through internal channels. B. 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. C. None of these answers is correct. D. The wrongdoing involves members of a minority group or affects individuals granted specific rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Which of the following is NOT a guideline for using social media ethically and legally, according to Chapter 2?
A A. Work efficiently by repurposing pieces of content you wrote for one job at another job. B. Avoid revealing unauthorized news about your own company. C. Avoid false endorsements. D. Keep your private social-media accounts separate from those at work.
You are writing a long, complex document in which you need to explain a series of events that led to a problem, evaluate several possible options for solving that problem, and present the most important factors to consider in making a decision. Which pattern of organization would be most effective?
A A. a combination of several patterns B. comparison and contrast C. chronological D. cause and effect
For a report on fast food, a writer has decided to organize her information by assigning fast-food items to categories. Which of the following sets of categories is most flawed?
A A. high-fat items high-cholesterol items high-calorie items B. under a dollar $1.00-$2.00 $2.01-$4.00 over $4.00 C. breakfast items lunch and dinner items D. main dishes side dishes drinks desserts
Which word best describes the process of writing technical documents?
A A. nonlinear B. fixed C. linear D. static
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 A. philosophical B. religious C. economic D. social
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 A. the ability to perform as a researcher B. the ability to speak more than one language fluently C. the ability to be punctual D. the ability to perform as a manager
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 A. the effect of the use on the potential market for the copyrighted work B. whether the copyrighted work was published on the Internet, in which case it can be considered to be in the public domain C. the degree of difficulty you might encounter if you did seek permission to use the copyrighted work D. whether you intended to cause the copyright holder any harm—financial or otherwise—by using the copyrighted material
An effective topic sentence will reflect which of the following?
A A. the organizational pattern of the document B. the character of the writer C. the title of the document D. the cohesive devices used in the document
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 A. trademark law B. procedural law C. criminal law D. martial law
According to Chapter 2, what steps should a company take to improve its ethical culture? (Select all that apply. Each correct answer must be selected in order for you to receive credit for this question.)
A, D A. The organization can create a code of conduct that is - among other things - specific, comprehensive, and enforceable. B. The organization can prioritize protecting its own employees over protecting the general public. C. The organization can retaliate against "whistle blowers" to help ensure employee loyalty. D. The organization's leadership, supervisors, and peers can set good examples to act ethically.
Chapter 6 advises researchers to look for information that is current. What are two other characteristics of reliable information that the chapter says you should look for? (You must select both of the correct answers in order to receive credit for this question.)
A, D A. comprehensiveness B. attractive design C. well-known author D. lack of bias
Which of the following techniques is not included in a list of techniques in the section of Chapter 3 called "Drafting Effectively"?
B A. Don't stop to get more information or to revise B. Source ideas from research resources C. Draft quickly D. Get comfortable
Which of the following is a run-on sentence?
B A. I left the room when he yelled at me. B. Vote for Pedro he will represent you well. C. He is a little bit sour, she is a little bit sweet, and I am a little bit stale. D. The adventurer walked for days and days, for weeks on end, for what seemed like an eternity; he found himself in a state of perpetual exhaustion.
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?
B A. 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. B. Comprehensiveness, which means the document includes background, sufficient detail, and supporting materials (perhaps provided as attachments). C. Emotional authenticity, which means the reader should have an immediate emotional response to the document to establish a strong reader-author bond. D. 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.
Which of these statements does NOT identify an advantage of turning a paragraph into a list?
B A. It forces you to look at the bigger picture. B. It forces you to reorder the sequence. C. It forces you to create a helpful lead-in. D. It forces you to write more precisely and more clearly.
What is Simplified English?
B A. It is writing that has been dumbed down. B. It is a set of about 1,000 English words used for writing documents in certain industries. C. It is English written in sentences with fifteen or fewer words. D. It is a way to teach English to elementary-school children.
In the section of Chapter 4 called "Listening Effectively," which of the following is not a suggestion for improving your effectiveness as a listener?
B A. Listen for main ideas. B. Record the speaker so you can listen to them again later. C. Don't get emotionally involved with the speaker's ideas. D. Ask questions to clarify what the speaker said.
Based on the principles discussed in Chapter 9, which of these examples shows the most effective transition from the first sentence to the second?
B A. New screening techniques are being developed to combat computer viruses. Nevertheless, they are the subject of a new research effort at Big State University. B. New screening techniques are being developed to combat computer viruses. These techniques are the subject of a new research effort at Big State University. C. New screening techniques are being developed to combat computer viruses. They are the subject of a new research effort at Big State University. D. New screening techniques are being developed to combat computer viruses. A new research effort at Big State University is focused on fighting them.
Which statement best compares the information found on a wiki with the information from an edited website?
B A. The lack of editors on a wiki means that a wiki can be updated quickly; faster is always better. B. The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site may not be trustworthy. C. Edited websites lack the accountability created when content gets "crowdsourced" on a wiki. D. The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site can be trusted to speak the truth.
How do you respond to a reader who is hostile to your subject or to your approach to it?
B A. Try to persuade the reader by characterizing them as an opponent and their disagreement with your position as a dispute. B. 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. 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.
Which of the following is an example of an informational constraint that you might confront when completing a project?
B A. You know that your proposal would help the company, but you also know that the company can't afford to act on your proposal. B. You have located advertising brochures and testimonials associated with the subject you're writing about, but you can't find reports on the kinds of controlled tests that would convince a skeptical reader. C. You have crafted a proposal that you believe will successfully address a persistent staffing problem in your organization, but you already know that management will disagree with your idea. D. Your document would be most effective if it used color, but your budget will allow for only black-and-white printing.
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. Which of the following information is also discussed in this section of Chapter 3?
B A. 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. B. 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.
Which of the following are examples of technical communication described in Chapter 1?
B A. a press release B. all of these answers are correct C. a scientific journal article D. an infographic
Which quality in the list below is evident in the revised version of the following paragraph? Original: During our monthly meeting last month, we all came to the conclusion that overtime procedures are inadequate and that new procedures need to be initiated. I discussed this problem with our chief accountant, who was sympathetic and agreed to consider any changes we would like to make to the present procedures. Please bring your suggested changes to this month's departmental meeting scheduled for 2:30 P.M. next Wednesday afternoon. Revision: During last month's meeting, we concluded that our overtime procedures need revision. Our chief accountant has agreed to consider any changes we would like to make to the present procedures. Please bring your suggested changes to this month's departmental meeting scheduled for 2:30 P.M. next Wednesday.
B A. accuracy B. conciseness C. correctness D. comprehensiveness
According to Chapter 10, sentences are often easier to understand and more emphatic if new information appears in which position?
B A. after a semicolon B. at the end of the sentence C. at the beginning of the sentence D. in the middle of the sentence
According to Chapter 5, which approach is best when writing for multiple audiences?
B A. an experiential approach B. a modular approach C. an attitudinal approach D. a linear approach
The following statement appears in a university's report to its board of regents: "Several other notable universities, including Stanford and Harvard, are offering massive, open online classes, or MOOCs. It is imperative for Old State University to keep pace in the educational marketplace." What type of reasoning does the passage display?
B A. arguing from ignorance B. ad populum argument C. circular argument D. ad hominem argument
Which term below is used in Chapter 5 to describe a type of audience?
B A. fundamental B. tertiary C. indiscriminate D. supplemental
Your supervisor has asked you to write a brief description of an abandoned silver mine with a complex series of caves, some of which are slated for hazardous-waste cleanup. The audience for this document is the waste cleanup crew leader. Of the organizational patterns discussed in Chapter 7, which would be most logical and effective for describing the mine? (Hint: Think about the needs of this particular audience as you answer this question.)
B A. problem-methods-solution B. spatial C. cause and effect D. general to specific
Chapter 8 discusses four broad goals of an audience. One is security. Which is NOT one of the other three goals?
B A. recognition B. fair-mindedness C. growth D. connectedness
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? (Select both answers; no partial credit will be awarded.)
B A. the reader's gender B. the reader's job responsibility C. the reader's temperament D. the reader's professional experience
A local bank uses this slogan in its advertising: "Integrity. Experience. Trust. Local." What about this slogan violates readers' expectations?
D A. The list does not follow the general-to-specific pattern. B. None of the responses are correct. C. The hierarchy of the list is confusing. D. The items in the list are not parallel.
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?
C A. "Use Arial Bold for all headings. Change on-line to online. Delete section 4. Add a map of the site in section 2. Otherwise, you are on the right track. Good work, Kathy." B. "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." C. "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." D. "You've really improved your editing skills, Brian. Your writing would be less confusing if you used more active voice. Similarly, your report would be even better if you used some bulleted lists to break up some of your longer paragraphs."
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?
C A. Budget, workplace hierarchy, and machinery related factors B. Translation, commerce, and currency-exchange related factors C. Audience, purpose, and document related factors. D. Timesheet, hardware, and software related factors.
You are writing a report analyzing whether your company should hire a new vendor to provide data-warehousing services. You have found a white paper online that looks promising. How can you judge the degree to which the authors are unbiased?
C A. Check to see if the authors have advanced degrees. B. Check to see if the authors appear to be related to each other. C. Check to see if the authors have a financial stake in the project. D. Check to see if the authors have offices in the same cities as your potential data-service vendors.
Chapter 4 lists and describes several disadvantages of collaboration. Which of the following is not one of the disadvantages described in Chapter 4?
C A. Collaboration can yield a disjointed document. B. Collaboration can take more time than individual writing. C. Collaboration can lead to plagiarism from outside sources. D. Collaboration can lead to groupthink.
How does culture affect the process of persuasion?
C A. It determines the content of effective arguments. B. None of the responses are correct. C. Both responses are correct. D. It determines the structure of effective arguments.
Why should you use an audience profile sheet for a writing project?
C A. It helps you summarize what you've learned about your target audience. B. It helps you realize when you need to learn more about your target audience. C. All responses are correct. D. It prompts you to consider various audience characteristics.
Why should you avoid using unnecessary jargon when writing workplace documents?
C A. It is often intimidating. B. It is often seen as condescending. C. All of these answers are correct. D. It can be imprecise. E. It can be confusing.
Why is it important to plan your document before you start drafting it?
C A. Planning can make your final document more effective at fulfilling its purpose. B. Planning can help you select an appropriate application (the type of document), design, and delivery method. C. All responses are correct. D. Planning can make the writing process more efficient.
Which of the following mistakes did McDonald's make when it printed takeout bags decorated with flags from around the world?
C A. The bags showed a pair of hands holding a flag in a way that customers in some cultures would interpret as an obscene gesture. B. The writing on the bags was in English, which offended numerous nonnative speakers. C. The bags showed a Saudi flag, which depicts holy scripture from the Koran. The Saudis were offended because these bags would be thrown out. D. All responses are correct.
Which of the following is likely to cause a team writing collaboratively to produce an inferior document?
C A. The team shares a common goal. B. Team members establish a style sheet and then divide up the workload. C. The team engages in groupthink. D. Team members act as the audience for the document.
What is a lead-in?
C A. an outline of the document you are drafting, showing its content and organization B. any text that indicates the background, purpose, scope, and organization of the discussion that follows it C. the text that introduces a list D. transitional words and phrases, such as first, therefore, furthermore, or consequently
According to Chapter 3, how much time can someone expect to spend planning a writing project?
C A. as little as possible B. one hour for every ten pages C. more than one-third of the total time spent on the writing project D. about one-tenth of the total time spent on the writing project
According to Chapter 6, which of these is considered a "tool" (as opposed to a "source" or "resource") for secondary research?
C A. microblog B. questionnaire C. library catalog D. tagged content
Which of the following is NOT a category of constraints on your ability to be persuasive in a workplace document?
C A. political B. financial C. partitional D. personnel
Chapter 8 lists four characteristics that can help you establish an effective professional persona. One is cooperativeness. Which of the following characteristics is also mentioned in this brief list?
C A. punctuality B. leadership C. fair-mindedness D. self-control
Which of the organizational patterns below depends on relationships that can be difficult to prove?
C A. spatial B. comparison and contrast C. cause and effect D. general to specific
Books are a common medium for publishing information. Chapter 6 identifies four other publishing media classified as "Secondary Research Sources." What are two other forms of media listed in the chapter? (You must select both of the correct answers in order to receive credit for this question.)
C, D A. microfiche B. microfilm C. social media D. websites
Which of these statements about working with someone from another culture is true?
D A. People from other cultures have a knack for delivering criticism to teammates. B. People from other cultures find it easy to ask for help on a project. C. People from other cultures find it easy to participate actively in group projects. D. A topic of discussion that is common in one culture might be considered highly personal in another culture.
A writer is developing a brochure for vacationers interested in taking an "Introduction to Kayaking" course offered by a rafting and kayaking company. Based on the principles discussed in Chapter 9, which of the following headings is most likely to appear in the brochure?
D A. 1.0 Water B. Ferries, Peel-Outs, and Eddy Turns C. How To Perform Z-Drag Extractions of Pinned Boats D. What Clothing Will I Need To Bring?
Which of the following is NOT a principle for using the problem-methods-solution pattern of organization?
D A. Avoid overstating claims about your solution. B. Describe your methods so that readers understand how and why you did what you did. C. Consider using graphics to complement your text. D. Describe your problem in general terms.
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?
D A. Break down a large project into smaller tasks. B. Be flexible regarding schedule and responsibilities. C. Put your decisions in writing. D. Report ineffective team members to a supervisor.
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?
D A. Conduct a focus group to learn of prospective users' opinions about the document. B. Interview SMEs about a draft of the document. C. Survey, interview, or observe readers as they use the document. D. Hire a research consultant to both survey prospective users' and revise the document according to their feedback.
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?
D A. Create a document template. B. Discuss cultural differences. C. Establish clear work procedures. D. Create a style sheet.
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?
D 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.
What level of formality does technical communication usually require?
D A. None of the responses are correct. B. informal to moderately formal C. very informal to informal D. moderately formal to highly formal
A writer is considering revising the long paragraph below. Would the best place to start a second paragraph be at (1), (2), or (3)? Although graphics can enhance a website, they can also serve as a distraction. Having too many graphics that do not contribute to the content of the site may make your company appear unprofessional, as well as contributing to slow download times. Your site, for example, has thirty moving images. (1) Such images do not reflect the serious nature of your business. When it comes to graphics, we suggest you adopt a "less is more" approach. (2) Another troublesome feature of your site is the scrolling banner used as a navigation element. To reach certain pages on your site, users must quickly click the links scrolling across the banner. If they miss a link, they must wait another 20 seconds until the link scrolls by again. (3) Because this site is not designed to be a game but rather a place for customers to learn more about handling hazardous materials, you should not use a scrolling banner as a navigation element. We recommend that you use standard navigation buttons aligned along the left margin or across the top of the page. Also, you may want to include a text-only navigation element at the bottom of the page.
D A. at (3) B. at (1) C. None of the responses are correct. The excerpt is most effective as a single paragraph. D. at (2)
Which three of the following are elements of an argument, according to Chapter 8? (Select the three that apply.)
D A. disagreement, discussion, and conflict resolution B. introduction, body, and conclusion C. persona, drama, and explanation D. claim, evidence, and reasoning
Which organizational pattern often occurs in a comparison-and-contrast discussion?
D A. problem-methods-solution B. meter-by-meter C. bit-by-bit D. whole-by-whole
Which of these best describes the process of revising a document?
D A. reading closely to make sure you do not have errors in spelling and punctuation B. changing your document to improve style, diction, and mechanics C. developing an outline of major points you want to make D. reexamining your draft to see if it serves your audience, purpose, and your subject
Which of the following is an example of a coherence device?
D A. replacing nouns with demonstrative pronouns B. removing transitional words C. None of the responses are correct. D. repeating key words
Chapter 6 offers an example of a website that offers RSS subscriptions. What organization's website is described in this example?
D A. weather.gov B. seattletimes.com C. mdanderson.org D. congress.gov
Chapter 10 suggests that the passive voice is generally more appropriate than the active voice in four circumstances. One is when the agent is clear from the context, as in "Students are required to take both writing courses," in which it is clear that the college sets the requirements. Under what other circumstance(s) is the passive voice generally more appropriate?
D A. when the agent is less important than the action B. when a reference to the agent is embarrassing, dangerous, or in some other way inappropriate C. when the agent is unknown D. All responses are correct.
Which factor should influence the organizational pattern you choose?
D A. your number of section headings B. All responses are correct. C. your document's length D. your readers' expectations
Which of the following is * not * one of the four examples of misleading technical communication described by Chapter 2? Select only one answer.
E A. Legalistic Constructions B. Euphamisms C. Exaggerations D. False implications E. Lying by Omission
Chapter 7 states that one disadvantage of the problem-methods-solution organizational pattern is that you cannot alter the sequence of those three elements.
False
True or False. A euphemism is a bit of shoptalk - a word or phrase that has a precise meaning to members of a particular group, organization, profession, or occupation - that may have little meaning for people outside that group.
False
True or False. According to Chapter 9, long headings can confuse and distract readers; therefore, you should strive to write short headings of no more than three or four words.
False
True or False. 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."
False
True or False. Secondary research is the process of creating technical information yourself, as opposed to collecting information that other people have discovered or created.
False
True or False. Styles are preformatted designs for different kinds of documents, such as letters, memos, newsletters, and reports.
False
True or 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?
False
True or False. You should select research methods before determining what research questions to pursue.
False
According to several reports cited in Chapter 1, employers hiring new employees focus primarily on candidates' field-based knowledge.
False - Candidates' communication skills are actually more important to employers than candidates' field-based knowledge.
True or False. 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. This section includes the following information: "A company that wishes to apply for a patent for one of its products or processes has, according to the law, only one year to do so after the product or process is first mentioned or illustrated in a 'printed publication.' Because courts have found that a photo on Facebook or a blog or even a tweet is equivalent to a printed publication (Bettinger, 2010), you could inadvertently start the clock ticking. Even worse, some other company could use the information to apply for a patent for the product or process that your company is developing."
True
True or False. Once you've determined the audience and the purpose for a document, the first step in comparing and contrasting two or more items is to determine the criteria: the standards or needs you will use in studying the items.
True
True or False. Readers who can easily locate and understand important information in a document will be more likely to agree with its arguments.
True
True or False. 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.
True
True or False. 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.
True
