Technical Writing

Which of these statements about working with someone from another culture is true?

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

Chapter 3 discusses six advantages of collaboration. Which of the following is NOT one of those advantages?

Collaboration can lead to groupthink.

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?

Create a style sheet.

A directive is an informational document, not a persuasive one.

False

According to Chapter 13, the conclusions section of a typical recommendation report provides a summary of the report.

False

According to Chapter 3, one advantage of collaboration is that it can yield a more coherent document.

False

According to Chapter 3, one of the disadvantages of collaboration is that it is likely to lead to charges of sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, or both.

False

Companies hiring technical professionals such as engineers, scientists, and programmers focus primarily on the technical abilities of the candidates they consider for employment.

False

In the results section of a recommendation report, you should interpret or comment on the data you have compiled.

False

Most technical documents are produced by professional technical communicators working alone.

False

The introduction to a recommendation report should never mention your recommendations; only the recommendations section should inform the reader of your recommendations.

False

When you are communicating technical information on the job, your audience tends to be the same every time.

False

You should always avoid recommending a course of action that is inconsistent with the conclusions you derived.

False

Which of these is a limitation of a decision matrix?

It is less effective with decision criteria that are primarily qualitative and not quantitative.

According to Chapter 13, which of the following is NOT an acceptable way to present your conclusions in a recommendation report?

Refer the reader to an appendix.

In general, why would someone need to write an incident report?

Something unexpected happened, and the results are bad news.

According to Chapter 1, what is the biggest difference between technical communication and the kinds of writing you do in other college courses?

Technical communication has a somewhat different focus on purpose and audience.

A local bank uses this slogan in its advertising: "Integrity. Experience. Trust. Local." What about this slogan violates readers' expectations?

The items in the list are not parallel.

Which of the following is likely to cause a team writing collaboratively to produce an inferior document?

The team avoids conflict.

A directive should include the reasoning behind a new policy or procedure so that readers will be persuaded that the new policy or procedure is desirable or at least necessary.

True

According to Chapter 13, the methods section of a recommendation report answers the question "What did you do?"

True

According to Chapter 13, the results section of a recommendation report answers the question "What did you see?"

True

According to Chapter 3, one advantage of collaboration is that it helps acclimate new employees to an organization.

True

According to Chapter 4, a good way to learn about your readers' preferences is to read documents they have written.

True

An effective technical document must be both concise and comprehensive.

True

Chapter 1 identifies correctness as a characteristic of good technical communication. In this context, correctness refers to the proper use of grammar and punctuation to accurately convey the intended meaning.

True

Fair-use guidelines apply to graphics just as they do to words.

True

Technical communication involves knowing where to find trustworthy information

True

The point of learning about your audience is to use that information to tailor a document to fit the audience's needs.

True

When exporting goods, U.S. companies can face ethical challenges that they do not face when selling goods in the United States.

True

A project manager is using a word processor to review an electronic file of a document written by a team member, and she does not understand the meaning of a term used in the document. What should the project manager do?

Use the comment feature to ask "Will the reader understand this term?"

Which of the following recommendation statements is NOT effective?

We should buy new software to fix our productivity problem

Which of these is an example of documentation in a report?

a citation for an article that gave you information for the report

After a minor accident at the laboratory where you work, your manager has decided to institute some new safety procedures. She asks you to write a memo to employees explaining the new procedures. What kind of informational report is she asking you to write?

a directive

The essential questions answered in the introduction of a recommendation report are similar to those answered in the introduction to what other kind of document?

a proposal

Chapter 1 identifies skills and qualities shared by successful workplace communicators. Which of the following is NOT on this list?

ability to write code

Which of these is a measure of excellence in technical communication?

accuracy

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 initiate D) 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.

conciseness

The results section of a recommendation report is most likely to contain which of the following kinds of information?

data

What is the name for a table or spreadsheet used to systematically evaluate options according to specific criteria?

decision matrix

What is the term for a report section that functions as a brief condensation of the report addressed to managers?

executive summary

What kind of relationship do the transitional phrases for example, for instance, and in other words express?

illustration

You are writing a recommendation report about how to improve the quality of your hotel's customer service. You believe that an online employee training system called Star Service would be helpful. Employees would log on to Star Service for 15 minutes every two weeks to watch videos and answer quiz questions. Where in your report should you mention your recommendation to purchase access to Star Service?

in the executive summary

Which terms below are used in Chapter 4 to describe types of audiences?

primary, secondary, and tertiary

Which of the factors listed below did the writer of the following memo fail to take into account? TO: University Faculty Advisers FROM: David Gates, Ph.D., Department of Psychology SUBJECT: New course offered—PSYC 499, Self-Fulfillment in a Global Society Enclosed is a flyer briefly describing PSYC 499. After you read through the flyer, post it in a conspicuous place, e.g., on your door. Or, better yet, make copies and hand them out in your class. The course will explore how individuals in our society can maintain a sense of self in these increasingly uncertain times. So tell students in your courses and your advisees about this new timely course.

readers' attitudes and expectations

Which of these abilities is NOT likely to help you as a workplace communicator?

the ability to deflect attention

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?

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

Which of these would be included in the front matter for a report?

the executive summary

Which phrase best defines the purpose of a workplace document?

what you want to accomplish with the document you are producing

Which two things must you clearly understand in order to communicate successfully?

your audience and your purpose