Technical Writing Mid-Term Review
Which of the following statements about informal proposals is not true?
All of the above are true.
Which of the following statements is not true about the copyediting and publishing stage of the writing process?
Online checkers are foolproof.
Which of the following is not prefatory material that would be included in a proposal?
works cited
All of the following can be used to help shape a topic except
writing recursively
Which of the following statements about composing instructions is not true?
A set of instructions should include more than one instruction for each step.
Which of the following statements about planning instructions is not true?
A writer needs to understand the procedure before writing instructions for it.
All instructions begin with an introduction.
F
Compared to an informal proposal, formal proposals do not necessarily contain more parts.
F
Explanations are provided depending on how much experience the readers have had with the process.
F
Field-testing instructions means testing the audience to make sure they understand what they are doing.
F
In general, there is only one way for people to work collaboratively on a writing
F
Jargon is not used in a technical document.
F
Journaling is part of shaping an idea for a writing project.
F
Technical writers adjust to format by adding or deleting information, using glossaries, adjusting use of technical language, and presenting information in graphics.
F
Technical writers adjust to the audience's knowledge level by choosing the correct document arrangement and following company guidelines for style.
F
Technical writing takes place only in an office setting.
F
The audience's cultural background dictates every decision a writer makes.
F
The needs of the writer and the function or type of proposal determine the best format.
F
What is the correct organizational pattern for a persuasive message?
Get the reader's attention, convince the reader of the product's merits, motivate the reader to act.
Which of the following statement about instructions is not true?
Good instructions do not motivate the readers.
What is the correct organization pattern for a bad news message?
Provide a buffer; state or imply the bad news; make a constructive suggestion, look toward the future, or offer an alternative.
What is the correct organizational pattern for a positive message?
State the positive news, provide needed details, close with a brief summary.
A grant proposal seeks funding for a specific project.
T
A multiple audience refers to several readers who have different points of view.
T
A proposal is a persuasive document.
T
Collaborative writing is often done because the topic of a project requires input of people from different disciplines.
T
Computer-based instructions such as help menus are also called online instructions.
T
Drafting requires writing as many versions of a document as are necessary.
T
Freewriting may be used to help choose a topic for a writing project.
T
In a set of instructions, a symbol or graphic that represents danger often accompanies the caution.
T
In general, formal proposals are not used as frequently as informal proposals.
T
Technical communication is used in all careers.
T
Technical writing may require field research.
T
The tone of technical writing is objective and businesslike.
T
To meet the needs of a multiple audience, technical writers divide their audience into two groups: primary audience and secondary audience.
T
Which of the following statements about formal proposals is not true?
The optional subsections included under Introduction, Body, and Conclusion differ from the subsections used in informal reports.
Which of the following statements about online instructions is not true?
The strategies for writing online instructions are different from those used to write steps.
Which of the following statements about formatting instructions is not true?
Use of white space is not important.
Technical writing is different from academic in all of the following ways except
approach.
Which section of a long report prepares the reader by providing the framework of ideas?
body
Which of the following is not an advantage of collaboration?
brings about quicker results than when people work alone
Technical writers must consider all of the following except
graphics and page design.
The number one requirement for a group to work well together is
groupthink
Special features
include boldface, underlining, and bulleted lists.
Technical communication
occurs in the workplace.
Which of the following categories of proposals asks for approval to begin a study or an investigation?
research proposal
What is the technical communicator's most important consideration?
the reader's needs
