Question 1

Poor communication ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  is costly 
B)  can cause even well-engineered projects to fail 
C)  wastes time 
D)  all of the above 
A)  is costly 
B)  can cause even well-engineered projects to fail 
C)  wastes time 
D)  all of the above

Question 2

Technical writers should develop the habit of thinking like a reader.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

When writing your first draft, which of the following should you NOT do?

Accepted Answer

A)  Imagine that you are sitting across the desk from your reader. 
B)  Write unselfconsciously, with no fear of judgement. 
C)  Think of it as a one-way conversation. 
D)  Pay careful attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation. 
A)  Imagine that you are sitting across the desk from your reader. 
B)  Write unselfconsciously, with no fear of judgement. 
C)  Think of it as a one-way conversation. 
D)  Pay careful attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Question 4

Technical professionals spend ________ per cent of their time communicating in writing on the job.

Accepted Answer

A)  less than 5 
B)  10- 15 
C)  20-40 
D)  more than 40 
A)  less than 5 
B)  10- 15 
C)  20-40 
D)  more than 40

Question 5

Communication in the technical workplace almost always requires writing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

What does "mechanics" refer to in relation to writing? Why is this element important?

Accepted Answer

"Mechanics" concerns things such as cons

Question 7

Which of the following is a key attribute of good technical writing?

Accepted Answer

A)  conciseness 
B)  standardization 
C)  translatability 
D)  complexity 
A)  conciseness 
B)  standardization 
C)  translatability 
D)  complexity

Question 8

The purpose of a document ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  can be implied 
B)  is communicated by document type (e.g., email, report, essay) 
C)  need not be stated when there is a clear title 
D)  belongs in the opening statement 
A)  can be implied 
B)  is communicated by document type (e.g., email, report, essay) 
C)  need not be stated when there is a clear title 
D)  belongs in the opening statement

Question 9

Why is it important to write your first draft in one pass, without stopping?

Accepted Answer

It is important to write your first draf

Question 10

Technical people are poorly positioned to learn to write well.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

When revising a draft, a writer should revise in stages. These stages, in the correct order, are ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  substantive editing (content and sequence), copy editing (tone and style), proofreading (grammar and mechanics) 
B)  copy editing (tone and style), substantive editing (content and sequence), proofreading (grammar and mechanics) 
C)  proofreading (grammar and mechanics), substantive editing (content and sequence), copy editing (tone and style) 
D)  The editing stages-substantive editing, copy editing, and proofreading-are discrete; however, their order does not matter. 
A)  substantive editing (content and sequence), copy editing (tone and style), proofreading (grammar and mechanics) 
B)  copy editing (tone and style), substantive editing (content and sequence), proofreading (grammar and mechanics) 
C)  proofreading (grammar and mechanics), substantive editing (content and sequence), copy editing (tone and style) 
D)  The editing stages-substantive editing, copy editing, and proofreading-are discrete; however, their order does not matter.

Question 12

Draw a diagram illustrating the standard document organization as a conversation or story. Why do you think this particular structure is effective at getting the message across?

Accepted Answer

A diagram should look similar to Figure

Question 13

Write a brief summary comparing the different requirements of decision makers, experts, agents, and general readers.

Accepted Answer

Decision makers require brief summaries,

Poor communication ________.

Technical writers should develop the habit of thinking like a reader.

When writing your first draft, which of the following should you NOT do?

Technical professionals spend ________ per cent of their time communicating in writing on the job.

Communication in the technical workplace almost always requires writing.

What does "mechanics" refer to in relation to writing? Why is this element important?

Which of the following is a key attribute of good technical writing?

The purpose of a document ________.

Why is it important to write your first draft in one pass, without stopping?

Technical people are poorly positioned to learn to write well.

When revising a draft, a writer should revise in stages. These stages, in the correct order, are ________.

Draw a diagram illustrating the standard document organization as a conversation or story. Why do you think this particular structure is effective at getting the message across?

Write a brief summary comparing the different requirements of decision makers, experts, agents, and general readers.

Technical Sentences

Technical Paragraphs

Parallelism, Lists, Headings, and Layout

Emails, Letters, and Memos

Short Reports, Proposals, and Technical Documents

Formal Reports

Intercultural Communication, Collaborative Writing, and Document Control

References and Citations

Technical Graphics

Technical Definitions and Descriptions

Instructions, Procedures, and Manuals

Oral Presentations

Ethics

Job Application Packages

Filters

Exam 1: Why Technical People Neednt Fear Writing

Poor communication ________.

Technical writers should develop the habit of thinking like a reader.

When writing your first draft, which of the following should you NOT do?

Technical professionals spend ________ per cent of their time communicating in writing on the job.

Communication in the technical workplace almost always requires writing.

What does "mechanics" refer to in relation to writing? Why is this element important?

Which of the following is a key attribute of good technical writing?

The purpose of a document ________.

Why is it important to write your first draft in one pass, without stopping?

Technical people are poorly positioned to learn to write well.

When revising a draft, a writer should revise in stages. These stages, in the correct order, are ________.

Draw a diagram illustrating the standard document organization as a conversation or story. Why do you think this particular structure is effective at getting the message across?

Write a brief summary comparing the different requirements of decision makers, experts, agents, and general readers.

Technical Sentences

Technical Paragraphs

Parallelism, Lists, Headings, and Layout

Emails, Letters, and Memos

Short Reports, Proposals, and Technical Documents

Formal Reports

Intercultural Communication, Collaborative Writing, and Document Control

References and Citations

Technical Graphics

Technical Definitions and Descriptions

Instructions, Procedures, and Manuals

Oral Presentations

Ethics

Job Application Packages

Filters