Question 1

many companies are uneasy about using instructional videos and rely on printed documentation instead.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

A set of instructions is a type of definition.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Repeat safety information if you think that the repetition will increase the probability of its being read. 
B)  If our company does not have an appropriate safety symbol, create your own text symbol through the use of highlighting, larger point size, and a text box. 
C)  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. 
D)  Do not choose safety labels arbitrarily. 
A)  Repeat safety information if you think that the repetition will increase the probability of its being read. 
B)  If our company does not have an appropriate safety symbol, create your own text symbol through the use of highlighting, larger point size, and a text box. 
C)  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. 
D)  Do not choose safety labels arbitrarily. C

Question 4

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!

Accepted Answer

A)  This description has an effective introduction. 
B)  This description lacks effective detail on substeps. 
C)  This description has an effective conclusion. 
D)  This description challenges readers to learn new vocabulary. 
A)  This description has an effective introduction. 
B)  This description lacks effective detail on substeps. 
C)  This description has an effective conclusion. 
D)  This description challenges readers to learn new vocabulary.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

A)  writing an effective title or section heading to precede the description 
B)  using color cues and formatting changes 
C)  describing the nature and scope in the introduction to the report 
D)  creating a sentence definition that mentions the nature and the scope of the description 
A)  writing an effective title or section heading to precede the description 
B)  using color cues and formatting changes 
C)  describing the nature and scope in the introduction to the report 
D)  creating a sentence definition that mentions the nature and the scope of the description

Question 6

Which of the following is an effective sentence definition?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cardiovascular exercise equipment is used by people to exercise their cardiovascular system. 
B)  A canteen is a clear Nalgene bottle used to hold liquids such as water, lemonade, soda, and sometimes hot beverages. 
C)  Velo binding is when two plastic strips are placed on either side of the document and bound together with heat. 
D)  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. 
A)  Cardiovascular exercise equipment is used by people to exercise their cardiovascular system. 
B)  A canteen is a clear Nalgene bottle used to hold liquids such as water, lemonade, soda, and sometimes hot beverages. 
C)  Velo binding is when two plastic strips are placed on either side of the document and bound together with heat. 
D)  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.

Question 7

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  a troubleshooting guide 
B)  instructions on how to order replacement parts 
C)  warranty information 
D)  safety information 
A)  a troubleshooting guide 
B)  instructions on how to order replacement parts 
C)  warranty information 
D)  safety information

Question 8

A writer is creating an employee handbook for assembly-line workers and their supervisors. One particular extended definition is approximately a page long. Where should the writer place this definition if it will be of interest to only the supervisors?

Accepted Answer

A)  in a marginal gloss 
B)  in a footnote 
C)  in an appendix 
D)  in the text 
A)  in a marginal gloss 
B)  in a footnote 
C)  in an appendix 
D)  in the text

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

A)  This is a simple, but effective, sentence definition. 
B)  This is a circular definition. 
C)  This sentence definition describes its item with clear distinguishing characteristics. 
D)  This is a stipulative definition. 
A)  This is a simple, but effective, sentence definition. 
B)  This is a circular definition. 
C)  This sentence definition describes its item with clear distinguishing characteristics. 
D)  This is a stipulative definition.

Question 10

Chapter 20 lists three steps in writing definitions. One is analyzing the writing situation. What are the other two steps?

Accepted Answer

Determining the kind

Question 11

Descriptions are rarely incorporated into longer documents; instead, they usually appear as separate documents.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

What are the three types of descriptions discussed in Chapter 20?

Accepted Answer

Object, me

Question 13

there is no absolute distinction between a set of instructions and a manual.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Read the following instruction steps for creating an automated index of web files. Then indicate which instruction steps are NOT CORRECTLY written.
1) Open Windows Explorer to c:\ program files\autoindex\ .
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.
3) Type the appropriate path, for instance, c:\ program files\autoindex\ indexer\ indexer.exe webfolder1, webfolder2, etc.
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.

Accepted Answer

A)  step 1 
B)  steps 2 and 3 
C)  steps 3 and 4 
D)  steps 2 and 4 
A)  step 1 
B)  steps 2 and 3 
C)  steps 3 and 4 
D)  steps 2 and 4

Question 15

Step-by-step instructions should be written in the imperative mood.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

A conventions section explains to readers how a manual uses typography to signify different kinds of information. One example is using Courier typeface to represent text the reader is supposed to type.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

what is an effective way to conclude a description?

Accepted Answer

A)  with a restatement of key points from the introduction 
B)  with a summary of major points and in some cases, a brief description of how the parts or process steps work together 
C)  with information on maintenance or troubleshooting 
D)  with distinguishing characteristics 
A)  with a restatement of key points from the introduction 
B)  with a summary of major points and in some cases, a brief description of how the parts or process steps work together 
C)  with information on maintenance or troubleshooting 
D)  with distinguishing characteristics

Question 18

The introduction to a set of instructions should answer six questions, one of which is "Why should the reader carry out this task?" what is one other question?

Accepted Answer

The other five questions are the followi

Question 19

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 swing-set installation guide?

Accepted Answer

A)  a list of the tools the user needs to assemble the swing set 
B)  the reasons the user should carry out the instructions 
C)  the safety precautions the user must take 
D)  a list of parts included with the swing set for assembly 
A)  a list of the tools the user needs to assemble the swing set 
B)  the reasons the user should carry out the instructions 
C)  the safety precautions the user must take 
D)  a list of parts included with the swing set for assembly

Question 20

In what way is the definition "Booting a computer is when you turn it on" flawed?

Accepted Answer

It uses a phrase beg

many companies are uneasy about using instructional videos and rely on printed documentation instead.

A set of instructions is a type of definition.

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

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

Which of the following is an effective sentence definition?

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?

A writer is creating an employee handbook for assembly-line workers and their supervisors. One particular extended definition is approximately a page long. Where should the writer place this definition if it will be of interest to only the supervisors?

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

Chapter 20 lists three steps in writing definitions. One is analyzing the writing situation. What are the other two steps?

Descriptions are rarely incorporated into longer documents; instead, they usually appear as separate documents.

What are the three types of descriptions discussed in Chapter 20?

there is no absolute distinction between a set of instructions and a manual.

Step-by-step instructions should be written in the imperative mood.

A conventions section explains to readers how a manual uses typography to signify different kinds of information. One example is using Courier typeface to represent text the reader is supposed to type.

what is an effective way to conclude a description?

The introduction to a set of instructions should answer six questions, one of which is "Why should the reader carry out this task?" what is one other question?

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 swing-set installation guide?

In what way is the definition "Booting a computer is when you turn it on" flawed?

Introduction to Technical Communication

Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations

Writing Technical Documents

Writing Collaboratively

Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose

Researching Your Subject

Organizing Your Information

Communicating Persuasively

Emphasizing Important Information

Writing Correct and Effective Sentences

Designing Print and Online Documents

Creating Graphics

Reviewing, Evaluating, and Testing Documents and Web Sites

Writing Correspondence

Writing Job-Application Materials

Writing Proposals

Writing Informational Reports

Writing Recommendation Reports

Writing Lab Reports

Making Oral Presentations

Filters

Exam 20: Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions

many companies are uneasy about using instructional videos and rely on printed documentation instead.

A set of instructions is a type of definition.

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

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

Which of the following is an effective sentence definition?

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?

A writer is creating an employee handbook for assembly-line workers and their supervisors. One particular extended definition is approximately a page long. Where should the writer place this definition if it will be of interest to only the supervisors?

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

Chapter 20 lists three steps in writing definitions. One is analyzing the writing situation. What are the other two steps?

Descriptions are rarely incorporated into longer documents; instead, they usually appear as separate documents.

What are the three types of descriptions discussed in Chapter 20?

there is no absolute distinction between a set of instructions and a manual.

Step-by-step instructions should be written in the imperative mood.

A conventions section explains to readers how a manual uses typography to signify different kinds of information. One example is using Courier typeface to represent text the reader is supposed to type.

what is an effective way to conclude a description?

The introduction to a set of instructions should answer six questions, one of which is "Why should the reader carry out this task?" what is one other question?

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 swing-set installation guide?

In what way is the definition "Booting a computer is when you turn it on" flawed?

Introduction to Technical Communication

Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations

Writing Technical Documents

Writing Collaboratively

Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose

Researching Your Subject

Organizing Your Information

Communicating Persuasively

Emphasizing Important Information

Writing Correct and Effective Sentences

Designing Print and Online Documents

Creating Graphics

Reviewing, Evaluating, and Testing Documents and Web Sites

Writing Correspondence

Writing Job-Application Materials

Writing Proposals

Writing Informational Reports

Writing Recommendation Reports

Writing Lab Reports

Making Oral Presentations

Filters