Deck 1: What Is Technical Writing

Question 1

List three ways technical writing is different from academic writing.

Answer 1

Students should list three of the following four:
(1) Presentation: Technical writing includes more visual elements such as boldface type, itemized lists, and graphics.
(2) Technical writing addresses a specific audience with a specific need.
(3) Technical writing is usually on technical, business, or scientific topics.
(4) Technical writing has less flexibility with subject, style, and tone.

Question 2

Match each characteristic of technical writing with the correct term.
a.objective and businesslike
b.concise and straightforward; sometimes uses specialized vocabulary
c.visual elements such as boldface, underlining, tables, and diagrams
d.carefully considered and targeted
e.predictable and apparent
f.technical, factual, and clear
Audience is

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What is a technical writer's most important consideration?

Answer 3

In technical writing, the most important consideration is the needs of the reader.

Question 4

Match each characteristic of technical writing with the correct term.
a.objective and businesslike
b.concise and straightforward; sometimes uses specialized vocabulary
c.visual elements such as boldface, underlining, tables, and diagrams
d.carefully considered and targeted
e.predictable and apparent
f.technical, factual, and clear
Design features are

Question 5

Match each characteristic of technical writing with the correct term.
a.objective and businesslike
b.concise and straightforward; sometimes uses specialized vocabulary
c.visual elements such as boldface, underlining, tables, and diagrams
d.carefully considered and targeted
e.predictable and apparent
f.technical, factual, and clear
Style is

Question 6

Match each characteristic of technical writing with the correct term.
a.objective and businesslike
b.concise and straightforward; sometimes uses specialized vocabulary
c.visual elements such as boldface, underlining, tables, and diagrams
d.carefully considered and targeted
e.predictable and apparent
f.technical, factual, and clear
Subject/purpose is

Question 7

What is technical communication?

Question 8

Match each characteristic of technical writing with the correct term.
a.objective and businesslike
b.concise and straightforward; sometimes uses specialized vocabulary
c.visual elements such as boldface, underlining, tables, and diagrams
d.carefully considered and targeted
e.predictable and apparent
f.technical, factual, and clear
Tone is

Question 9

List two ways technical writing is different from imaginative writing.

Question 10

Match each characteristic of technical writing with the correct term.
a.objective and businesslike
b.concise and straightforward; sometimes uses specialized vocabulary
c.visual elements such as boldface, underlining, tables, and diagrams
d.carefully considered and targeted
e.predictable and apparent
f.technical, factual, and clear
Organization is