Deck 2: The Communication Process

Question 1

Poorly written correspondence wastes time.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

When you are given a writing assignment, usability testing is designed to be used for the

A) prewriting phase.
B) formatting phase.
C) writing phase.
D) rewriting phase.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

If, before a staff meeting, you asked employees for agenda items, you are using which of the following techniques?

A) mind mapping
B) storyboarding
C) outlining
D) brainstorming or listing

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Flowcharting is an effective visual technique that does not organize data chronologically.

Question 5

The most important phase in the writing process is gathering documentation.

Question 6

If your purpose for writing was to complain about the poor quality of a coat you purchased at your favorite clothing store, what kind of letter would you write?

A) a letter to build rapport
B) a letter to instruct
C) a letter to persuade
D) a letter to inform

Question 7

The objectives of the prewriting process include

A) organizing content.
B) examining purposes.
C) proofreading.
D) formatting content.

Question 8

Accuracy in technical writing requires that you proofread your text.

Question 9

Content should be formatted for readability during which step in the writing process?

A) prewriting
B) rewriting
C) writing
D) None of these answers is correct.

Question 10

During the writing process,

A) once the purpose and goal of the document are determined, the steps can be completed in any order.
B) all three steps may occur simultaneously.
C) it is important to work through each of the three steps one at a time.
D) the prewriting step must be completed before moving on to any other step.

Question 11

The National Commission of Writing identified essential skills in technical communication that employers want. The most important was

A) documentation and supporting data.
B) spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
C) accuracy.
D) logic.

Question 12

Mind mapping

A) answers the reporter's questions.
B) is especially useful for preparing instructions.
C) allows you to look at your topic from multiple perspectives.
D) allows you to see what your document might look like.

Question 13

Storyboarding

A) is especially useful for preparing instructions.
B) answers the reporter's questions.
C) allows you to look at your topic from multiple perspectives.
D) allows you to see what your document might look like.

Question 14

Single sourcing is

A) producing a document that is intended for one source.
B) using one source for data gathering.
C) producing documents that are intended to be recombined and reused across projects and various media.
D) None of these answers is correct.

Question 15

Two examples of prewriting techniques are

A) flowcharting and reformatting.
B) branching and enhancing.
C) mind mapping and brainstorming.
D) usability testing and simplifying.
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 16

Usability testing helps determine the success of a draft.

Question 17

Probably the most important stage in the writing process is

A) proofreading.
B) rewriting.
C) writing.
D) prewriting.
E) All phases are equally important.

Question 18

Part of prewriting is to determine your communication channel.

Question 19

The writing process is subdivided into the following three-part sequence:

A) prewriting, rewriting, and revising.
B) prewriting, drafting, and proofreading.
C) prewriting, writing, and rewriting.
D) prewriting, revising, and rewriting.
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 20

Answering the "reporter's questions" helps you create the content of your correspondence.

Question 21

Explain why proofreading is important. Provide examples.

Question 22

Discuss the six objectives in prewriting and explain why each step is important to the technical communicator.

Question 23

Through usability testing, the technical communicator decides what works in the draft and what requires rewriting. Usability focuses on four key factors. List and discuss each of the four.