Question 1

Writing at work and academic writing both require…
A) effective paragraph development and correct sentence structure.
B) use of graphics and video.
C) effective paragraph development and several grammatical errors.
D) knowledge of exactly who is reading your writing.

Accepted Answer

There are a few fundamental principles associated with both workplace writing and academic writing: effective paragraph development, correct sentence structure, correct punctuation, and correct usage.

Question 2

The typical workplace includes:
A) Conciseness
B) Usability
C) Accuracy of information
D) Collaboration

Accepted Answer

Surveys show that organizations rank accuracy of information as the most important writing skill.

Question 3

Surveys show that organizations rank which attribute of good technical writing as the most important?
A) over 20 employees.
B) extensive use of technology.
C) strict security to protect intellectual property.
D) Both b and c.

Accepted Answer

Today's workplace requires extensive use of technology and strict security to protect the intellectual property of the organization and clients.

Question 4

Even good technical writing may include:
A) a few grammatical errors.
B) some inaccurate information.
C) a few typographical errors.
D) None of the above.

Accepted Answer

Good technical writing is correct and uses the variety of English typically associated with formal education and published materials: it has no typographical or grammatical errors and no irregular or misspelled words. Little mistakes in technical writing will distract readers from your main points and raise questions about your writing ability and your attention to detail.

Question 5

Technical communication should
A) Be able to be understood by a variety of readers.
B) Be complex.
C) Be posted on all social media.
D) Be delivered using personal email accounts.

Accepted Answer

Technical communication should be written with an acute awareness of security and legal liability, addresses a variety of readers with different perspectives and knowledge of the topic, achieves job goals, and usually requires a variety of written documents.

Question 6

Which of the following is not a part of the document development process?
A) Determining content.
B) Collaborating with your CEO.
C) Editing.
D) Drafting.

Accepted Answer

The six stages of developing effective technical documents include: 1) Planning the document; 2) Determining content; 3) Arranging ideas; 4) Drafting 5) Revising; and 6) Editing.

Question 7

What are three ways to avoid potential security breaches at work?
A) Avoid using social media while at work, never use external storage, and only email documents to your readers.
B) Use caution when texting and emailing, avoid having a personal blog and comply with the company's intellectual property security policies.
C) Avoid using social media while at work, email all of your documents to your personal email account for safe keeping, never text while you are at work.
D) Only write on your personal blog on your break, guard your external storage devices carefully, and know that your writing may be read by unknown readers.

Accepted Answer

To avoid potential security breaches: use caution when texting and emailing; avoid having a personal blog; comply with the company's intellectual property security policies; use social media carefully and never at work; guard your external storage devices carefully; know that your writing may be read by unknown readers.

Question 8

What are three ways to avoid potential security breaches at work?
A) Use a flash drive to store all of your writing, lock your computer when you walk away, and delete your social media profiles.
B) Use a flash drive to store all of your writing, lock your computer when you walk away, and email all of your documents to your personal email account for safe keeping.
C) Use social media carefully and never at work, guard your external storage devices carefully, and know that your writing may be read by unknown readers.
D) Know that your writing may be read by unknown readers so encode your documents, email documents to the IT department prior to sending, and try not to text too much during business hours.

Accepted Answer

To avoid potential security breaches: use caution when texting and emailing; avoid having a personal blog; comply with the company's intellectual property security policies; use social media carefully and never at work; guard your external storage devices carefully; know that your writing may be read by unknown readers.

Question 9

What are three ways to avoid potential security breaches at work?
A) Because your colleagues get paid to read your writing.
B) Because you get paid to write long documents.
C) Because it supports productivity in the workplace.
D) Because it affords reading material in the breakroom.

Accepted Answer

Why is it important that your writing always be clear and make evident the purpose of the communication?

Question 10

Good technical communication has all of the following qualities EXCEPT:
A) It uses visuals, if necessary, to help readers understand ideas or data.
B) It can only be read and understood by subject matter experts.
C) It enables people who need to use the writing to perform a task to do so.
D) It shows a plan that reveals the purpose and value of the document 
The rest of this test will be based on the following scenario: Samantha has just been hired as the IT Manager at Monopoly National Bank. Though her job title sounds impressive, she is the only employee in the IT Department.
The very first day on the job, Samantha is handed a two-inch thick packet of specifications and sales brochures on six desktop computers that was put together by the previous IT manager, who recently resigned to start her own social network company. The VP of Operations asks Samantha to review the dossier thoroughly, then write a recommendation report and have it on her desk by Friday. As the new IT Manager, Samantha needs to write a report that explains which computer would best suit the needs of the Business Loan Department.
The bank rotates purchasing computers for each department on a two year basis, and they need to replace the six desktop computers in the Business Loan Department by the end of the month or lose the line item for this budget year.
Not only is this Samantha's first day on the job, this is her first job after graduating from college-so she is a little hesitant about how she will accomplish this task. She takes the packet to her office and begins sorting through technical specifications and sales brochures. Eventually, she decides which computer she will recommend and why. Once she has made his decision, she writes a three page, single-spaced essay that has an intriguing introduction, discusses the importance of good IT to production, compares the qualities of each computer in detail, and concludes with the praises of the computer she recommends. Before she sends the essay off to the VP of Operations, she decides to review the textbook for the technical writing class she took her junior year, The Essentials of Technical Communication.

Accepted Answer

Effective or good technical communication has several qualities, including: it makes a good impression with the readers; it is readable and well-organized; it shows a plan and reveals the purpose; it makes sense and is organized in a logical workflow; it appears credible; and it enables people to perform a task or take action.

Question 11

Samantha recalls that the text says, "No one wants to read anything you write!" Why would the VP of Operations, then, want to read Samantha's essay?
A) because she tells her to.
B) because it contains information she needs to make a decision.
C) because she will use it in the future to evaluate her performance.
D) Both the second and third answers are correct

Accepted Answer

People read workplace writing because it affects their ability to do their job, take action, and make decisions. The writing you do at work suggests how well you do your job and may be used in assessing your performance and in determining your promotion potential.

Question 12

After reading the sections in Chapter 1 on how workplace writing differs from academic writing, Samantha realizes she has gone into too much detail about technical information on computers, and will streamline that information by putting it in a chart for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:
A) Readers have less knowledge about computers than she does and may skip reading the document entirely if she does not keep the technical information clear and concise.
B) Readers need to know how the new computers will affect their job goals, not be given a lesson in computer technology.
C) She needs to keep the information to show that she is very intelligent because she wants a promotion.
D) Some readers will only want to survey this section of the document in order to find the main points and ideas quickly.

Accepted Answer

Technical communication should be able to be understood by a variety of readers who have different backgrounds, knowledge, and experience of the subject matter. It should not be overly complex because this will cause confusion and prompt people to not read your writing. People read workplace writing because it affects their ability to do their job, take action, and make decisions so it should be clear, concise, and easy to read.

Question 13

Samantha remembers that when writing in school, she used the same design and format for each essay or paper she wrote, but when composing and designing this essay at work, she needed to
A) Focus on the purpose of the document: to recommend a purchase.
B) Attend to the audience's needs: what they need to know to do their job.
C) Keep it clear and concise: use charts and bullets to display information.
D) All of the above.

Accepted Answer

Composing and designing technical communication requires one to focus on the purpose of the communication and the audience and their needs, and use headings, bullets, and other design elements to make your writing clear and concise.

Question 14

After finishing revising and proofreading the document, Samantha realized that she had saved the Microsoft word document on her desktop computer. What should have Samantha done prior to even beginning the document?
A) Both the second and fourth answers are correct
B) Asked the VP of Operations about the company's security policy and how their intellectual property (such as the document she wrote) is stored.
C) Left the office to buy a flash drive so she can save the document and work on it at home.
D) Asked the VP of Operations for a copy of the company's security policy so she could reference it to ensure she was abiding by their information storage and intellectual property policies.

Accepted Answer

Writing at work requires an acute awareness of security and legal liability. External storage should be guarded carefully, and you should never leave documents open on your workplace computer when you leave.

Question 15

After confirming with the VP of Operations how to save and deliver the essay, right before emailing the document to the VP, she reviews her essay one last time to make sure it exhibits all of the qualities of good technical communication, which are…
A) Accuracy of information; clarity, conciseness, readability, usefulness, ambiguous, and uses standard English.
B) Accuracy of information; clarity, conciseness, readability, usability, correctness, and uses standard English.
C) Accuracy of information; has few grammatical errors, conciseness, readability, usability, correctness, and uses standard English.
D) Accuracy of information; clarity, conciseness, readability, usefulness, ambiguous, and uses standard English and Spanish.

Accepted Answer

Well-written technical communication is: accurate, clear, concise, readable, usable, correct, and uses standard English.

Question 16

In school, what you write becomes a knowledge indicator for a grade. Explain what your writing indicates about you in the workplace.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In school, what you write becomes a...

Question 17

Plagiarism, the intentional or unintentional use of another's words, is the primary legal concern for writing in school. Explain the primary legal concern of writing in the workplace.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Plagiarism, the intentional or unintentional use of...

Question 18

Why is it important that you always write effective documentation at work?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is it important that you always...

Question 19

Your textbook says that, "Electronic communication has become a blessing and a curse." In a memo for your classmates, explain the benefits and pitfalls of electronic communication in the workplace. When possible give specific and concrete examples of both benefits and problems associated with electronic communication.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Your textbook says that, "Electronic communication has...

Question 20

Your textbook says, "Many organizations, before they hire new employees, will check social media to see what potential employees have said about themselves." Describe what potential employers might discover if they checked your personal social networking sites today, and what do you think it reflects about you and your work ethic? How do you think they would interpret the messages you post on your social media?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Your textbook says, "Many organizations, before they...

Quiz 1: Characteristics of Writing at Work

Writing at work and academic writing both require…

The typical workplace includes:

Surveys show that organizations rank which attribute of good technical writing as the most important?

Even good technical writing may include:

Technical communication should

Which of the following is not a part of the document development process?

What are three ways to avoid potential security breaches at work?

What are three ways to avoid potential security breaches at work?

What are three ways to avoid potential security breaches at work?

Good technical communication has all of the following qualities EXCEPT:

Samantha recalls that the text says, "No one wants to read anything you write!" Why would the VP of Operations, then, want to read Samantha's essay?

After reading the sections in Chapter 1 on how workplace writing differs from academic writing, Samantha realizes she has gone into too much detail about technical information on computers, and will streamline that information by putting it in a chart for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

Samantha remembers that when writing in school, she used the same design and format for each essay or paper she wrote, but when composing and designing this essay at work, she needed to

After finishing revising and proofreading the document, Samantha realized that she had saved the Microsoft word document on her desktop computer. What should have Samantha done prior to even beginning the document?

After confirming with the VP of Operations how to save and deliver the essay, right before emailing the document to the VP, she reviews her essay one last time to make sure it exhibits all of the qualities of good technical communication, which are…

In school, what you write becomes a knowledge indicator for a grade. Explain what your writing indicates about you in the workplace.

Plagiarism, the intentional or unintentional use of another's words, is the primary legal concern for writing in school. Explain the primary legal concern of writing in the workplace.

Why is it important that you always write effective documentation at work?