Writing for Engineers Practice
Questions
Course Introduction
Writing for Engineers is designed to equip engineering students with essential communication skills required in professional and academic settings. The course emphasizes the principles of clear, concise, and well-organized technical writing, including lab reports, project proposals, technical memos, and research papers. Students learn to tailor their writing to diverse audiences, integrate visual elements like tables and figures, and adhere to standard formatting guidelines. Through peer review and iterative drafting, the course fosters critical thinking and effective collaboration, preparing students to convey complex technical information accurately and persuasively in their future careers.
Recommended Textbook
Technical Communication 11th Edition by Mike Markel
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
21 Chapters
837 Verified Questions
837 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/3871
Page 2
Chapter 1: Introduction to Technical Communication
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77152
Sample Questions
Q1) Chapter 1 defines technical communication as a process encompassing which of the following?
A) documents and activities
B) documentation and analysis
C) process and analysis
D) diagramming and activities
Answer: A
Q2) Which of these is a measure of excellence in technical communication?
A) accuracy
B) terseness
C) plainness
D) celerity
Answer: A
Q3) Which of these is a quality shown by a successful workplace communicator?
A) keeping new information about your field to yourself
B) prioritizing your own needs
C) displaying emotional intelligence
D) sharing proprietary information openly
Answer: C
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 3
Chapter 2: Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77141
Sample Questions
Q1) When exporting goods, U.S. companies can face ethical challenges that they do not face when selling goods in the United States.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q2) When warning users about the dangers of products, writers should avoid using mandatory language such as must and shall.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) Fair-use guidelines apply to graphics just as they do to words.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q4) Plagiarism is a legal issue and not an ethical issue.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 4
Chapter 3: Writing Technical Documents
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77138
Sample Questions
Q1) The outline view is a word-processing feature that suggests how you ought to outline common types of documents such as letters and memos.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) Funds for which of the following might appear in the budget for a writing project?
A) travel to meet with experts on your subject
B) usability testing of your document with members of the target audience
C) printing and binding costs from a local print shop
D) All responses are correct.
Answer: D
Q3) When drafting a document, you come to an item that you don't understand or that requires more research. What should you do?
Answer: You should skip to the next item.
Q4) Chapter 3 describes the writing process as a series of stages. One stage is drafting. What are the other stages discussed in Chapter 3?
Answer: The other stages are planning, revising, editing, and proofreading.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
5
Chapter 4: Writing Collaboratively
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77137
Sample Questions
Q1) one advantage of collaboration is that it helps acclimate new employees to an organization.
A)True
B)False
Q2) How can a team benefit from members who come from different cultures?
A) Team members can provide a broader understanding of how members of the audience will respond to a document.
B) A cross-cultural team can view a problem from more perspectives than a mono-cultural team.
C) A cross-cultural team can help create products and services that are better suited for markets around the world.
D) All responses are correct.
Q3) Employees rarely use social media and personal electronics to complete work tasks. A)True
B)False
Q4) Differences between the ways men and women work in teams are hard to notice. A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 6
Chapter 5: Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77136
Sample Questions
Q1) You are writing a report about new regulations that affect your company. Your primary audience of company executives is very busy and will read your report quickly, but secondary- and tertiary-audience members are likely to read more slowly and carefully. Which of the following options is most appropriate for your situation?
A) Include detailed footnotes on each page.
B) To save time, omit the executive summary and put more details in the body of your report.
C) Follow the patterns of writing that were successful for you in college English and history classes.
D) Break your report into modules and put highly detailed information in an appendix.
Q2) The point of learning about your audience is to use that information to tailor a document to fit the audience's needs.
A)True B)False
Q3) What mistake did McDonald's make when it printed takeout bags decorated with flags from around the world?
Q4) Chapter 5 describes three categories of audience. What are they?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 6: Researching Your Subject
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
39 Verified Questions
39 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77135
Sample Questions
Q1) Which statement best compares the information found on a wiki with the information from an edited website?
A) The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site can be trusted to speak the truth.
B) The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site may mix truth with fiction.
C) The lack of editors on a wiki means that a wiki can be updated quickly. Faster is better.
D) Edited websites lack the accountability created when content gets "crowdsourced" on a wiki.
Q2) One stage of conducting an experiment is to establish a hypothesis. What is the next stage?
Q3) Government publications are not usually listed in indexes or by abstract services. A)True B)False
Q4) Chapter 6 lists five characteristics to consider when evaluating print and online sources. Name two of them.
Q5) What kind of information is found in a periodical index?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
8
Chapter 7: Organizing Your Information
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
39 Verified Questions
39 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77134
Sample Questions
Q1) Signposts are especially useful for readers of passages written according to the spatial pattern of organization.
A)True
B)False
Q2) It is always unethical to compare your company's product to a similar product by another company when trying to argue that your own company's product is superior.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which factor should influence the organizational pattern you choose?
A) your readers' expectations
B) your document's length
C) your number of section headings
D) All responses are correct.
Q4) Which organizational pattern often occurs in a comparison-and-contrast discussion?
A) meter-by-meter
B) bit-by-bit
C) whole-by-whole
D) problem-methods-solution
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 9
Chapter 8: Communicating Persuasively
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77133
Sample Questions
Q1) What type of argument is one made against the writer, rather than against the writer's argument?
Q2) A post hoc argument claims that because A preceded B, A must have caused B.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which of the following is NOT a category of constraints on your ability to be persuasive in a workplace document?
A) partitional
B) personnel
C) financial
D) political
Q4) What type of argument draws conclusions based on an insufficient number of cases?
Q5) What type of argument appeals to a person's understanding and experience of how the world works?
Q6) A commonsense argument is usually more persuasive than numerical data. A)True
B)False
Q7) What type of argument poses only two alternatives when in fact there might be more?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 10
Chapter 9: Emphasizing Important Information
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77132
Sample Questions
Q1) Whenever possible, you should combine two or more ideas into one paragraph to create a paragraph of 75 to 125 words-the ideal paragraph length.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Which of the following words or phrases should be used in the excerpt below to signal to readers that because land-use problems are causing high bacteria levels, landowners must take action.
Bacteria levels are often above state standards and are due to localized, specific land-use problems. _______, landowners must take action to address these problems and reduce the high bacteria levels.
A) Nevertheless
B) For example
C) Next
D) Consequently
Q3) using precise words will make a title more useful. What is an added benefit of using precise words?
Q4) what are the two types of paragraphs?
Q5) Identify two coherence devices discussed in Chapter 9.
Q6) Where should you place a transitional word or phrase?
11
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 10: Writing Correct and Effective Sentences
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77151
Sample Questions
Q1) What two guidelines will help you to avoid causing confusion when using clusters of adjectives?
Q2) In what way is the following list flawed?
The Ventura Aquifer program objectives are the following: \(\bullet\)characterization of groundwater quality \(\bullet\)to provide data to support Best Management Practices (BMP) \(\bullet\)relating data to agricultural land-use practices
A) The list is not punctuated correctly.
B) The list is not parallel in structure.
C) The lead-in is not grammatically complete.
D) The list uses the wrong verb tense.
Q3) In which of the following sentences is qualifying information emphasized?
A) The schedule could fall apart if anyone is absent for several days.
B) Shellie will get promoted if she improves her performance rating.
C) If the new administrator gets her way, all of the adjunct instructors will get raises.
D) I will finish my homework if I can stop watching television.
Q4) Identify one of the four strategies listed in Chapter 10 for avoiding ambiguous pronoun references.
Q5) What is a euphemism?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 12
Chapter 11: Designing Print and Online Documents
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
39 Verified Questions
39 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77150
Sample Questions
Q1) What is the definition of queuing?
A) Queuing is a page-design technique in which two or three columns are distributed evenly across the page.
B) Queuing is a page-design technique in which visual patterns show levels of importance.
C) Queuing is a page-design technique in which text and graphics are arranged in a symmetrical pattern.
D) Queuing is a page-design technique in which text and graphics are arranged in a straight line, or queue.
Q2) A writer for a company headquartered in Texas is designing a 100-page report, the text of which will be single-spaced to reduce printing costs. If she wants the report to be as easy to read as possible, which of the following should the writer NOT do?
A) Place the top-level headings along the left margin and indent each subsequent level by several spaces.
B) Use full justification.
C) Use a heading at each significant change of topic.
D) Use chunking to separate paragraphs.
Q3) margins serve four main purposes within a document. Identify two.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 13
Chapter 12: Creating Graphics
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77149
Sample Questions
Q1) Chapter 12 provides seven guidelines for creating effective infographics. One is "Don't go on forever." Name two other guidelines mentioned in the chapter.
Q2) Graphics typically increase the costs of translating documents intended for international readers.
A)True
B)False
Q3) what is the most important characteristic of an infographic?
Q4) In a table, the stub is the right-hand column.
A)True
B)False
Q5) If a graphic is on the Internet, you may assume that you are free to republish it. A)True
B)False
Q6) Why is it important to either begin graph axes at zero or mark them clearly?
Q7) Chapter 12 suggests that you consider four factors when planning a graphic. One is audience. Name two other factors you should consider.
Q8) Where is the stub located in a table?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 14
Chapter 13: Reviewing, Evaluating, and Testing Documents and Web Sites
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77148
Sample Questions
Q1) One factor affecting the usability of a document or website is its efficiency of use. What are two other factors?
A) subjective satisfaction
B) ease of learning
C) length
D) price of the document or website
E) None of the responses are correct.
Q2) In usability testing, what is informed consent?
Q3) Which of the following statements effectively summarizes a main principle of usability testing?
A) A single usability test at the end of product development is better than three tests over time.
B) It is important to let usability testing come to you in the moment; do not overplan it.
C) Test the person using the manual, not the manual.
D) Test the manual, not the person using the manual.
Q4) Reviewing a document or website is the same thing as testing it.
A)True
B)False
Q5) what does it mean to evaluate a draft?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 15
Chapter 14: Writing Correspondence
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77147
Sample Questions
Q1) three elements are always found at the top of the second and subsequent pages of a memo. One is the page number. What are the other two?
A) the writer's contact information
B) the date of the memo
C) the attention line
D) the name of the recipient
Q2) Chapter 14 describes two common letter formats. One is modified block. What is the other format described in the chapter?
Q3) What types of incidents and developments related to your organization should be the subject of posts on a company-sponsored microblog?
Q4) Which of the following is NOT a means of adhering to netiquette guidelines?
A) Avoid dispensing harsh criticism.
B) Take a friendly, casual tone.
C) Keep messages brief.
D) Avoid forwarding a message to online forums without obtaining the writer's permission.
Q5) What is flaming?
Q6) What does the notation "cc" stand for in a letter, memo, or email?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 16
Chapter 15: Writing Job-Application Materials
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77146
Sample Questions
Q1) what does it mean to be a passive applicant?
Q2) You are majoring in environmental studies. Last year, you worked for six months as a volunteer caregiver at an orphanage in Asia. Does this help you in your job search?
A) Yes. It gives you opportunities to discuss the transferrable skills you developed in areas such as problem-solving and collaboration.
B) No. It is not related to your intended field of study.
C) No. It shows that you took time off from finishing school.
D) Yes. It shows that you are willing to work for free, which employers like.
Q3) If you write your own résumé instead of paying someone else to do it, you will be more likely to adapt the résumé to different situations.
A)True
B)False
Q4) which of these is a guideline for preparing for a job interview?
A) Study organizations that are similar to the one that will interview you.
B) Study lists of common interview questions.
C) If you get to ask questions, focus yours on company salary and benefit policies.
D) Avoid mock interviews or any type of rehearsing.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 17
Chapter 16: Writing Proposals
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77145
Sample Questions
Q1) Indirect costs are intangible expenses such as general secretarial and clerical expenses not devoted exclusively to any one project, as well as operating expenses such as utilities and maintenance.
A)True
B)False
Q2) You are writing an internal proposal to suggest that your company purchase a new ticket-tracking system, called Tick-Track, for the company's information-technology help desk. Which of the following is the best point to make in the introduction of your proposal?
A) Tick-Track is made by a company that was just bought by Google.
B) Tick-Track is designed to take advantage of the latest developments in database-search technology.
C) We estimate that the response delays caused by our current ticket-tracking system are costing the company $1,000 per day in lost productivity.
D) Tick-Track is a web-based system.
Q3) Which type of graphic commonly used to portray task schedules communicates interdependence between various activities?
Q4) What do the initials IFB stand for?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 18
Chapter 17: Writing Informational Reports
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77144
Sample Questions
Q1) what is the primary purpose of a directive?
Q2) what is the primary purpose of a field report?
Q3) what are the two organizational patterns frequently used in progress reports?
Q4) Which of these is NOT an important question to answer when writing an incident report?
A) What happened?
B) Whose camera recorded the incident?
C) Why did the incident happen?
D) What should be done in response to this incident?
Q5) which of the following statements is true?
A) A status report describes work on a project, whereas a progress report describes work that is not specific to a particular project
B) A progress report describes work on a project, whereas a status report describes work that is not specific to a particular project.
C) A progress report is for internal audiences, whereas a status report is for external audiences.
D) None of the responses are correct.
Q6) Identify three of the issues you should be sure to address in a field report?
Q7) what does an incident report describe?
Page 19
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 18: Writing Recommendation Reports
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77143
Sample Questions
Q1) You should always avoid recommending a course of action that is inconsistent with the conclusions you derived.
A)True
B)False
Q2) A feasibility report is an argument that answers three kinds of questions. One kind is questions of possibility. What is one other kind of question?
Q3) Which of these is a limitation of a decision matrix?
A) It is less effective with decision criteria that are primarily qualitative and not quantitative.
B) It is less effective with decision criteria that are primarily quantitative and not qualitative.
C) Some readers may resist the bottom-line presentation of scores.
D) None of the responses are correct.
Q4) What fundamental question does the recommendations section of a recommendation report answer?
Q5) What fundamental question does the methods section of a recommendation report answer?
Q6) In what order should definitions relevant to a report be presented in a glossary?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 20
Chapter 19: Writing Lab Reports
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77142
Sample Questions
Q1) How should you present your data in the results section?
A) in text only
B) in graphics only
C) in a mix of text and graphics appropriate for your audience
D) None of the responses are correct.
Q2) The acknowledgments section of a lab report is typically used to identify and thank people who have assisted the author during a study or while preparing the report. What is another typical use of the acknowledgments section?
Q3) Which of the following statements about lab reports is NOT correct?
A) A lab report is a carefully crafted argument meant to persuade an audience to accept your findings and conclusions.
B) Supporting evidence is often presented with a combination of graphics and text.
C) The most effective way to write a lab report is to write it in sequence, beginning with the introduction.
D) In organizing the discussion of your data, you should begin by presenting the most important findings.
Q4) What are author guidelines?
Q5) In the context of a lab report, what does replicability mean?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 21
Chapter 20: Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77140
Sample Questions
Q1) The partitioning technique for creating an extended definition often appears in tandem with another technique.
A)True
B)False
Q2) 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.
A) step 1
B) steps 2 and 3
C) steps 3 and 4
D) steps 2 and 4
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 22
Chapter 21: Making Oral Presentations
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/77139
Sample Questions
Q1) One disadvantage of using handouts during a presentation is that your audience might read the handout instead of listening to you.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Chapter 21 suggests using three techniques to make your language more memorable. One technique is to refer to people, not to abstractions. What is one other technique described in the chapter?
Q3) an effective 20-minute presentation could take 13 hours to prepare.
A)True
B)False
Q4) one of the suggestions for introducing your presentation is to introduce yourself. What are two other suggestions from the chapter?
A) Have the audience read your title slide aloud.
B) Explain the purpose of the presentation.
C) Provide an advance organizer.
D) Tell the audience how many slides you will use.
Q5) Chapter 21 describes four types of oral presentations, including impromptu presentations. What are two of the other three?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 23