Introduction to Technical Communication Midterm    Name________________________________________________ 

 

1. Two tenents of user‐centeredness are persuasiveness and usability. Define each AND provide a 

concrete example in the context of technical writing. Usability: a communication’s ability to help its readers locate information, understand the information, and use the information to complete a desired task. Example: organizing resume information in invisible columns to help readers quickly find like information. Persuasiveness: a communication’s ability to influence its reader’s attitudes and actions. Example: including experiences on your resume that were listed as desired requirements in a job ad.

 

 

Creating an Effective Style: indicate what is problematic in each of the following sentences AND rewrite 

the sentence to be more effective. Revision sentences may vary slightly but should address the problem in the original.

2. The implementation of the proposal will be the responsibility of a team of three engineers experienced 

in these procedures. Problem: nominalization (implementation should be converted from a noun to a verb) AND wordiness (the textbook sometimes describes nominalization as a sentence with the action frozen--either description is fine here). Implementing the proposal will be the responsibility of three experienced engineers.

 

 

3. Our department accomplished the conversion to the new software in three months. Problem: nominalization (conversion should be a verb instead of a noun) Our department converted to the new software in three months. 

 

 

4. Our client rejected the R37 compound because it softened at temperatures about 500 ° C. This is what 

our engineers feared. Problem: “this” requires a noun to avoid ambiguity of sentence. This softening is what our engineers feared.

 

5. There are several factors causing engineering to question the strength of the levee. Problem: avoid beginning sentences with empty phrases such as “there are” Several factors are causing engineering to question the strength of the levee.

 

 

6. The changes were recommended by the executive committee. Problem: avoid passive voice The executive committee recommended changes.

 

 

7. According to optimal quality‐control practices in manufacturing any product, it is important that every 

component part that is constituent of the product be examined and checked individually after being 

received from its supplier or other source but before the final, finished product is assembled.  Problem: wordiness Optimal quality control requires that every component be checked individually before the final product is assembled.

 

 

 

 

 

8. List your dream job (entry level) and company.  Now write the introductory paragraph for a cover 

letter where you apply for this job.   Answers will vary but the paragraph should include:

o The specific job title, where you saw the ad (or heard about the job) o Why you are interested in this specific company/job o How your interest is connected to your educational background o Appropriate tone

 

 

9. Define tone and register in the context of technical writing. Tone indicates the character or personality of the text, e.g., condescending, demanding, professional, and so on Register indicates the level of formality of the text, e.g., reports to clients usually require a more formal register than emails to colleagues. Register can also refer to whether the word is appropriate for a given context.

 

10. Explain the difference between a tutorial and procedures and indicate when you would use each. Tutorials teach a user how to complete a specific, pre-determined task in the hopes that the user will be able to apply the information to their own task later. Procedures guide users through their own task, allowing users to make their own decisions based on the available choices of a task.

 

 

11. Rework this instructional step to be more effective. 

 

If the Snagit software is already available on your computer, select programs > Snagit> Open. If not, 

download the software onto your computer from the link: 

http://www.techsmith.com/download/snagittrial.asp  

 Open the Snagit software on your computer: If Snagit is already on your computer, select programs > Snagit> Open. If Snagit is not on your computer, download it first at: http://www.techsmith.com/download/snagittrial.asp.

 

 

12. Explain the benefits of usability testing—provide at least 2 reasons. Usability testing helps you identify glitches in your document. The glitches can be in the language, organization, format, accuracy, clarity, satisfaction, and usefulness. Usability testing also helps you to make a persuasive case to your supervisor or client as to why the document might veer from the supervisor’s or client’s initial vision for the document.

 

 

13. Explain objectives within the context of usability testing—what are they and what is their purpose. Objectives (or research questions) are your goals for the document itself (e.g., users should be able to quickly complete the task, users should be able to easily find each section of the document). Objectives help you to determine what questions to ask your participants and what tasks to ask them to complete.

 

 

14. Persuasive writing requires sound arguing. Define the following elements of a sound argument: claim, 

evidence, and warrant (the textbook uses the phrase “line of reasoning” instead of warrant).  Claim: the argument or position you are asking your audience to accept Evidence: the facts, observations, and other evidence that supports your claim Warrant/line of reasoning: the connection linking your claim and your evidence; the reason your readers should agree that your evidence supports your claim.

 

 

15. Identify the claim, evidence, and warrant in the following statement AND offer a counterargument 

based on the evidence or warrant:  

Pat Sullivan should not be elected to city council because she voted for traffic cameras in Hamilton.  Claim: Pat Sullivan should not be elected to city council Evidence: because she voted for traffic cameras in Hamilton Warrant: (a couple of options exist here) Traffic cameras are bad for Hamilton city (requires an additional unstated warrant that city council members should want what is best for their city.) Counter argument: traffic cameras decrease reckless driving and traffic accidents and therefore are good for the city.

  Alternative: traffic cameras increase safety and we want to elect someone who advocates safety.  

By using new computer software, we will increase productivity because our competitor has increased 

productivity by using the new computer software Claim: by using new computer programs, we will increase productivity Evidence: our competitor has increased productivity by using new computer programs Warrant: /line of reasoning: experience has shown that actions that increase profits for one company in an industry will usually increase profit of other companies in the same industry. Counter argument: our competitor is using different computer programs or the cost of the computer programs outweigh the increased profits. Other counterarguments are possible

That dog is probably friendly. He is a golden retriever. Claim: That dog is friendly Evidence: he is a golden retriever Warrant/line of reasoning: golden retrievers are traditionally friendly dogs Counterargument That dog is not a pure bred golden retriever or Any dog can be unfriendly depending upon how he is treated. Other counterarguments are possible.

 

 

16. Assume your audience will doubt the warrant in the previous statement, provide an example of the 

kind of information you might include to make the warrant more persuasive. Traffic cameras do not decrease traffic accidents and only encourage people to avoid the city.

 

 

Extra credit: 

 

1. For what purpose are feasibility reports written (what do these type of reports attempt to help the reader 

do)?  Also, provide a brief example of a feasibility report (or a situation for which you would write a 

feasibility report. 

 Feasibility reports evaluate whether or not an action plan will 1)address a current problem or need, 2)solve the problem in an economical, practical, and desirable manner. Examples will vary.