question

abstracts

answer

short, concise versions of longer pieces of communication; include only the most important general information

question

academic writing

answer

the expository and persuasive writing done in academic circles; examples include personal essays, research papers, analyses, and arguments

question

accommodate

answer

to adjust; to change circumstances so that others will be more comfortable or more at ease

question

acronyms

answer

letters that stand for a long or complicated term or series of terms

question

adrenaline

answer

a stimulant; something that excites and creates extra energy

question

ambiguous

answer

more than one interpretation is possible; describes writing that means different things to different people

question

anecdote

answer

a humorous story

question

animation

answer

text or graphics that move

question

annotations

answer

handwritten notes, often placed in the margins of a document being read

question

anticipate

answer

to guess or predict before actually reading a passage what kind of reasoning it might present

question

appendix

answer

usually the last element or special part of a formal report; a place to include documents, data, or graphics not necessary to the discussion in the report but perhaps helpful or interesting to the audience

question

archives

answer

collections or repositories of documents

question

auditory

answer

related to the sense of hearing or perceived through the sense of hearing

question

background knowledge

answer

knowledge and vocabulary that a reader has already learned and then calls upon to better understand new information

question

bar graph

answer

a graph using a horizontal axis and a vertical axis to compare numerical data presented in rectangular bars block letter style the letter style that aligns the return address, dateline, and closing at the left margin

question

blog

answer

a website with periodic news or commentary posted in reverse chronological order; short for weblog

question

buffer

answer

something positive written to soften bad news to come

question

callouts

answer

names of specific parts of a diagram that are connected to the diagram or drawing with lines

question

cautions

answer

statements designed to keep a person from harming the mechanism with which he or she is working

question

chart

answer

a drawing with boxes, words, and lines to show a process or an organizational structure

question

chronological resume

answer

a traditional resume that provides a history of employment and education in reverse chronological order

question

citations

answer

written indications of the sources for borrowed materials

question

close-ended questions

answer

questions that restrict the number of possible answers

question

code of ethics

answer

a written pledge to make responsible, moral decisions

question

collaborative

answer

writing writing with others in a group

question

conclusion

answer

the logical, inductive leap made after all of the details of an experiment are considered; what is learned from an experiment

question

concurrent

answer

testing determining the usefulness of a product or an activity by observing someone's performance while he or she is using the product or engaging in the activity

question

copyediting

answer

proofreading a document for correctness in spelling, grammar, and mechanics

question

corporate code of ethics

answer

a document stating a company's commitment to ethical behavior; includes core values, rules specific to the industry', and often penalties for violations

question

cover letter

answer

a letter accompanying a resume that highlights the applicant's strengths

question

criteria

answer

the plural form of criterion; the factors on which a decision is made; things to consider when making a decision

question

culture

answer

the special beliefs, customs, or values that are specific to a particular group of people or a particular region

question

dateline

answer

the feature of a press release that identifies the location of a story

question

decision flowchart

answer

a type of flowchart that uses symbols to indicate the critical steps in making a decision

question

deductive reasoning

answer

reasoning from the general to the particular

question

demographics

answer

defining characteristics of an audience; information about a group such as the age, sex, income, and educational level of its members

question

design elements

answer

considerations in writing a document that affect page layout; the way a document looks

question

diagram

answer

a line drawing

question

dignity

answer

a person's sense of self-respect

question

direct approach

answer

a presentation strategy in which the main idea is stated first, then the idea is explained and supported with details

question

direct quotation

answer

the use of borrowed ideas, words, phrases, and sentences exactly as they appear in the original source

question

discussion forum

answer

a website where users can discuss items of interest or get specific questions answered

question

documentation

answer

a system of giving credit for borrowed ideas and words

question

draft

answer

an early version of a document that is subject to change

question

drafting

answer

the stage after planning when the writer actually writes a first, second, or third (or later) version of the document

question

electronic resume

answer

a chronological or functional resume that is formatted so that it can be sent electronically as an e-mail resume, an ASCII Text resume, a scannable resume, or an online resume

question

embargo

answer

to withhold or delay publication of a story

question

ethics

answer

a system of moral standards and rules that guides human behavior

question

executive summary

answer

a short synopsis of the content of a proposal that is written to meet the needs of a busy decision maker; it is located after the table of contents in a formal proposal

question

explanation

answer

information coming after a step that provides additional data to clarify the step

question

exploding pie graph

answer

pie graph that separates, or "explodes," one wedge from the graph, drawing attention to that piece of the pie

question

expository writing

answer

writing to explain or inform

question

expressive writing

answer

writing to express or portray personal observation or feeling

question

external audience

answer

receivers outside the sender's organization; listeners outside an organization

question

FAQ

answer

an acronym for Frequently Asked Questions; a document posted on the Internet containing answers to common questions about a topic

question

feedback

answer

the verbal and nonverbal response to a communication process or product

question

field research

answer

research done in the field, especially through surveys and interviews

question

field-test

answer

to check instructions with a small sample of people to see whether the instructions are clear

question

fiscal year

answer

an organization's operating year

question

flowchart

answer

a drawing with lines and arrows to show a process or series of steps

question

follow-up letter

answer

a letter thanking a prospective employer for an interview

question

forensic reports

answer

investigative reports that analyze evidence for legal purposes

question

formal outline

answer

a listing of main ideas and subtopics arranged in a traditional format of Roman numerals, capital letters, numbers, and lowercase letters

question

formal presentations

answer

presentations that are planned in advance, carefully prepared and rehearsed, and often accompanied by visual aids

question

formal table

answer

numerical information set up in rows and columns and drawn with rules; used to present figures

question

format

answer

the details of a document's arrangement: the type of document, its length, the preferred style manual, and its organization; the layout of a publication; standard elements of a document's presentation

question

freewriting

answer

writing freely to discover an idea; can be open (no topic yet), focused (on a topic), or looping (stopping, summarizing, and continuing)

question

functional resume

answer

a nontraditional resume that organizes information around a person's unique skills in order to highlight his or her special abilities or experience

question

Gantt chart

answer

a type of bar graph used to schedule the major tasks of a complex project; it uses bars to depict the length of time needed to complete each task

question

goodwill

answer

a feeling of friendship; the value of doing things that create mutual admiration and respect

question

graphic organizers

answer

the use of circles, rectangles, and connecting lines in notes to show the relative importance of one piece of information to another

question

graphics

answer

information presented in a visual form, such as tables, graphs, and diagrams

question

groupthink

answer

the tendency of group members to conform to the wishes of the group without thinking through an issue individually

question

hierarchical order

answer

the order in which names are listed from the top to the bottom of an organizational chart

question

home page

answer

the first page of a website

question

hooks

answer

in a news story, opening elements whose purpose is to engage the reader, grab his or her attention, and lead into the subject; attention-getters; words or sentences designed to engage the reader or to create interest in an idea

question

hyperlink

answer

a word, phrase, or graphic used to allow readers of a web page to move easily to another page; also called a link

question

icon

answer

a simple, easily recognizable picture or drawing that represents an idea or a concept; often used as a signal for recurring ideas or themes in a document

question

imaginative writing

answer

writing such as novels, short stories, drama, and poetry whose situations grow out of fantasy or imagination; events and people are fictional although the themes may reveal universal truths

question

imperative mood

answer

the form of a verb that signals a command or an instruction; the subject is "you" or understood "you"

question

incident reports

answer

reports that objectively relate the details of unusual events, such as accidents or equipment malfunctions

question

indirect approach

answer

a presentation strategy in which the main idea is not presented up front; the speaker builds evidence to convince the audience of his or her point

question

inductive reasoning

answer

reasoning from the particular to the general

question

inferences

answer

judgments about a reading that the author does not make for the reader

question

informal outline

answer

a listing of main ideas and subtopics arranged in a less traditional format of single headings and indented notes

question

informal presentations

answer

presentations that occur without preparation or rehearsal

question

informal table

answer

a graphic that uses rows and columns drawn without rules or stubs

question

instructions

answer

a sequence of steps explaining how to complete a task

question

interactive

answer

refers to any document, such as a website, that responds to user input

question

internal audience

answer

receivers inside the sender's organization; listeners within an organization

question

Internet

answer

a global system of networks connecting computers through the World Wide Web, e-mail, instant messaging, and other protocols

question

jargon

answer

the highly specialized language of a discipline or technical field

question

keywords

answer

important words, especially nouns, that indicate subject areas in a web document; words in a scannable resume that match the employer's list of key qualifications

question

letter of transmittal

answer

a letter formally or officially conveying a formal report from the writers to the external audience

question

limitations

answer

factors or situations that prevent problem solving

question

line graph

answer

a graph using a horizontal axis and a vertical axis to show a trend or relationship among numbers

question

literary reading

answer

reading literature such as short stories, essays, poetry, and novels

question

mechanism description

answer

a description of the main parts of a device or machine; includes the purpose of the device and an overall description, a description of the parts, and the function of each part

question

media

answer

systems or means of mass communication

question

medium

answer

a means by which information is conveyed, such as a newspaper article, a television commercial, or a speech before a live audience

question

memo of transmittal

answer

a memo formally or officially conveying a formal report from the writers to the internal audience

question

modified block letter style

answer

the letter style in which the dateline and closing begin at the center of the page

question

multiple audience

answer

an audience that includes readers whose points of view differ

question

multiple bar graph

answer

a graph using horizontal and vertical axes to compare data, drawn with more than one bar for each measurement

question

multiple line graph

answer

a graph using more than one line to compare data

question

objectivity

answer

an attitude signifying that no personal bias or opinion has distorted or slanted a researcher's thinking

question

online instructions

answer

instructions using computer technology as the medium; include help menus, CD- ROMs, and web-based instructions

question

online resume

answer

a type of electronic resume posted on a website

question

open-ended questions

answer

questions that encourage the respondent to provide any answer he or she likes; the questions give no suggested answers

question

organizational chart

answer

a drawing with boxes, words, and lines to show how an organization is structured

question

pace

answer

to read efficiently; to read at a rate that is slow enough to allow the mind to absorb information but fast enough to complete the reading assignment

question

pagination

answer

the assignment of sequential page numbers within a document

question

parallel structure

answer

use of the same grammatical structure of a phrase or sentence

question

paraphrase

answer

to present someone else's ideas in your own words, phrases, and sentence structure

question

passive voice

answer

the verb to be plus the past participle of the verb; used in scientific writing to focus on the process instead of the performer

question

periodic reports

answer

reports that explain the accomplishments for all projects of a work group or of an entire organization during the reporting period

question

periodicals

answer

materials published at specified intervals of time, such as magazines, journals, newsletters, and newspapers

question

personal code of ethics

answer

a personal creed or philosophy that expresses an individual's core values

question

persuasive writing

answer

writing to convince others

question

pictograph

answer

a type of bar graph that uses pictures instead of bars to represent data

question

pie graph

answer

a circular graph showing how parts relate to the whole, which equals 100 percent

question

plagiarism

answer

the act of using another person's words and/or ideas without properly documenting their source or giving credit

question

planning

answer

the first stage of the writing process, during which a writer thinks of an idea and plans how to develop and research it

question

point-by-point organization

answer

a comparison/contrast structure that covers two or three items under one criterion

question

population

answer

the group from whom you want to gather data

question

prefatory material

answer

parts or elements of a report (letter or memo of transmittal, title page, and table of contents) that come before the main text

question

previewing

answer

looking over a reading assignment before reading it; determining the subject matter and any questions about the material before reading it

question

primary audience

answer

the readers or listeners to whom you are responsible first; often the readers(s) who requested or authorized the document

question

primary sources

answer

direct or firsthand reports of facts or observations, such as an eyewitness account or a diary

question

principles

answer

rules that guide behavior

question

priority order

answer

the organization of a resume that presents information from most important to least important

question

progress reports

answer

reports that describe the work that has been completed during a specified time on only one project

question

proposal

answer

a persuasive document that offers a solution to an identified problem or need

question

PSAs

answer

an acronym for public service announcements; news published for the benefit of the public

question

public relations

answer

plans or actions taken by an individual or an organization to create a positive relationship with the public

question

publishing

answer

sending a document to the person who requested it

question

purpose

answer

a specific end or outcome to be obtained; what you want your reader to do after reading your document

question

rank

answer

the relative importance of one criterion to another; usually ranked from most important to least important

question

receptive audience

answer

readers who are open to ideas or suggestions in a recommendation report

question

recommendation report

answer

a report that responds to a need that arises in the workplace; it suggests the best solution to a problem or need, helping the readers to make a choice

question

recursive

answer

a circular or back-and-forth motion; describes the movement of the writing process back and forth between predictable stages

question

reliable data

answer

data that provide results that can be duplicated under similar circumstances

question

reporting period

answer

the time span covered by a report

question

resignation letter

answer

a letter written to an employer or a supervisor stating the writer's intention to resign his or her position with the company

question

respondents

answer

people chosen to answer questions

question

result

answer

an observable effect of an experiment

question

resume

answer

a one- or two-page summary of a person's job qualifications; uses elements of page design to highlight the applicant's most impressive qualifications

question

retrospective testing

answer

checking the usefulness of a product or an activity after someone has used the product or performed the activity

question

reverse chronological order

answer

the organization of a resume that presents information backward in time

question

revising

answer

reading a document and making changes in content, organization, and word choice

question

RFPs

answer

an acronym for request for proposal; an advertisement seeking proposals to solve a problem or fill a need and often listing criteria for the solution

question

rhetorical question

answer

a question designed to provoke thought; a question for which the speaker expects no answer

question

rights

answer

personal freedoms that must be respected

question

role

answer

the function or job someone performs at work

question

RSS

answer

an acronym for Really Simple Syndication; standardized web feed formats that allow blog posts to be sent directly to readers

question

sample

answer

a subgroup with the same characteristics as the entire population

question

scannable

answer

refers to text for the Web that allows readers to locate important words and phrases quickly, using short paragraphs and sentences, headings, lists, and keywords

question

scannable resumes

answer

resumes written to be scanned for keywords by an optical scanner

question

scientific method

answer

the use of both inductive and deductive reasoning and a system of controls to objectively explore natural phenomena

question

scope

answer

the extent of treatment, activity, or influence; what is included and what is not included; what you examine in your efforts to solve a particular problem

question

secondary audience

answer

the reader(s) to whom you are responsible after you have met the needs of the primary audience

question

secondary sources

answer

indirect or secondhand reports of information, such as the description of an event the writer or speaker did not witness

question

shaping

answer

a step early in the writing process during which a writer narrows a topic, determines a direction for a topic, generates subtopics, and organizes the subtopics

question

solicited

answer

refers to a document, such as a report, in which readers ask for several alternatives

question

solicited letter

answer

a letter of application written for an advertised position

question

solicited proposal

answer

a proposal that is written in response to an RFP or upon the request of a supervisor or manager

question

spatial order

answer

refers to mechanism descriptions that explain the parts from left to right, right to left, top to bottom, or bottom to top or in another logical pattern

question

specific audience

answer

a single person or group whose point of view is the same

question

standard

answer

a means of defining and limiting a criterion

question

step

answer

one action in a set of instructions

question

style

answer

the way an author uses words and sentences

question

subcriteria

answer

smaller categories under a category that help to define each criterion

question

summarize

answer

to condense longer material, keeping essential or main ideas and omitting unnecessary parts such as examples and illustrations

question

summary

answer

a condensed version of a piece of communication; includes general information and may include a few important details

question

target audience

answer

the audience for which a message is written; the audience with whom the writer seeks to communicate

question

technical communication

answer

communication done in the workplace; the subject is usually technical; the purpose and audience are specific; the approach is straightforward

question

technical reading

answer

reading science, business, or technology publications

question

technical vocabulary

answer

specialized words used in specific ways unique to a particular discipline

question

technical writing

answer

writing done in the workplace; the subject is usually technical, written carefully for a specific audience; the organization is predictable and apparent; the style is concise; the tone is objective and businesslike; special features include visual elements

question

tentative outline

answer

an informal, changeable plan for organizing topics and subtopics

question

testimonials

answer

personal stories or people's statements (often from famous people) that endorse a product or service

question

text file

answer

an ASCII plain text file that can be opened by most word processing programs

question

tone

answer

emotional overtones; the way words make readers feel

question

trip reports

answer

reports that tell what was accomplished during a trip and what was learned from the trip

question

unreceptive audience

answer

readers who are not open to ideas or suggestions

question

unsolicited

answer

refers to a document, such as a report, that has not been asked for; the audience is not expecting the recommendations

question

unsolicited letter

answer

a letter of application written for an unadvertised position

question

unsolicited proposal

answer

a proposal in which the writer identifies a problem or need that he or she discovered, explains it, and offers solutions

question

usability

answer

the ease with which an audience can access and use a website

question

utility

answer

a means of evaluating actions based on what will do the most good and the least harm

question

valid data

answer

data that provide an accurate measurement of what an individual intends to measure

question

values

answer

ideals that govern a person's or an organization's actions

question

verbal tables

answer

tables that use words instead of numbers and the information is given in rows and columns

question

warnings

answer

statements designed to keep a person from being harmed

question

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)

answer

a program intended to make web content available to users with a wide range of disabilities; websites should follow the program's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0

question

whistle-blower

answer

a person who publicly alleges an organization's wrongful practices

question

wiki

answer

a website that allows users to author web pages collaboratively

question

World Wide Web

answer

a collection of online resources such as websites

question

writing process

answer

the stages a writer goes through to write a document; includes planning (prewriting, shaping, researching), drafting and revising, and copyediting

Technical Writing for Success, 3rd Edition (Glossary Terms) – Flashcards

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