Technical Communication

Question 1

What is a memo?

Answer 1

• Memorandums, or memos, are brief (500-1,000-word) documents that are circulated in the workplace. Memos are a routinized document, meaning that they occur regularly as part of a daily routine.

Question 2

What is a genre?

Answer 2

• A document that recurs enough that their layout and function is recognizable
• Flexible to adapt to situations

Question 3

What is the purpose of a memo?

Answer 3

• Inform
  1. Bring attention to a problem
  2. Solve a problem
  3. Make an announcement
  4. Communicate new information
  5. Persuade the reader to take action

Question 4

Who is the audience of a memo?

Answer 4

• Colleagues

Question 5

What are the 6 sections of a memo?

Answer 5

1. Header
2. Opening
3. Context/background
4. Discussion
5. Conclusion/Action
6. Attachments

Question 6

What is the tone of a memo?

Answer 6

• Precise and professional

Question 7

What are the two questions to ask for preparing a document?

Answer 7

1. Audience?
2. Purpose?

Question 8

What 3 questions should be answered in all writing?

Answer 8

1. Purpose
2. Importance
3. Goals

Question 9

Why is genre important?

Answer 9

1. Recognizable format relays information
2. Indicates basic purpose
3. Allows audience to focus on content

Question 10

What are 3 questions that relate to presentations?

Answer 10

1. Audience?
2. Purpose?
3. Situation/context?

Question 11

What are the 4 basic types of speeches?

Answer 11

1. Inform
2. Instruct
3. Entertain
4. Persuade

Question 12

What are the 5 canons of speech?

Answer 12

1. Invention
2. Arrangement
3. Style
4. Memory
5. Delivery

Question 13

What are the key principles of assertion evidence?

Answer 13

1. Build your talk on messages (not topics)
2. Support the messages with visual evidence (charts, figures, etc.) not text

Question 14

List 8 types of presentation styles

Answer 14

1. Visual
2. Freeform
3. Instructor
4. Coach
5. Storytelling
6. Connector
7. Lessig
8. Takahashi

Question 15

What is an assertion?

Answer 15

• A forceful statement that contains quantitative information

Question 15

What are 3 myths about peer review?

Answer 15

1. Good writers get it right
2. Good writers don’t need feedback
3. Only experts can give feedback

Question 16

What is a peer reviewer?

Answer 16

• Not a teacher (don’t judge)
• Not a proofreader (don’t focus on minor issues)
• Not the writer (do not try to revise)
• First and foremost a reader
• Seek to help the writer improve

Question 16

What are critical comments?

Answer 16

• Highlight areas for improvement
• Ask clarifying questions

Question 17

What are positive comments?

Answer 17

• Highlight areas of strength
• Reinforce what’s working well

Question 18

What are low order concerns?

Answer 18

• Mechanics of writing:
• Sentence-level issues
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Punctuation
• Formatting

Question 19

What are higher order concerns?

Answer 19

• Ideas, arguments, evidence
• Overall organization and coherence
• Audience
• Tone
• Use of sources

Question 20

What are the types of comments?

Answer 20

• General
• Specific