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WorksheetsG&L Chapter 3, "Providing Audiences with Usable Information"
Total questions: 62
Worksheet time: 1hrs 1mins
A document's usability is...
a statement of the point you are trying to prove
the measure of how well that document fulfills the information needs of its audience.
claims about what the facts are, what the facts mean, and what should be done
a clear purpose statement
an outline based on the previous considerations in this chapter
Whatever their specific goals and concerns in using a particular document, readers must be able to do at least three things: _(1)_ the information they need __(2)__; _(3)__ the information __(4)__; and use the information __(5)__ and successfully.
1) locate; 2) easily; 3) safely; 4) immediately; 5) understand
1) safely; 2) easily; 3) understand; 4) immediately; 5) locate
1) easily; 2) locate; 3) understand; 4) immediately; 5) safely
1) locate; 2) easily; 3) understand; 4) immediately; 5) safely
To prepare a usable document, you must first analyze the document's...
task
audience
purpose
information
Next, you must determine the document's...
task
audience
purpose
information
Third, you should create a(n) _____ analysis for the document.
task
audience
purpose
information
Fourth, you should consider the...
constraints (e.g., time, organizational, legal, ethical, social, and psychological)
outline based on the previous considerations in this chapter
clear purpose statement
setting, potential problems, length, format, timing, and budget
organization, style, layout and visuals, and ethical, legal, and cultural considerations
Fifth, you should develop an _____ plan for the document.
task
audience
purpose
informational
Finally, you should __(1)__, __(2)___, and __(3)__ the document.
1) what; 2) who; 3) entrenched
1) write; 2) test; 3) revise
1) write; 2) who; 3) entrenched
1) write; 2) test; 3) entrenched
What is the very first question you should ask when you begin to create a document?
Who is the main audience for this document?
Who else is likely to read it?
What will readers do with this information?
How much information is enough?
What is another important question to consider at the start?
Who is the main audience for this document?
Who else is likely to read it?
How much information is enough?
What will readers do with this information?
(Select all that apply.) What are other important questions to ask when analyzing a document's audience?
What is your relationship with the audience? Are there multiple types of relationships involved?
How familiar might the audience be with technical details?
What culture or cultures does your audience represent?
What media format is best for this audience?
Most documents are geared toward an immediate audience. This is your _____ audience.
primary
secondary
Most documents also have a ______ audience--those outside the immediate circle of people who will be needing the information directly.
primary
secondary
T/F: All audiences can be divided into subgroups based on factors like experience and level of familiarity with a topic.
True
False
In cases where you can't be certain about the range of audiences who might read your document online, you can provide _____ directing readers to information written for people with different levels of technical expertise.
links
cultural
comprehensive
relationships
reasonable
Information needs and preferences are often ______ determined.
swiftly
culturally
comprehensively
relationally
reasonably
To create an effective technical document, you need to understand ____ the readers will use it. In other words, determine your purpose.
where
when
how
who
After determining a document's primary and secondary purposes, what should you ask?
Who is the main audience for this document?
Who else is likely to read it?
How much information is enough?
What will readers do with this information?
Which level of purpose affects the document's overall shape and substance?
primary
secondary
You should always write a ______ purpose statement. In other words, you should account for the primary and secondary purposes for the document.
links
cultural
comprehensive
relationships
reasonable
When considering the intended use of a document, you should ask yourself a variety of questions as well as try to...
ask members of your audience directly
define the main tasks
divide the larger tasks into several smaller tasks
Even the most complex report, which at first glance may be all "facts," can be persuasive because...
the writer probably shaped the report to favor a particular interpretation of the data
of constraints (e.g., time, organizational, legal, ethical, social, and psychological)
of setting, potential problems, length, format, timing, and budget
When considering the setting, you are determining ____ the document will be used and factors of the surrounding environment.
where
when
how
who
When considering the potential _____, you are anticipating what might go wrong.
deadlines
problems
background research
information
test
When preparing instructions, you should plan on...
deadlines
problems
background research
information
test
When considering length, you should ask yourself...
Who is the main audience for this document?
Who else is likely to read it?
How much information is enough?
What will readers do with this information?
When considering format, you should ask yourself about what your audience _______. You should also determine if any legal or additional reasons would necessitate a particular format.
knows
expects
reads
infers
When considering timing, you should consider the currency of your information in addition to _________.
deadlines
problems
background research
information
test
Once you have a clear picture of the audience, purpose, tasks, and related factors, you can draft an _______ plan.
deadlines
problems
background research
informational
test
What is an information plan?
a statement of the point you are trying to prove
the measure of how well that document fulfills the information needs of its audience.
claims about what the facts are, what the facts mean, and what should be done
a clear purpose statement
an outline based on the previous considerations in this chapter
How should you begin an information plan?
a statement of the point you are trying to prove
the measure of how well that document fulfills the information needs of its audience.
claims about what the facts are, what the facts mean, and what should be done
a clear purpose statement
an outline based on the previous considerations in this chapter
Once you have a workable draft, you should _____ the document on potential readers, if possible.
deadlines
problems
background research
informational
test
Your success in persuasion will depend on __(1)___ you are requesting, __(2)__ you are trying to persuade, and how __(3)____ those people are in their own views.
1) what; 2) who; 3) entrenched
1) write; 2) test; 3) revise
1) write; 2) who; 3) entrenched
1) write; 2) test; 3) entrenched
What is a claim?
a statement of the point you are trying to prove
the measure of how well that document fulfills the information needs of its audience.
claims about what the facts are, what the facts mean, and what should be done
a clear purpose statement
an outline based on the previous considerations in this chapter
What are the three types of claims illustrated in this section?
a statement of the point you are trying to prove
the measure of how well that document fulfills the information needs of its audience.
claims about what the facts are, what the facts mean, and what should be done
a clear purpose statement
an outline based on the previous considerations in this chapter
Whenever people disagree about the substance of these claims, you need to make the best case for your own view by presenting an argument that is not only __(1)___ but that also __(2)__ with your audience.
1) time; 2) medium
1) useful; 2) confusing
1) well-supported; 2) connects
1) watch; 2) measure
Which of these images depict the power connection approach?
Which of these images depict the relationship connection approach?
Which of these images depict the rational connection approach?
This connection approach does get people to do as instructed, but it almost always alienates them.
rational
power
relationship
Often, the biggest variable in a persuasive message is the reader's ______ of the writer.
knowledge
perception
This type of connection approach is vital in cross-cultural communication--as long as it does not sound too "chummy" and informal to carry any real authority.
rational
power
relationship
This type of connection approach values the reader's intelligence and works with any reasonable audience.
rational
power
relationship
Complete the strategy statement: _____ your audience's reaction.
Question
Influence
Anticipate
Complete the strategy statement: Ask for what your audience will consider _______, not outlandish.
links
cultural
comprehensive
relationships
reasonable
Complete the strategy statement: Allow for ________. (In other words, be flexible in your argument.)
context
constraints (e.g., time, organizational, legal, ethical, social, and psychological)
tests
give-and-take
Complete the strategy statement: Recognize ____________.
context
constraints (e.g., time, organizational, legal, ethical, social, and psychological)
tests
give-and-take
Complete the strategy statement: Consider the cultural _______.
context
constraints (e.g., time, organizational, legal, ethical, social, and psychological)
tests
give-and-take
Complete the strategy statement: Choose the right __(1)___ and right __(2)__.
1) time; 2) medium
1) useful; 2) confusing
1) well-supported; 2) connects
1) watch; 2) measure
T/F: Most technical documents entail a series of tasks to be completed.
True
False
A ____ analysis allows you to think through the step-by-step nature of your document before you write it.
problem
task
feasibility
indestructibility
What is the first step of a task analysis?
Ask members of your audience directly
Define the main tasks
Divide the larger tasks into several smaller tasks
What is the next step of a task analysis?
Ask members of your audience directly
Define the main tasks
Divide the larger tasks into several smaller tasks
What is another term for the smaller tasks in a task analysis?
subtasks
pre-tasks
post-tasks
inter-tasks
Both the tasks and the subtasks should be listed using _____ verb forms.
passive
active
You can determine these tasks by _______ your audience (e.g., customers) and watching them perform each step to complete the project or process.
influencing
interviewing
gathering
posting
Your document will be most useful if you know what your audience needs to ____ in order to produce the desired results.
say
think
do
teach
When you test a document, you should ask people what they find __(1)___ and what they find ___(2)___.
1) time; 2) medium
1) useful; 2) confusing
1) well-supported; 2) connects
1) watch; 2) measure
If you are writing instructions, you should __(1)___ people use the document and __(2)__ their ability to perform the task based on what you have written.
1) time; 2) medium
1) useful; 2) confusing
1) well-supported; 2) connects
1) watch; 2) measure
When assessing a document's usability, you should consider content (and the previous factors) in addition to...
constraints (e.g., time, organizational, legal, ethical, social, and psychological)
outline based on the previous considerations in this chapter
clear purpose statement
setting, potential problems, length, format, timing, and budget
organization, style, layout and visuals, and ethical, legal, and cultural considerations
What is the final step in creating a usable document?
revising
editing
proofreading
drafting
T/F: Regardless of how engaging and informative a document is, basic errors distract the reader and make the writer look careless.
True
False
