imperative/continuance/directive (was: Tech Writer screening questions)

[Philip Sharman <psharman -at- verity -dot- com>]

All right, I'll bite.  What is an "imperative", "continuance", and 
"directive"?  I've never heard these terms before and they aren't in my 
dictionary (at least, not in the sense that I believe they are being used 
here).  Where are these terms used?  Are they from rhetoric theory?  They 
aren't grammar terms that I'm familiar with (although I grew up overseas so 
I may know them by another name).

For the moment, let's disregard the question of whether these are good 
screening questions ... I just want to have my curiosity satisfied.

        Thanks,
           Philip.