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Subject:Re: Tech Writer screening questions From:rickk -at- slmd -dot- com To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com Date:Wed, 14 Jun 2000 11:08:20 -0700
I've been a published writer and college teacher of writing for 20 years
and I don't even understand these questions. What, in the context of tech
writing, is a "continuance"? A "directive"? (I presume by "imperative" you
mean imperative mood sentence. If not, then I need to know what
"imperative" is too.)
What continuance and directive should follow the following imperatives (to
give them "quality and depth"?
"Click OK."
"Select Utilities from the File menu."
"Double-click the icon."
What does it mean to say that text structure has depth?
Finally, your answer to your own question about prescriptive vs.
descriptive is wrong: A recommendation is no less prescriptive than a
requirement, and descriptive prose includes lots more than just
definitions.
>How about the following:
> Q: In what instance would you use an imperative vs a continuance vs a
> directive?
> A: i don't know = not very experienced
> A: An imperative is a ____ and is used to ____; A continuance is a ____
> and is used to _______; A directive is a _____ and is used to ______ =
> somewhat experienced or freshly graduated from college grammar
> A: A document has quality and depth if all imperatives are followed
>by a continuance and have a directive. An example from my portfolio is
______ = experienced
> Q: How do you distinguish prescriptive from descriptive?
> A: Prescriptive would apply to the writing of requirements while
> descriptive would apply to the writing of definitions.
>
> Q: What tool do you use to check the readability of a document?
>
> Q: When does text structure matter and how do you test its depth?
>
> Q: When does the size of the document matter and how do you test it?
