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      #1 (permalink)  
    Old 08-04-2007, 02:30 PM
    xn85turbo xn85turbo is offline
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    Default DSST Technical Writing

    There is nothing (study guides, except Jacks out of print book) for this exam. Has anyone taking this in the last few years and what did you use? I searched the site and very few posts about this exam. Yes it is a requirement for me to take.
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      #2 (permalink)  
    Old 08-04-2007, 03:14 PM
    studyhard studyhard is offline
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    I didn't have any trouble finding and ordering the Rudman's guide...I have to do this exam too pretty soon. Check out this link:

    Amazon.com: DSST Technical Writing (DANTES series) (Dantes Series : No. 43): Books: Jack Rudman

    Looks like it was updated in 2004.
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    Old 08-04-2007, 05:08 PM
    originalbigjim originalbigjim is offline
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    i took it last year, very easy exam. I went in there cold, no studying at all. I bought the book listed on the fact sheet, and compared the contents page to the practice test and they didnt even match up. so i didnt read it. If you have ever read a technical publication or know what they are for you should do fine. if not you might want to find that out. oh yeah know the different types of media, journal, book, magazine and tech pub. besides that it was pretty easy.
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    Old 08-04-2007, 09:39 PM
    cookderosa cookderosa is offline
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    Quote:
    Originally Posted by xn85turbo
    There is nothing (study guides, except Jacks out of print book) for this exam. Has anyone taking this in the last few years and what did you use? I searched the site and very few posts about this exam. Yes it is a requirement for me to take.
    >>

    I took it last month. I printed off the practice test and outline from the DSST website The DSST Program
    You can google a few terms to be sure you understand them. Do you have any experience writing in the workplace? Memos, formal letters, instructions for others to follow? I have done those at work, as well as writing recipes for students- which is the essence of technical writing. Specific and concise directions for others to follow. If you have done anything like that, you are probably already prepared. If you don't do those things already, you can google "technical writing" and you'll get a few documents that you can read. It wasn't a difficult exam in my opinion. I found the other 2 DSST exams I took to both be much more difficult (Drugs/Alcohol and Civil War)
    You will want to look up the basics of a technical manual. Specifically, what the trade names for various sections are called. There were questions about which sections would contain various items. (table of contents, index, tables, etc.)
    The exam will in essence be asking you "what is your roll as the writer" as opposed to English comp where you are the reader/learner interpreting the material.
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    Old 08-07-2007, 10:44 AM
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    Thanks, y'all, for the great posts! Its hard to find info on the Tech Writing exam. Has anyone taken the paid practice exam on the DANTES site?


    I'm taking this one Thursday at 10am. I have been studying out of Technical Writing Basics by Brian Holloway (sm pb), Handbook of Technical Writing by Charles Beusaw and Walter Olin and Schaum's Quick Guide to Great Business Writing. Bought Tech Writing for Dummies but I find some of the Dummies books aggravating because of their jokes and frills; Needless to say, I read it only briefly. My approach is: give me the principles and the basics and some examples so I can apply them .

    Now, back to studying.
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    DSST: Technical Writing

    Last edited by Southron Boy : 08-07-2007 at 10:47 AM.
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    Old 08-10-2007, 01:09 AM
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    This test wasn't near what I was bracing myself for. Focuses heavily on Memos, Reports, Proposals. Also many questions on editing technical and business sentences for diction and grammar.

    Needed a 46, as you know. Passed with a 62. Thanks again for the great feedback y'all!
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    DSST: Technical Writing
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      #7 (permalink)  
    Old 08-10-2007, 01:19 AM
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    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Southron Boy
    Needed a 46, as you know. Passed with a 62. Thanks again for the great feedback y'all!


    Great Job - Congrats!!
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    Old 08-10-2007, 01:01 PM
    Kiwi Lover Kiwi Lover is offline
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    Thanks for the feedback guys. I have now set up a thread for this exam in the Specific Exam Feedback section, so if anyone else takes this exam, please feel free to add your own input to that section. Thanks!

    JoAnne
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    Old 08-10-2007, 05:44 PM
    cookderosa cookderosa is offline
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    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Southron Boy
    This test wasn't near what I was bracing myself for. Focuses heavily on Memos, Reports, Proposals. Also many questions on editing technical and business sentences for diction and grammar.

    Needed a 46, as you know. Passed with a 62. Thanks again for the great feedback y'all!
    >>

    Yeah! Good Job! I felt a little guilty letting you spend all that money on prep books
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      #10 (permalink)  
    Old 08-13-2007, 09:38 AM
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    Southron Boy Southron Boy is offline
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    Thanks everyone!


    Cook,

    Now I feel guilty buying the books ...
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    CLEP: English Comp w/ essay, English Comp w/o essay, American Gov't, U.S. History I, A & I Lit, Humanities, Intro Sociology, Intro to Psyc, Human Growth & Development, Intro to Ed Psyc, Prin of Management, Prin of Marketing, Business Law

    DSST: Technical Writing
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