Business Comm. Ch 3
Identify the correct pattern of a complex sentence.
An independent clause and a dependent clause
Read the following message and identify the organizational pattern used. Your bonuses will be in your next paycheck. The sales department exceeded its goals this month. Congratulations! In this message, the _____________ organizational pattern is used.
Direct
Read the following message and identify the organizational pattern used. Your report scores are due to Paolo, senior project manager, by 2:00 p.m. on Friday. These reports don't require a lot of time and last year were impeccably written. I know you will do a great job.
Direct
Read the following scenario and determine if the situation requires a direct or indirect message. You are going on a business trip to Singapore to deliver a proposal to a potential client. You have finished proofing the last part of the presentation, and you need your coworker to doublecheck the statistics in your presentation before you go.
Direct
In some cases it is necessary to de-emphasize an idea, such as bad news. Does the following selection emphasize or de-emphasize the bad news? Congratulations! We would like to offer you the summer internship position.
Emphasize
Parallel sentences are balanced and easy for readers to understand. Choose which sentence has the better parallel structure.
If you write well, speak well, and use good interpersonal skills, you will do well in this corporation.
Read the following scenario and determine if the situation requires a direct or indirect message. You have just been offered a promotion that your friend and coworker, Sharon, has been hoping for. Sharon knows that you had a scheduled meeting with your boss today and sends you an e-mail asking how your meeting went. You know Sharon will be upset when she hears the news of your promotion; however, she is a good friend, and you need to be honest and tell her in your response e-mail.
Indirect
Determine which research method is being used in the following scenario. You are asked to compose a job description for the position of director of sales for SaveWell. This is a position you once held, so you are familiar with the requirements and qualifications. Before beginning to write, you look in the files for past descriptions and check with your supervisor about details to include.
Informal research
Read the following scenario, and determine which is the best research approach. You need to compose an e-mail informing coworkers of an upcoming bowling party.
Informal. Look at past flyers for this event, ask coworkers what kind of food they would like to have at the party, and ask which bowling alley they prefer.
Read the following scenario, and determine which is the best research approach. As a library board member, you are asked to write an e-mail to people who have donated books to the library. The message will inform them of an upcoming banquet honoring all supporters of the library.
Informal. Verify the banquet date and time by looking at past invitations in your files and talking to the library staff regarding scheduling. Then gather all of the donors' names and e-mail addresses from the library contact sheet and send the message.
Which of the following is a benefit to using an indirect strategy?
It minimizes negative reaction
The use of ___________ conveys special meaning.
Italics and boldface
Select the correct version of each pair of the following sentences.
Local markets have become saturated, so companies now look to other countries for further expansion. If you can write well, you can represent your company well. Employees today aren't hired only for their knowledge. Their ability to learn new things is also vital. The communication process works fluidly. It moves from one step to the next often without pause. To ensure clear communication, use precise words to convey your ideas.
Read the following selections and identify the sentence error. Cell phones enhance communication with colleagues they overcome barriers imposed by time or space.
Run-on
Using a direct opening strategy ______________.
Saves the reader time
Identify which informal research technique would be most appropriate for each situation. You receive a voice mail from your supervisor asking you to compile a list of talking points for an upcoming interview on the Morning News Show. The best informal information gathering technique to find out the details of what your boss expects would be to:
Talk with your boss
When you compose messages, you may use the active or passive voice to convey meaning. Most business messages use the active voice. Which of the following are instances when you would use the passive voice in a business message? Check all that apply.
To emphasize an action instead of the recipient of an action To conceal the doer of an action
To help organize your thoughts before writing, you should ________________.
Use a scratch list or outline
Outlines give you a chance to organize your thinking before determining word choice and sentence structure. Which of the following will help you create a more effective outline? Check all that apply.
Use evidence to support subpoints Put the main idea in the title Include 3 to 5 major components
Which of the following are techniques that you can use to help the reader follow your ideas? Check all that apply.
Use pronouns to refer to previous nouns. Repeat a key idea by using the same expression or a similar one.
Which questions should you ask yourself in order to avoid frustration and inaccurate messages? Check all that apply.
How is the receiver to take action? What action should the receiver take? What does the receiver need to know about this topic?
Does the following sentence use the active or passive voice? Refreshments will be served.
Passive
Limiting your sentences to __________ will help the reader comprehend the message.
20 words or fewer
Which one of the following techniques will help you control the length of your paragraphs?
Break large topics into smaller segments.
Identify the sentence pattern of the following sentence. Katherine should proofread the recommendation report, and you should finish the slide deck for the presentation.
Compound
Consider the following scenario and identify which formal research method would be appropriate. Your division has been asked to compile a recommendation for the price point for an innovative software application. You need to know how much customers will be willing to pay and under what circumstances.
Conduct a scientific experiment.
Identify which informal research technique would be most appropriate for each situation. After complaining about parking accommodations at your office, you have been asked by your boss to propose a simple solution that will satisfy your coworkers. The best informal information gathering technique for this situation would be to:
Conduct an informal survey
Consider the following scenario and identify which formal research method would be appropriate. George has been asked to prepare a presentation documenting customer reaction to his company's recently released hand-held GPS device. He needs to know what customers think.
Conduct primary research for firsthand information.
Which of the following emphasizes the main idea?
Congratulations! We would like to offer you the position of senior analyst.
Which of the following is a situation that might call for an indirect strategy?
Facilitates a fair hearing
Determine which research method is being used in the following scenario. Dina knows very little about the migratory habits of the flamingo, but she is told to give an extensive report about them to a panel of ornithologists. In order to prepare, she spends three days in the library reviewing magazines and journal articles, searching academic databases, and identifying primary sources.
Formal research
You can also improve your messages through stylistic emphasis in sentence structure and word choice. Which of the following stylistic devices can be used to achieve emphasis? Check all that apply.
Give important information the spotlight. Avoid general words. Label the main idea.
"The Boston Hotel" What are three subcategories in the previous scratch list?
High-end linens, affordability, food and drink
Scratch lists and outlines give you a chance to________.
Organize your thoughts before writing
Outlines give you a chance to organize your thinking before determining word choice and sentence structure. Which of the following will help you create a more effective outline? Check all that apply.
Put the main idea in the title Strive for three to five major components Move single subpoint to larger groups
The last time the board met, members discussed sending Fui to Tokyo for training on HumanPoint software, but she isn't working with HumanPoint any longer because we decided to use Point I software rather than HumanPoint, and she will no longer need to attend this training. The problem in this ineffective selection is:
Sentence length/comprehension rate
Using a direct opening strategy ______________.
Sets a proper frame of mind
"The Boston Hotel" Which group includes specific supporting detail that could be added to the previous scratch list?
Sparkling water, evening wine tasting, four-star hotel restaurant
As a member of the crisis management team, you are required to attend our biannual crisis management workshops. These workshops will prepare you to lead your division in the event of a company crisis. The workshops always take place during the second week in January, and they are held at our headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Workshop registration information is available on the company website. Identify the function of the sentence The workshops always take place during the second week in January, and they are held at our headquarters in Dallas, Texas.
Support sentence
Which questions should you ask yourself in order to avoid frustration and inaccurate messages? Check all that apply.
When must the receiver take action? What will happen if the receiver does not take action? What action does the receiver need to take?
Which of the following is a situation that might call for an indirect strategy? Check all that apply.
You are terminating an employee. You need to inform your boss that she has made a significant error in her data calculations.
Which of the following is a situation that might call for an indirect strategy? Check all that apply.
You need to convince your coworkers to adopt a new software program that they don't understand. You are sending a past-due notice on an account. You need to fire your receptionist.
