Midterm
Avoid taking calls during business meetings.
t
Readers will see your writing as unoriginal and even monotonous if you add the ending -ize to transform nouns into verbs (such as agenda into agendize).
t
Using positive expressions helps you build goodwill among audience members.
t
When you use the direct organizational plan for a neutral message, you present the details before the primary idea.
t
When writing about a sensitive topic, you might use euphemisms rather than words that could offend your audience.
true
When you develop your résumé, you should focus on how your work background and education have prepared you for future jobs.
true
Without identifying the primary audience for a message, you cannot know whether you've achieved your goal.
true
For an important meeting, the next best alternative format to face-to-face, is a(n)
video conference
Two expressions that carry negative connotations are
will not and cannot.
You've finished proofreading when
you read through the entire message without making any changes.
To parepare for a video or phone interview,
Practice
Which of the following is not a guideline for adopting the "you" attitude?
Show how you and the reader will both benefit.
Groupthink results when a team's cohesiveness suppresses the free flow of ideas.
T
Concise writing, short paragraphs, and formal style are hallmarks of writing for the web.
f
Cover letters may be sent as email attachment in addition to your résumé.
f
Groups should discourage debate about work issues because this prevents cohesive decisions from being implemented on time.
f
Team members are likely to be more open to your comments if you speak in specifics rather than exaggerating.
f
The purpose of a paragraph is to group topic sentences in logical order for the reader's convenience.
f
When traveling abroad to conduct business, Americans should display an attitude of ethnocentrism.
f
Communication flows in an orderly, linear manner from one stage to the next.
false
IMs are quick, short, and once sent are gone forever.
false
Multitasking while making a business call is acceptable in most cases.
false
Repeating a particular word in several sentences within a paragraph highlights separate ideas and demonstrates parallelism.
false
Technology that allows multitasking is likely to result in more efficient and accurate workplace communication.
false
Typically, people are willing to spend time reading long blocks of text on websites that they have selected themselves.
false
A paragraph lacks unity when it contains sentences or details that are not directly related to the topic.
True
Engaging graphics, useful content, and helpful links on company websites are more user-friendly than well-crafted paragraphs of text.
True
Free writing is a method that helps some writers get past writer's block.
True
In almost all cultures, adults usually use higher-pitched voices when speaking to children.
True
Lean media are best for routine, neutral, and simple messages.
True
No Response" (ignoring) is a valid option for companies finding positive comments online.
True
Rather than eliminating long words from your business communication, use them in moderation when appropriate.
True
The direct approach is recommended for goodwill messages, even those conveying sympathy.
True
You can avoid polarization if you choose words that take the middle ground rather than words that represent an extreme position.
True
You should not include personal information such as marital status or ethnicity on your résumé.
True
Why should you prepare an agenda even for informal meetings?
it will help focus the attention of the participants
____ is the ability to put yourself in the reader's position and to understand that person's situation, feelings, motives, and needs.
Empathy
Which of the following statements is not true of wikis?
Even simple wikis require a small financial investment.
Using humor during business meetings with international contacts is effective at setting everyone at ease.
F
When writing a sympathy note, do not dwell on your memories of the person who died.
F
Although body language varies from culture to culture, the implications of key signals such as direct eye contact are universally understood.
False
Cover letters may be sent as email attachment in addition to your résumé.
False
The communication skill we use most is speaking.
False
The first step of the writing process is to compose a first draft of the message.
False
Typically, people are willing to spend time reading long blocks of text on websites that they have selected themselves.
False
When we use language that respects people's dignity and highlights a person rather than his or her disability, we say we are applying ____ language.
people-first
Which of these is a compound sentence?
Jill will photocopy the letters, and Adam will type the envelopes.
Which of the following sentences should be rewritten so it does not focus on the reader?
You should have written a more in-depth report.
A request is not neutral if you
believe that the reader will object to granting your request.
Which of the following is an abstract word?
communication
When you modify a document to increase its effectiveness, you revise it for
content, style, and correctness.
A microblog cannot help you
convey a complex, nuanced message.
Which of the following is inappropriate office behavior?
eating lunch while on the phone
Readers may think you are unsure of yourself if you use self-conscious phrases such as I hope in your messages.
true
Changes in the ethnic composition of the U.S. population will profoundly affect the way you conduct business and communicate with others.
true
It is important to schedule VoIP calls ahead of time to ensure that any technical difficulties can be resolved well before the meeting is to take place.
true
A platitude is
trite