Unit 3: Challenge 2: Terms and Objectives

Lisa, a graduate student, is working on a draft of her research paper. Which of the following suggestions should Lisa use when writing the body of her paper?

Ensure that each paragraph focuses on one idea relating to the central topic of the thesis.

Transition

In written communication, a word or phrase that helps the reader follow the writer's ideas, connect the main points to each other, and see the relationships the writer has created in the provided information.

Bob, a senior production manager at an IT firm, is required to prepare a report about a newly implemented production workflow. The report should consist of the differences between the new and the old workflow, the advantages of the new workflow over the previous workflow, and the effectiveness of the new workflow in improving production. Which organizing principle should Bob use in his report to structure data clearly and concisely?

Comparison

Ceremonial (Events, Ceremonies, or Celebrations)

Structuring your document for a ceremony involves focusing on thanking dignitaries and representatives, explaining the importance of the event, explaining the relationship of the event to the audience, and thanking the audience for participation in the event, ceremony, or celebration.

Point Pattern

Structuring your document in a series of points allows for the presentation of diverse assertions to be aligned in a cohesive argument with clear support.

Psychological

Structuring your document on the psychological aspects of the audience involves focusing on their inherent needs and wants.

Elimination

Structuring your document using the process of elimination involves outlining all the possibilities.

Definition

Structuring your document with a guiding definition allows for a clear introduction of terms and concepts while reducing the likelihood of misinterpretation.

Which of the following practices can writers use that will make it more likely for the audience to accept the information provided?

Provide credible sources of references as support for their arguments.

A newly appointed project manager intends to invite his team for a meeting to formally introduce himself. Which of the following examples effectively conveys the intended message?

As the newly appointed project manager, I would love to meet each of you. So, I am setting up a meeting for tomorrow, the 23rd of August. See you all at 1:00 p.m. in the boardroom.

Why is determining your purpose an essential element of planning a business document?

Because it will influence how effective the end product is

Which of the following statements highlights the best use of a proposal as a method of communication?

It is an effective tool used to persuade people to adopt the suggested solutions to overcome existing problems.

Brett, a graduate student, decides to prepare an outline before he begins working on his research paper. Which of the following suggestions should Brett use when outlining his paper?

Place the major ideas that support the thesis in separate paragraphs after the thesis statement in a sequential manner.

Usman is required to write a research paper for his graduate program. Which of the following suggestions should Usman use when writing the thesis statement for his paper?

Provide a definable and arguable claim in the thesis statement.

Contrast

Structuring your document by using contrasting points highlights the differences between items and concepts.

Joe is an architect working for a design company. He is required to write a document describing the design of the building he is currently constructing. Which organizing principle should Joe use to effectively describe the building?

Space

Testimonial

Structuring your document around a testimony, or first person account of an experience, can be an effective way to make an abstract concept clearer to an audience.

Ascending and Descending

Structuring your document by ascending or descending order involves focusing on quantity and quality. One good story (quality) leads to the larger picture, or the reverse.

Biographical

Structuring your document by biography means examining specific people as they relate to the central topic.

Cause and Effect

Structuring your document by cause and effect establishes a relationship between two events or situations, making the connection clear.

Classification (Categorical)

Structuring your document by classification establishes categories.

Comparison

Structuring your document by comparison focuses on the similarities and/or differences between points or concepts.

Example

Structuring your document by example involves providing vivid, specific examples (as opposed to abstract representations of data) to support main points.

Problem and Solution

Structuring your document by problem and solution means you state the problem and detail how it was solved. This approach is effective for persuasive documents.

Process and Procedure

Structuring your document by process and procedure is similar to the time (chronological) organizational pattern with the distinction of steps or phases that lead to a complete end goal. This is often referred to as the "how-to" organizational pattern.

Space (Spatial)

Structuring your document by space involves examining the parts of something and how they fit together to form the whole.

Time (Chronological)

Structuring your document by time shows a series of events or steps in a process, which typically has a beginning, middle, and end. "Once upon a time stories" follow a chronological pattern.

An internal memo distributed to an organization reads as follows: "The attendance for the leadership conference has been made mandatory. The managers should be present. The individual contributors should also be present." If you had to rewrite the given excerpt using an appropriate transition, which of the following sentences would effectively convey the message?

The attendance for the leadership conference has been made mandatory not just for the managers, but also for the individual contributors.

Lisa, the managing director at Green Corp Inc., is writing a speech about the three main concerns the company is currently facing. Which of the following examples uses an effective transition to convey the message?

The company is currently dealing with three major concerns. Firstly, the global pandemic, which has caused a considerable amount of loss, both monetary and personal. Secondly, the incapacity of the workers to travel to the workplace. Lastly, the lack of potential clients.

Credibility

The perception of a message's integrity based on an association with the source.

To celebrate International Workers Day, an organization's HR department decides to create an article that depicts advancements in labor laws seen through the decades with visual examples. Which organizing principle should the writer use in the article to structure data clearly and concisely?

Time