Advanced professional development
Which task are you most likely to do during the second pass of proofreading? Check for adequate white space. Look for language mechanics errors. Imagine how the audience will respond. Ask yourself if you are confident in your facts. See if you have made logical errors.
Look for language mechanics errors.
Which statement about active voice and passive voice is true? Group of answer choices The active voice diverts attention from the doer. People tend to think in a doer-action-object pattern. The active voice is best when you do not want to attribute blame. People tend to sound bossy when using the passive voice. The passive voice places the object first.
People tend to think in a doer-action-object pattern.
Which guideline should be followed to ensure that you are including the information that is necessary for your message? Use longer, more unusual words to "sound smart" and increase the credibility of your message. Avoid parallel language as it can distract the readers from the main message you want to deliver. Include all the information you need by eliminating as much white space as possible. Plan, write, and review your message strategically to provide all relevant information, but nothing irrelevant. Use the active voice to avoid blaming others or sounding too bossy.
Plan, write, and review your message strategically to provide all relevant information, but nothing irrelevant.
Which statement about buzzwords is true? They make text more active. They are clichéd due to overuse. They have very technical meanings. They shorten the length of the message. They improve a message's accuracy.
They are clichéd due to overuse.
Which statement accurately describes the use of figures of speech, such as idioms and metaphors, in business writing? They should be avoided because they lack specificity. They send the signal that the writer is out of touch with the audience. They are an effective way to write more concisely. They should be avoided because they are too I-centered. They are an effective way to make a message more natural.
They should be avoided because they lack specificity.
Which statement accurately describes the use of figures of speech, such as idioms and metaphors, in business writing? Group of answer choices They should be avoided because they lack specificity. They send the signal that the writer is out of touch with the audience. They are an effective way to write more concisely. They should be avoided because they are too I-centered. They are an effective way to make a message more natural.
They should be avoided because they lack specificity.
Using the active voice while writing business messages diverts the attention from the subject. makes the writer sound less bossy. allows for faster processing of the business message. makes the message difficult to navigate. is useful when the writer wants to avoid assigning blame.
allows for faster processing of the business message.
Donna has written a proposal for a new initiative. Which action will help her evaluate how her message will impact stakeholders? Group of answer choices doing a first pass of proofreading applying the FAIR test doing a second pass of proofreading consulting the design department using the AIM planning process
applying the FAIR test
During which step in the AIM planning process should you consider the constraints your readers face? Group of answer choices message development information gathering audience analysis process review initial brainstorming
audience analysis
During which step in the AIM planning process should you consider the constraints your readers face? message development information gathering audience analysis process review initial brainstorming
audience anaylsis
In content and form, a business message should typically Group of answer choices avoid any form of self-centeredness. exaggerate facts. avoid using diplomatic terms. avoid using strong analogies. slant facts skillfully.
avoid any form of self-centerednes
In content and form, a business message should typically avoid any form of self-centeredness. exaggerate facts. avoid using diplomatic terms. avoid using strong analogies. slant facts skillfully.
avoid any self centeredness
Which action is most likely to help you write concisely? using longer sentences avoiding redundancy using more prepositional phrases avoiding the active voice using buzzwords
avoiding redundancy
To ensure the completeness of a business message, be sure to be specific. avoid empty phrases. avoid redundancies. control paragraph length. use action verbs.
be specific
Most business arguments employ a deductive approach. When employing this approach, you are most likely to Group of answer choices avoid stating your position regarding any business issue. provide supporting reasons first followed by the primary message. begin by stating the primary message, which is typically a recommendation. begin by making a call to action for your audience to follow. begin by stating the supporting reasons followed by your call to action.
begin by stating the primary message, which is typically a recommendation.
A survey of recruiters found that the most sought after characteristic of writing style is being accurate. being concise. avoiding redundancy. avoiding buzzwords. using parallel language.
being accurate
Which action is most likely to positively influence readers' perceptions of credibility? being wordy being specific using buzzwords starting sentences with "There are" using prepositional phrases
being specific
What is typically included in the planning stage of writing an effective business message? Group of answer choices setting a positive and other-oriented tone making the message easy to read making the message easy to navigate ensuring that the communication is fair identifying the primary message and key points
dentifying the primary message and key points
The use of we-voice in a business message Group of answer choices fails to reflect the interests of the audience. indicates that the writer has not reached any conclusions. decreases the credibility of the message. emphasizes the writer's shared interests with the reader. indicates that the writer is slanting the message.
emphasizes the writer's shared interests with the reader.
What is typically included in the reviewing stage of writing an effective business message? Group of answer choices setting a positive and other-oriented tone ensuring that the communication is fair finding the needs of the audience identifying the primary message and key points making the message easy to navigate
ensuring that the communication is fair
In order to be accurate, a business message must be concise. exact. short. redundant. general.
exact
One way to solve the problem of overly lengthy paragraphs is to include more figures of speech. focus on one idea or topic in each paragraph. use passive voice instead of active. start more sentences with "There is." replace verbs with prepositional phrases.
focus on one idea or topic in each paragraph
One way to solve the problem of overly lengthy paragraphs is to Group of answer choices include more figures of speech. focus on one idea or topic in each paragraph. use passive voice instead of active. start more sentences with "There is." replace verbs with prepositional phrases.
focus on one idea or topic in each paragraph.
The use of familiar words in business messages is most likely to distract attention from the message. decrease the credibility of the message. cause the readers' attention to wander because of boredom. decrease the specificity of the message. help the readers to process the information easily.
help the readers to process the information easily.
The use of familiar words in business messages is most likely to Group of answer choices distract attention from the message. decrease the credibility of the message. cause the readers' attention to wander because of boredom. decrease the specificity of the message. help the readers to process the information easily.
help the readers to process the information easily.
A business message that primarily relies on the ________ shows that the message is self-centered. you-voice we-voice I-voice impersonal voice other-oriented voice
i-voice
In the context of dealing with business problems, what should ideally be the first step? analyzing the business problem clarifying business objectives formulating an alternative business plan identifying the business problem acquiring data about the business problem
identifying the business problem
What is typically included in the planning stage of writing an effective business message? setting a positive and other-oriented tone making the message easy to read making the message easy to navigate ensuring that the communication is fair identifying the primary message and key points
identifying the primary message and key points
Which task are you most likely to do during the first pass of proofreading? Check for grammatical errors. Look for typographical mistakes. Imagine how the audience will respond. Check for problems with the writing style. Look for issues with language mechanics.
imagine how the audience will respond
The difference between the deductive approach and the inductive approach is in the inductive approach, the order of supporting ideas is unimportant. in the inductive approach, the supporting reasons are placed before the primary message. in the deductive approach, the supporting reasons follow the call to action. in the deductive approach, positions are based on assumptions, not facts. in the deductive approach, the business argument concludes with the primary message.
in the inductive approach, the supporting reasons are placed before the primary message.
The difference between the deductive approach and the inductive approach is Group of answer choices in the inductive approach, the order of supporting ideas is unimportant. in the inductive approach, the supporting reasons are placed before the primary message. in the deductive approach, the supporting reasons follow the call to action. in the deductive approach, positions are based on assumptions, not facts. in the deductive approach, the business argument concludes with the primary message
in the inductive approach, the supporting reasons are placed before the primary message.
Which element is most likely to negatively influence readers' perceptions of credibility? long paragraphs inaccurate statements generous white space passive voice nonparallel language
inaccurate statements
Which element is most likely to negatively influence readers' perceptions of credibility? Group of answer choices long paragraphs inaccurate statements generous white space passive voice nonparallel language
inaccurate statements
Readers are more likely to react positively to a message if the writer uses current technology. is clearly concerned about the issues discussed. is a subordinate or an equal in the organization. asks them to draw their own conclusions. draws parallels to events in other industries.
is clearly concerned about the issues discussed.
Readers are more likely to react positively to a message if the writer Group of answer choices uses current technology. is clearly concerned about the issues discussed. is a subordinate or an equal in the organization. asks them to draw their own conclusions. draws parallels to events in other industries.
is clearly concerned about the issues discussed.
Analyzing a business problem typically involves ignoring audience constraints. making conclusions based on facts. imposing your priorities on the situation. exaggerating the problem. being flexible and not taking positions.
make conclusion based on facts
It becomes easier for your readers to process the information you present when you match your writing style to the way your readers think and talk. use prepositional phrases extensively as they increase the clarity of the message. choose long and obscure words to pique their curiosity. avoid using parallel language, which makes it difficult to distinguish between the information provided. include a lot of text in your message and very little white space.
match your writing style to the way your readers think and talk.
t becomes easier for your readers to process the information you present when you Group of answer choices match your writing style to the way your readers think and talk. use prepositional phrases extensively as they increase the clarity of the message. choose long and obscure words to pique their curiosity. avoid using parallel language, which makes it difficult to distinguish between the information provided. include a lot of text in your message and very little white space.
match your writing style to the way your readers think and talk.
In order to make business messages more positive, business writers should focus on actions they can accomplish and demonstrate realistic optimism. However, they should be careful. a. not to set unrealistic expectations. b. to avoid diplomatic terms. c. not to use too-strong analogies. d. to avoid generalizations. e. not to send meta messages.
not to set unrealistic expectations
McDuff's boss told him he needs to be more concise in his report writing. To do this, McDuff should remove relevant information. omit needless words. omit parallel structure. remove white space. remove paragraph breaks.
omit needless words.
To create a more natural writing style and improve the ease of reading, a writer should use Group of answer choices passive verbs. parallel language. the passive voice. figures of speech. buzzwords
parallel language
A business message is complete if it Group of answer choices avoids all miscalculation, misinformation, and typographical errors. provides all the information necessary to meet the intended purpose. uses efficient language that says as much as possible in a few words. maximizes paragraph length and minimizes white space. keeps the word count as low as possible without redundancies or empty phrases.
provides all the information necessary to meet the intended purpose
What is typically included in the writing stage of developing an effective business message? setting a positive and other-oriented tone double-checking everything sending the message to be proofread identifying the primary message and key points ensuring the communication is fair
setting a positive and other-oriented tone
What action is most likely to lower a person's credibility? slanting facts using strong analogies asking for more responsibility refusing to exaggerate using other-oriented approach
slanting facts
What is something an excellent business writer would do? a. spend more time planning than writing b. adopt a message-centered approach c. complete audience analysis while writing d. do a last-minute review of his or her work e. maintain an author-centered tone
spend more time planning then writing
In a business message, the function of a call to action is to Group of answer choices summarize your message in a short, memorable away. outline the organizational structure for the audience. support the main message with evidence and opinions. orient the message to the needs of the audience. state explicitly what you want the audience to do.
state explicitly what you want the audience to do.
What should be one of the primary goals of a business communicator? to make exaggerated claims to be persuasive to express the message in ways that inspire others to slant facts to gain as much benefit as possible to focus on the negative aspects of the message to avoid using the other-oriented approach
to express the message in ways to inspire others
What is a goal of the AIM planning process? Group of answer choices to unleash good ideas to minimize planning time to foster self-reflection to explore new technologies to encourage teamwork
to unleash good ideas
________ is the overall evaluation that a reader perceives the writer to have toward the reader and the message content. Tone Framework Structure Layout Outline
tone
Which technique is most likely to make business messages more positive? exaggerating facts setting unrealistic expectations avoiding diplomatic words using constructive terms focusing on what a product lacks
using constructive terms