BCOM CH13 SB

While reviewing a report that is almost finished, you should make sure that it

has no typographical errors. uses precise logic. meets the needs of decision makers.

In the world of business, "positivity" means

having a can-do attitude or tone.

Headings are used in reports to

indicate the contents of each section. reveal the basic logic of the document. help readers navigate rapidly through the document.

A table of contents is usually included in a business report if the document

is more than 10 pages long.

Which of the following describe the purpose of a preview statement?

to accentuate the takeaway messages to frame the message to help readers follow the direction of a lengthy text

What is the primary purpose of charts and tables in a business report?

to fit into the story line of the report

In a business report, bulleting is used for which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)

to group information visually for easier comprehension to break up dense blocks of text

Which of the following elements are part of the basic documentation of a book used as a source according to APA style and MLA style?

year of publication author name book title

When your report is almost finished, you should review it to make sure that

you have been fair to yourself and your readers. the report is as effective as possible.

Which two of the following does a writer need to do to paraphrase material in a business report?

give credit to the original author or speaker substantially alter the wording of the original text but leave the meaning intact

What should you do when designing a business report for a busy executive?

Make it easy for the executive to navigate quickly through the document. Assume that the executive will not read all of the text.

Which of the following are items in a business report that tend to increase the effectiveness of the author's recommendations?

clear steps that would help achieve an objective a rationale the cost and other implications

A cover page should include which of the following?

title date names of people who wrote the report

Which additional components are sometimes added to formal reports?

title page memo of transmittal table of contents

A report without a problem statement is likely to

- be considered unimportant. - wander aimlessly.

Why is an objective tone preferable to an overly positive tone in business reports?

An overly positive tone can make you appear to have clouded judgment. An overly positive tone can cause the report to appear biased.

Which of the following actions are plagiarism?

Any literary theft, copying a text word for word and passing it off as your own, stealing and passing off the ideas of someone else as your own.

In a report on the real estate market in Florida, which two of the following charts would be the most useful? (Choose every correct answer.)

Average Incomes in Florida Metropolitan Areas Home Ownership Rates in Florida

What are the last steps in preparing a report?

Check for fairness. Proofread the document. Seek final feedback from colleagues.

True or false: In business reports, positivity is more important than objectivity.

False

Tom is preparing to write a business proposal for an important project. Which of the following should he do to improve his chances of success?

He should talk to decision makers before writing the proposal.

Which of the following sentences should be rewritten to be more appropriately fact-based and precise?

If the company invests in this venture, profits are sure to increase. Hardly anyone has a negative opinion of the company's products.

What are characteristics of the preview statement of a report? (Choose every correct answer.)

It should give the reader a general idea of what the report covers. It should summarize the report's key messages.

In which of the following cases could a sentence that a writer takes directly from someone else's writing be considered plagiarism?

None of the words are placed within quotation marks, and a few of the words are altered. Only half of the sentence is placed within quotation marks, and no words are altered. None of the words are placed within quotation marks, and no words are altered.

Which of the following recommendations is the most specific and actionable?

Our company should expand delivery capability by purchasing a new tanker truck and hiring three additional drivers.

Which of the following preview statements is most effective?

Our research shows that the restaurant is gradually losing customers, primarily because the menu items are overpriced.

What should you do when reviewing a business report that you are producing?

Read the entire document repeatedly, considering it from various viewpoints. Take several days to complete the review. Review it to check for typos and other mechanical errors.

The appendixes of business reports commonly include

Reference materials.

What is included in the reference list of a business report?

Sources for all of the facts that were cited.

Which of the following are conditions for choosing to use a direct quotation?

The text flows well with the document you are writing. The text highlights the credibility of the person being quoted. The text is worded in an especially compelling way.

Why might researchers make vague or superficial recommendations in a business report?

They are tired and in a hurry to finish. They do not want to state a clear opinion on the subject.

Which of the following statements about business proposals are true?

They may vary in length and format. They address the allocation of resources for business activities.

Which of the following sentences should be revised so that they have a more objective tone?

This is a fabulous opportunity that will surely triple our profits if we jump on it before someone else does. We will never find a better location than this, and it even includes an amazing inventory.

True or false: Citations should be used throughout your business report.

True

True or false: Researchers should clearly show how their recommendations are connected to the facts in their report.

True

The conclusions and recommendations in a business report should be focused on ______.

a clear business problem

Which of the following are typically included in the front matter of a formal report?

a cover page a table of contents a title page

Which of the following are typically included in the back matter of a formal report?

appendixes attachments a reference list or bibliography

Excellence in thinking leads to reports that Blank______.

are accurate document all facts

To ensure that a document is free from plagiarism, writers should

arrive at original conclusions. exercise original thinking. use numerous sources to support their thoughts.

Documenting sources for a business report helps decision makers

assess the quality of the data. trust the researcher's findings. have confidence that the data was collected in a methodical way.

Where does an executive summary appear in most reports?

at the beginning of the document

Reference lists should be placed

at the end of the report

If the structure of a report is familiar to decision makers, then it will

be easier to navigate.

Which of the following actions tend to increase the credibility of a business report?

being precise when citing facts including details that support the report's conclusions citing research sources

Which of the following are often included in the appendixes of a business report?

biographies marketing materials financial statements

Complex numerical information is most effectively presented in which two of the following formats?

charts tables

Which of the following should be provided throughout your business report to indicate any information taken from other sources?

citations

Which of the following are basic steps in preparing a business report?

defining the problem gathering relevant information determining the reliability of sources

Which of the following are common components of a business proposal?

deliverables overview specific objectives timeline

A well-written heading should be which of the following?

descriptive and engaging

To improve headings in a business report, the writer should make them more

descriptive. efficient.

Text taken word-for-word from a source is called a(n)

direct quotation.

All business trend reports should have which of the following characteristics or features?

documentation easy navigation objectivity

What are several of the key features that should be included in all business reports?

documentation value to decision makers precision

Ferdinand discovers that two authors have already produced reports that are very similar to the one he is assigned to complete. He does a small amount of his own research, then borrows heavily from both reports to compile his own document. He rewords most of the text and attributes some of the information to the original authors. Which of the following best describes his final report?

essentially plagiarized

Which of the following are essential features of a thorough, detailed approach to research?

methodical analysis documentation of sources

Documenting sources and including data to support your conclusions will tend to make a business report which of the following?

more credible

In general, how long should an executive summary be?

one page for every 10 to 20 pages in the report

How long are most business report problem statements?

one to three paragraphs

When you weave together information gathered from a variety of sources and think up your own ideas, reach your own conclusions, and make your own recommendations, you are demonstrating

originality of thought.

Which of the following requires a source citation?

paraphrase ideas borrowed from a secondary source direct quotation

While compiling a business report, Mary finds the discussion of a survey in a scholarly journal. She does not copy the text exactly but conveys the meaning of the material in her own words in her report. She also cites the source of the information. This is called

paraphrasing.

Which component of a business report frames the overall message in order to help decision makers follow the text?

preview statement

What should you do after compiling data for a report? (Choose every correct answer.)

recommend actions based on the facts and conclusions in the report draw conclusions based on the facts in the report

As a general guideline, a report that is fewer than 5 pages

requires at least first-level headings.

Which of the following might a business report's table of contents include?

second-level headings first-level headings

A two-page report needs to include a cover page if it is to be submitted to

stockholders. loan officers. venture capitalists.

To maintain precision while compiling a report, the researcher should

study the facts from various perspectives before reaching conclusions.

Which two of the following would likely benefit from being presented as a list with bulleting or numbering in a business report?

summaries of five surveys, with statistical information and source citations the top 10 innovations that made our company the industry leader this year and how much profit each generated

Which of the following are examples of items in a report that must be documented to avoid plagiarism? (Choose every correct answer.)

text that you paraphrase text that you quote word for word other people's ideas that you borrow or reference

Which two of the following have reliable guidelines for documenting sources in a business report?

the Purdue Online Writing Lab the APA style website

A business report problem statement should establish

the purpose of the report. the value of the report.

Effective problem statements in a business report tend to explain

the specific context of the problem

To support the story line of a report, you should

use charts to simplify complicated numerical information. include charts only for statistics that are directly related to the central theme.

If a report is based on secondary research, it is appropriate to

use information from numerous sources to reach new and perhaps unique conclusions.

Business reports are flawed when their recommendations are

vague. unrealistic.