Business Communication, ch 4,5,6

Preparing Meaningful paragraphs

-Develop one idea -Use the direct plan -Use the pivoting plan -Use the indirect plan -Build coherence with linking techniques -Provide road signs with transitional expressions -Limit paragraph length.

Advantages of indirect method

-Respects the feelings of the audience -Facilitates a fair hearing -Minimizes a negative reaction

Advantages of direct method

-Saves the reader's time -Sets a proper frame of mind -Reduces frustration

effective sentences...

-Use a variety of sentence types -Avoid common sentence faults. -Control sentence length -Emphasize important ideas -Apply active- and passive-voice verbs strategically -Employ parallelism -Eliminate dangling and misplaced modifiers.

crowdsourcing

A collaborative effort that describes the practice of requesting ideas online from unknown crowd members rather than from traditional employees or contractors.

crowdfunding

A collaborative effort that describes the practice of soliciting contributions, usually from the Internet, from a group of friends or strangers to finance a project, cause, or business venture.

crowd storming

A collaborative effort that requires a crowd to evaluate and filter ideas into a viable product or plan.

Which of the following scenarios would most likely require a scientific experiment? a. A development team has to decide which of four possible locations would be best for a new fast-food restaurant. b. A company wants to measure reactions to the price of a new flavored vitamin water product to learn how much consumers would be willing to pay. c. A student wants to find out how a business leader got his start in the industry d. A research firm wants to find out how many parents plan to send their children to private schools.

A company wants to measure reactions to the price of a new flavored vitamin water product to learn how much consumers would be willing to pay.

digital message

A digital message may be defined as one that is generated, stored, processed, and transmitted electronically by computers using strings of positive and nonpositive binary code (0s and 1s). That definition encompasses many messages, including e-mail, Facebook posts, tweets, videos, and other messages.

Prototype

A mental representation based on characteristics that are flexible and open to new definitions

pivoting paragraph plan

A paragraph used to compare and contrast that begins with a limiting sentence that offers a contrasting or negative idea before delivering the topic sentence.

direct paragraph plan

A paragraph used to define, clarify, illustrate, or describe an idea. It begins with a topic sentence, followed by supporting sentences.

indirect paragraph plan

A paragraph used to explain and persuade that starts with the supporting sentences and concludes with the topic sentence.

Which of the following statements about Phase 3 of the writing process is most accurate?

A significant amount of a writer's time should be spent in this phase.

dovetailing

A technique consisting of an idea at the end of one sentence that connects with an idea at the beginning of the next.

Which of the following statements about paragraphs is most accurate?

A) A paragraph is a group of sentences about one idea.

Which of the following is a sentence fragment?

A) Although we expect sales to increase next quarter.

Monica wants to make sure that her sentences are easily understood. How long should she make them?

A) An average of 20 words

Monica wants to make sure that her sentences are easily understood. How long should she make them? A) An average of 20 words B) At least 30 words C) No more than 8 words D) An average of 28 words

A) An average of 20 words

Which of the following should be organized in a direct pattern?

A) An online manual showing visitors how to download a software program

Which of the following is an example of proper texting etiquette?

A) Apply the same timing guidelines to sending and receiving text messages that you would for speaking on the phone (such as not during a meeting or when in a social setting).

Khalida is sending an e-mail message to a client. Before sending it, she wants to make sure that she has made her point in the fewest possible words. What is Khalida checking for?

A) Conciseness

Which of the following phrases is free of redundancies?

A) Essential items

What is the most accurate statement about slang and buzzwords?

A) If you want to sound professional, avoid using slangy expressions and buzzwords in your writing.

Your supervisor has suggested that you down-edit your e-mail message when replying to be more efficient. What should you do?

A) Insert your responses to parts of the incoming message, and include only those parts of the incoming message to which you are responding.

Which of the following statements about formal and informal research is most accurate?

A) Long reports and complex business problems generally require some use of formal research.

Karen, a real estate agent, wants to create simple podcasts that will allow her clients to take virtual tours of available properties. What should she focus on first?

A) Providing quality content with an authentic voice

What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses without using a conjunction or semicolon?

A) Run-on sentence

Alonzo has just been assigned to create a blog to use for market research and viral marketing. What advice would you give him?

A) Scrutinize the blogosphere for buzz and for positive or negative postings about his organization and its products.

Which of the following is not a common business use of blogs?

A) To allow remote team members to share information and to access and edit their documents online

For what purpose should the active voice be used?

A) To strengthen most business writing

Franco wants to emphasize the new features of a product he is selling. What should he do?

A) Use vivid words to describe the features.

Study the following sentence: Social media have created an enormous paradigm shift in what types of stories are considered "breaking news." This sentence would be improved by eliminating a(n) ________.

A) buzzword

One important part of the revising process is to test for ________ to make sure that your message will be immediately understood by the reader.

A) clarity

Organizations use blogs to develop relationships, build brands, and create virtual ________.

A) communities

An advantage of business blogs is that they ________.

A) potentially reach a far-flung, vast audience

Basic fundamentals, exactly identical, and repeat again are all examples of ________.

A) redundancies

Confirming your use of affect vs. effect when proofreading is an example of checking for ________.

A) spelling

Conduct a discussion of, give consideration to, and perform an analysis of are all examples of ________.

A) verbs that have been converted to nouns

Which of the following is the best wording to avoid racial, ethnic, age, and disability bias?

AARP membership is open to anyone age 50 or over.

Empathy

Adapting your message to the receiver's needs means putting yourself in that person's shoes. It's called empathy.

What is an advantage of creating well-designed documents?

All of these are advantages of a well-designed document.

Anthony is part of a virtual team collaborating on a written proposal. Which of the following collaboration tools can help his team work together on this shared document?

All of these choices

Which of the following takes place during the third phase of the 3-x-3 writing process?

All of these choices

You can build paragraph coherence by incorporating which of the following techniques?

All of these choices

You can build paragraph coherence by incorporating which of the following techniques? a) Dovetailing sentences b) All of these choices c) Using transitional expressions such as therefore, however, and then d) Using pronouns

All of these choices

Which of the following is a sentence fragment? a. although we expect sale to increase next quarter. b. We expect sales to increase next quarter. c.Although we expect sales to increase next quarter, we cant afford any addition employees right now.

Although we expect sales to increase next quarter

Which of the following is a sentence fragment?

Although we expect sales to increase next quarter.

Which of the following is an example of using a formal research method?

Amy conducts a Web search to find information about a competitor's products.

Monica wants to ensure that her sentences are easily understood. How long should she make them?

An average of 20 words

Monica wants to make sure that her sentences are easily understood. How long should she make them?

An average of 20 words

Which of the following should be organized in an indirect pattern?

An e-mail message to employees telling them that overtime will be eliminated

brain writing

An idea-generating technique that involves writing out ideas rather than speaking them.

An important barrier to clear communication

An important barrier to clear communication involves words. Each of us attaches a little bundle of meanings to every word, and these meanings are not always similar.

Andrew must deny a customer's application for credit. What organizational pattern should he use?

An indirect pattern

Andrew must deny a customer's application for credit. What organizational pattern should he use? a. An indirect pattern b. A direct pattern c. A geographical pattern d. A pivoting pattern

An indirect pattern

WHich of the following should be organized in a direct pattern:

An online manual showing visitors how to download a software program

Which of the following should be organized in a direct pattern?

An online manual showing visitors how to download a software program

grouping

An organizational process that groups similar ideas in a message together.

strategizing

An organizational process that places a message in a purposeful sequence that helps the reader understand relationships and accept the writer's views.

direct strategy

An organizational strategy that describes an order in which the main idea comes first, followed by details, an explanation, or evidence; used when the writer expects the reader to be pleased, mildly interested, or neutral. -->another name: front loading

indirect strategy

An organizational strategy that describes placing the main idea later in a message, after the details, explanation, or evidence; used when the writer expects the reader to be uninterested, unwilling, displeased, or hostile.

Stereotype

An oversimplified behavioral pattern applied uncritically to groups

Which of the following documents would most likely use an introduction/problem, facts/findings, conclusions, and recommendations organization?

Analytical report

Feasibility reports

Analyze problems and predict whether alternatives will be practical or advisable.

Which of the following takes place during the first phase of the 3-x-3 writing process?

Analyze the audience and your purpose for writing.

Which of the following takes place during the first phase of the 3-x-3 writing process? a) Edit the message to make sure it is clear, conversational, concise, and readable. b) Write the rough draft. c) Analyze the audience and your purpose for writing. d) Gather any needed information through formal or informal research techniques.

Analyze the audience and your purpose for writing.

Before sending a letter to a local company for an internship:

Analyze the purpose of the letter and the reader

noise

Anything that interrupts the transmission of a message in the communication process is called noise

As you begin to compose a workplace message, ask yourself two important questions:

As you begin to compose a workplace message, ask yourself two important questions: (a) Why am I sending this message? and (b) What do I hope to achieve?

Which of the following will most likely prompt a reader to open your blog post?

B) A catchy title or headline

Which of the following scenarios would most likely require a scientific experiment?

B) A company wants to measure reactions to the price of a new flavored vitamin water product to learn how much consumers would be willing to pay.

Which of the following is an example of a formal research method?

B) Amy conducts a Web search to find information about a competitor's products.

Which of the following documents would most likely use an introduction/problem, facts/findings, conclusions, and recommendations organization?

B) Analytical report

Alexis must proofread a complex business document. What is the best advice you can give her?

B) Be prepared to find errors.

Which of the following statements about blogs is most accurate?

B) Blogs can invite spontaneous consumer feedback faster and more cheaply than traditional consumer research tools.

Michelle is preparing an outline to help her write a report to her supervisor about her recent attendance at a technology symposium. Which of the following should she do?

B) Break each major component into at least two subpoints.

What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses with a comma?

B) Comma splice

What is the best advice for organizing e-mail messages?

B) Consider using headings if the message is more than a few paragraphs.

What is a disadvantage of text messaging?

B) Employees using free consumer-grade instant messaging systems might reveal privileged information and company records.

Which of the following represents the best business writing?

B) Enclosed are three samples of our fabric.

Which of the following statements about headings is least accurate?

B) Headings are used only in reports.

To make your business messages more readable, you can do which of the following?

B) Incorporate numbered and bulleted lists.

Which of the following statements about the digital era is most accurate?

B) Internet users have the power to create Web content.

Connor has just been hired by a marketing firm that uses social and other electronic media. What advice should Connor follow to protect himself?

B) Learn his company's rules about the use of electronic media.

An example of a social online community intended specifically for professional audiences is ________.

B) LinkedIn

Which of the following is an informal research method?

B) Looking in the company files for information

Select the sentence with an active-voice verb.

B) Many companies now offer wellness programs.

What is the most accurate statement about the use of blogs to provide up-to-date information to the press and the public?

B) Many companies now use blogs for crowdsourcing promotions to connect with their customers and to generate buzz that they hope will go viral on the Internet.

Which of the following sentences contains a comma splice?

B) Miguel will write the document, Alicia will proofread it.

Which of the following sentences demonstrates parallelism?

B) Our new CEO's objectives are to improve employee morale, to boost revenues, and to enhance community relations.

Which of the following is the best example of business writing?

B) Please tell your employees about the company's new social media policy.

What is the most accurate statement about instant messaging (IM) and text messaging?

B) Text messaging requires a short message service (SMS) supplied by a cell phone service provider or a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service.

Which of the following represents the best business writing?

B) The CEO will be visiting our branch tomorrow.

For what purpose should the passive voice be used?

B) To de-emphasize bad news

Which of the following is a goal of business writing?

B) To keep your writing short and simple

Which of the following statements about electronic media is most accurate?

B) Tweeting about how much you dislike your job could get you fired.

Michelle has just been appointed to a virtual team that will use a wiki to keep in touch, and she wants to be a valuable team participant and contributor to the wiki. What is the best advice you can give her?

B) Verify all facts before posting them to the wiki.

Which of the following sentences avoids slang or buzzwords?

B) We need to work hard to meet the deadline.

You are preparing an outline for your report on Web security in the workplace. Which of the following should be a major category for this outline?

B) Web Security Threats

Clauses that begin with words like although, since, because, when, and if are usually ________.

B) dependent

An organizational pattern that presents the main idea followed by details, explanation, and evidence is the ________.

B) direct organizational pattern

To vs. too and then vs. than are examples of ________.

B) easily confused words

At this point in time, due to the fact that, feel free to, and in the near future are examples of ________.

B) flabby expressions

Blake has just written an e-mail message to his colleagues. Before sending it, he wants to make sure that it has high skim value. In doing so, he is checking ________. Question 66 options:

B) format

In making sure that subjects agree with their verbs in your message, you are checking for ________.

B) grammar

Organizing information includes two processes: ________ and ________.

B) grouping; strategizing

Peter is writing an e-mail message to his staff that the new computers promised to arrive on Monday will be delayed for two weeks. He knows that many people will be frustrated because their current computers are slow and outdated. Which organizational pattern should his message follow?

B) indirect pattern

Avoiding clichés and slang is important to ________.

B) keep your writing fresh

The sentence I am writing this e-mail message to let you know that we have received your application for the receptionist position contains a ________.

B) long lead-in

Underscoring, bolding, and italicizing are ________ ways to stress important ideas in writing.

B) mechanical

Concise writing significantly affects organizations because time equals ________.

B) money

You receive a suspicious text message from an unknown sender asking you to click on a link to access your current credit score. This is likely an example of ________.

B) phishing

Shauna is writing a document that will compare and contrast different retirement plans. She will most likely use the ________ paragraph plan.

B) pivoting

Texting requires a SMS, which stands for ________.

B) short message service

An ALL-CAPS e-mail message is often read as ________.

B) shouting

Popular, simple-to-use wiki hosting services are called ________.

B) wiki farms

Nouns ending in -tion, -ment, and -ance are sometimes called ________ nouns because they can suck the life out of active verbs.

B) zombie

One advantage of wikis is that they capitalize on ________, the practice of tapping into the combined knowledge of a large community to solve problems and complete assignments.

B) ​crowdsourcing

Which of the following statements about the "you" view is most accurate?

Be careful because second-person pronouns such as you and your can be overused and misused.

Which of the following statements about the "you" view is most accurate? a. The "you" view can be used effectively in all business messages. b. Be careful because second-person pronouns such as you and your can be overused and misused. c. First-person pronouns such as I, we, and our should be avoided in business messages because they take the focus off the reader. d. The "you" view emphasizes first-person pronouns such as I, we, and our.

Be careful because second-person pronouns such as you and your can be overused and misused.

Which of the following statements about the "you" view is most accurate?

Be careful not to overuse and misuse you and your

Alexis must proofread a complex business document. What is the best advice you can give her?

Be prepared to find errors.

How to Edit Team Writing Without Making Enemies

Begin your remarks with a positive statement. What can you praise? Do you like the writer's conversational tone, word choice, examples, directness, or conciseness? Do you understand the writer's purpose? If not, be specific in explaining what you don't understand. Is the material logically organized? If not, how could it be improved? What suggestions can you make to improve specific ideas or sections? Make polite statements such as I would suggest ..., You might consider ..., How about doing this ....

Blake has just written an e-mail message to his colleagues. Before sending it, he wants to make sure that his colleagues will immediately understand the message. What is Blake checking for?

Blake is checking for clarity a clear message is one that is immediately understood

Kendra is part of a team that will be preparing a presentation to the board of directors about a new product idea. What will her team likely do the first time they meet?

Brainstorm for ideas.

Kendra is part of a team that will be preparing a presentation to the board of directors about a new product idea. What will her team likely do the first time they meet? a) Start preparing PowerPoint slides. b) Brainstorm for ideas. c) Start composing a first draft of the presentation d) Begin their research.

Brainstorm for ideas.

Brandon is preparing a short informational report for his boss and wants to begin his research by conducting informal research. What should he consider doing? a. Talking with his boss to get more info about the type of information his boos would like to include. b.Brandon should consider dong all of these. c. Searching through his company files for background info and previous correspondence d. Conduction an informal online survey using a tool like Survey Monkey

Brandon should consider doing all of these

Brandon is preparing a short informational report for his boss and wants to begin his research by conducting informal research. What should he consider doing?

Brandon should consider doing all of these.

Bypassing

Bypassing happens when people miss each other with their meanings. Bypassing can lead to major miscommunication because people assume that meanings are contained in words.

Barriers that create misunderstandings:

Bypassing,Differing frames or reference, Lack of language skills, poor listening skills emotonial reference, physical distractions

Some experts recommend devoting about ________ of the total writing time to the third phase of the writing process.

C) 50 percent

Which of the following subject lines is most effective?

C) Attend Our Sales Meeting on January 30

Which of the following is a similarity in e-mail messages and memos?

C) Both generally close with action information, a summary of the message, or a closing thought.

What is the most effective strategy for controlling your e-mail inbox?

C) Check your e-mail at set times.

Kelly has been told that her blog posts can benefit from using the journalistic pattern. What does this mean?

C) Emphasize the big news up front, supported with specifics and background information.

What type of sentence fault results when a writer punctuates a broken-off part of a complex sentence as if it were a complete sentence?

C) Fragment

Which of the following sentences avoids a cliché?

C) His presentation was well received by the board of trustees.

Annette wants to start a blog for her small business. What should she do first?

C) Identify her audience.

Which of the following sentences does not contain any buried verbs?

C) In some parts of the world, business is not conducted over meals.

Which of the following statements about numbered and bulleted lists is most accurate?

C) Make the items in a numbered or bulleted list parallel.

Which of the following is a run-on sentence?

C) Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers some even use Twitter.

Which of the following is an independent clause?

C) Please call with any questions you have

Which of the following is the most effective closing for an e-mail message?

C) Please send your time sheet to me by August 31 so that we can process your paycheck.

What is the most accurate statement about podcasts?

C) Podcasts are featured on media websites and company portals or shared on blogs and social networking sites.

Which of the following documents would most likely use an introduction, a proposed solution, staffing, a schedule and/or costs, and authorization organization?

C) Proposal

Which of the following is not a standard guide word used in e-mail messages and memos?

C) RESPONSE:

Which of the following is a compound sentence?

C) Raymond applied for the position, and he was called for an interview two days later.

Which of the following situations is most appropriate for sending an e-mail message?

C) Sabrina wants to know whether her supervisor is available for a meeting next week.

Chuck is part of a team identifying ideas to cut expenses. The team has decided to hold a brainstorming session. Which of the following strategies would likely produce the best results?

C) Set an established time limit.

Ashley has just been hired for her first full-time position and has been told that she can use social media on the job. What should she do to appear professional and to ensure that she keeps her job?

C) Share only information, images, and media online that she would be comfortable sharing opening in the office.

Which of the following is a dependent clause?

C) Since the company began selling stock to the public

What is the most accurate statement about liability and legal issues related to text messaging?

C) Some organizations have instituted detailed digital-age e-policies, offer formal employee training, and use technology tools such as monitoring, filtering, and blocking.

________ marketing refers to the rapid spread of messages online.

C) Viral

Which of the following sentences best controls exuberance?

C) We are happy to learn that your banquet room is available on December 15.

Which of the following sentences avoids the use of trite business phrases?

C) We have received your loan application.

You have created a bulleted list showing features that you are including on your company's Facebook page. Which of the following items is not parallel with the others?

C) We will hold a weekly prize giveaway

Which of the following is a clause?

C) When you were on vacation

Which of the following statements about formal and informal research is least accurate? A) Long reports and complex business problems generally require some use of formal research. B) Some routine writing tasks will require no research at all. C) When you work on a business report, avoid using the Web for research because much of what is available on the Web isn't credible. D) Most routine writing tasks require data that you can collect informally.

C) When you work on a business report, avoid using the Web for research because much of what is available on the Web isn't credible.

To apply for a job, a résumé must be submitted contains ________.

C) a dangling modifier

Potential risks for businesses that use social media include productivity loss, embarrassment if employees make damaging posts, and ________.

C) attracting the wrath of a huge Internet audience

When dependent clauses precede independent clauses, they always are followed by a ________.

C) comma

In asking herself Does this message achieve my purpose?, Nicole is in the ________ stage of the writing process.

C) evaluating

Editing is the process of ________.

C) improving the content and sentence structure of your message

Taylor is writing to deny an employee's request to work from home three days a week. She should write the letter using the ________.

C) indirect pattern

Angelica has been asked to learn how many pedestrians walk by a specific location that her company is considering for a new sporting goods retail shop. Probably the most useful way to research this information would be by ________.

C) investigating primary sources

The sentence There are five new items that we will add to our menu next week could be made more concise by eliminating a(n) ________.

C) opening filler

The best way to evaluate your finished written message is by ________.

C) receiving feedback

Fully justified text (when lines of text align on both the left and right) ________.

C) results in awkward and uneven spaces between words

Americans most commonly use their smartphones for _________.

C) sending and receiving text messages

The most important part of an e-mail message is its ________.

C) subject line

As per your request, enclosed please find, and thank you in advance are all examples of ________.

C) trite business phrases

Although the term podcasting has caught on, a more accurate term when it applies to video content is ________.

C) vcasting

Breaking up long paragraphs into shorter chunks is a way to increase ________.

C) white space

One effective way to overcome writer's block is to ________.

C) work in a quiet environment in which you can concentrate

Which of the following sentences contains an active-voice verb?

Carmen processed the résumés after the application deadline.

Vanessa has written a marketing report for her boss. Before presenting it, she wants to make sure that the report does not contain expressions that have become exhausted by overuse. What is Vanessa checking for?

Clichés

When Is Team Writing Necessary?

Collaboration on team-written documents is necessary for projects that (a) are big, (b) have short deadlines, and (c) require the expertise or consensus of many people. Business people sometimes also collaborate on short documents, such as memos, letters, information briefs, procedures, and policies. More often, however, teams work on big documents and presentations.

research

Collecting needed information about a certain topic before writing a message. What does the receiver need to know about this topic? What is the receiver to do? How is the receiver to do it? When must the receiver do it? What will happen if the receiver doesn't do it?

What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses without using a conjunction or semicolon?

Comma splice

What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses without using a conjunction or semicolon? a) Run-on sentence b) Fragment c) Comma splice d) None of the above

Comma splice

What type of sentence fault results when a writer punctuates a broken-off part of a complex sentence as if it were a complete sentence?

Comma splice

Select the best definition of communication.

Communication is the transmission of information and meaning from one individual or group to another

Select the best definition of communication. a) Communication is the transmission of ideas from one individual or group to another. b) Communication is the transmission of information and meaning from one individual or group to another. c) Communication is the transmission of data from one individual or group to another. d) Communication is the transmission of information from one individual or group to another.

Communication is the transmission of information and meaning from one individual or group to another.

Which sentence type contains an independent clause and a dependent clause?

Complex

Khalida is sending an e-mail message to a client. Before sending it, she wants to make sure that she has made her point in the fewest possible words. What is Khalida checking for?

Conciseness

Which occurs in the second phase of the 3x3:

Conduct research

Which of the following occurs during the second phase of the 3-x-3 writing process?

Conduct research to gather the data you need to provide facts

Best way to get started on an important e-mail message:

Consider composing this important e-mail offline

Which of the following sentences uses a stylistic device to emphasize the important idea?

Create an attractive design for your résumé; more importantly, present your skills and qualifications clearly.

While conducting an orientation session for new employees, Clayton noticed looks of confusion on the faces of some listeners. He then paused and asked his audience, "What questions do you have so far?" Clayton was striving to overcome communication barriers by a. questioning his assumptions, biases, and prejudices b.reducing physical distractions c. improving his language and listening skills d. creating an environment for useful feedback

Creating an environment for useful feedback

Alex is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process. What question should he ask while collecting information during this second phase?

D) Alex should ask all of these questions.

Suzanne has been told that freewriting may help her overcome writer's block. What does freewriting mean?

D) All of the above

Which of the following about Twitter is accurate?

D) All of these choices are accurate.

What is a benefit of instant messaging?

D) All of these choices are benefits of instant messaging.

What is the most accurate statement about instant messaging and texting on the job?

D) Because instant messages and text messages can be saved, don't say anything that could damage your reputation or that of your organization.

Brandon is preparing a short informational report for his boss and wants to begin his research by conducting informal research. What should he consider doing?

D) Brandon should consider doing all of these.

Phase 3 of the 3-x-3 writing process begins with doing which of the following?

D) Editing the message to improve content and sentence structure

_______ expressions can often be shortened to one word.

D) Flabby

Melanie is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process. What should she do first in this second phase?

D) Gather any necessary information.

Chatham Industries would like to provide live tech support to its customers. What is the best communication channel for doing this?

D) Instant messaging

Vanessa has written a marketing report for her boss. Before presenting it, she wants to make sure that the report does not contain too many words like extremely, totally, and very. She wants to sound emphatic but businesslike. What is Vanessa checking for?

D) Intensifiers

What is the most accurate statement about proofreading and document errors?

D) It can be difficult to catch our own errors because most of us read what we thought we wrote.

Lawrence is evaluating a report that he will be submitting to his supervisor. What should Lawrence ask himself during the evaluation process?

D) Lawrence should ask all of these questions.

What is the best advice for writing e-mail messages?

D) Make your e-mail messages easier to read and to comprehend by using bulleted and numbered lists and headings.

How do organizations use podcasts?

D) Organizations use podcasts for all of these purposes.

How do organizations use social media?

D) Organizations use social media for all these purposes.

Which of the following sentences best demonstrates clarity?

D) Please let your employees know about next Friday's meeting.

Which sentence best emphasizes the attorney?

D) The attorney delivered the closing arguments.

Select the sentence with the passive-voice verb.

D) The website was redesigned by a team of professionals.

Jeff is starting a new business blog and wants to be able to compete with established blog sites. He has asked for your advice. What should you tell him?

D) Use a commercial hosting site such as Blogger, Tumblr, or WordPress.

Elizabeth wants to avoid monotony and add spark to her business messages. What should she do?

D) Use a variety of sentence types.

Because Maya knows that the most important part of an e-mail message is the subject line, she ________.

D) adjusts the subject line if the topic changes after repeated replies

Serif typefaces ________.

D) all of these choices

When proofreading a document, be concerned with ________.

D) all of these choices.

"Light" proofreading of routine messages should include ________.

D) all of these items

To use digital media effectively and safely, you should avoid ________.

D) all of these practices

The final phase of the 3-x-3 writing process focuses on ________.

D) all of these tasks

Most business messages use the ________ paragraph plan because it clarifies the subject immediately.

D) direct

Josh knows that his co-workers will be pleased by the creation of a new leave-reporting system that will save them time. Which organizational pattern should he use in writing the message about the new system?

D) direct pattern.

One of the most important tasks in preparing well-organized messages is ________.

D) grouping similar ideas together

Benefits of corporate wikis include enhancing the reputation of expert contributors, making work flow more easily, and ________.

D) improving an organization's processes

Memos are necessary for important internal messages that ________.

D) meet all of these criteria

Which of the following statements about social networking sites is most accurate?

D) ​The number of social media users sixty-five and older has more than tripled in five years.

WHich of the following takes place during the first phase of the 3x3 writing process:

Decide what techniques

Trip, convention, conference reports

Describe an event, summarize three to five main points of interest, itemize expenses, and analyze the event's value

Periodic/Activity reports

Describe production, sales, shipping, service, and other recurring activities.

Sofia is an event planner and is responding to an e-mail request from a client. What should Sofia do during the second phase of the writing process?

Determine the best organizational pattern for her reply message to the client.

As a technical support rep, Michael is responding to a customer's question sent to him via e-mail. What is the very first task Michael should do? a.conduct any necessary research b.determine the purpose of the message he will send as a response c.Hit the "reply" button d. start composing his reply

Determine the purpose of the message he will send as a response

Alex is having trouble concentrating on a report he is reading because his smartphone keeps ringing and his colleagues keep sending him text messages. What kind of communication barrier is this?

Digital interruptions

Alex is having trouble concentrating on a report he is reading because his smartphone keeps ringing and his colleagues keep sending him text messages. What kind of communication barrier is this? a) Differing frames of reference b) Bypassing c) Lack of language skills d) Digital interruptions

Digital interruptions

Organizational pattern for pleased audiences:

Direct

How can one become a better business writer?

Do all of these choices.

How can one become a better business writer? a) Do all of these choices. b) Study models of successful business messages. c) Practice writing a variety of business messages. d) Follow a systematic process such as the 3-x-3 writing process.

Do all of these choices.

E-mail

E-mail. Despite its many drawbacks, e-mail remains a popular tool for online asynchronous (intermittent data transmission) collaboration. As projects grow more complex and involve more people who are not working near each other, however, e-mail becomes a clumsy, ineffective tool, especially for collaborative writing tasks.

The best business writing is purposeful, persuassvive, audience oriented and:

Economical

WHich occurs in the third phase of 3x3:

Edit, Proofread, Evaluate

Phase 3 of the 3-x-3 writing process begins with doing which of the following?

Editing the message to improve content and sentence structure

Which of the following phrases is free of redundancies?

Essential items

Yardstick reports

Establish criteria and evaluate alternatives by measuring against the "yardstick" criteria.

During Phase 3 of the 3-x-3 writing process, Donalyn is analyzing her message to make sure it will achieve its purpose. What is Donalyn doing?

Evaluating

Investigative reports

Examine problems and supply facts; provide little analysis.

Which of the following statements about the 3-x-3 writing process is most accurate?

Experienced writers usually spend the most time on the third phase of the writing process.

What is the best advice for organizing an e-mail:

Explain and justify the main idea in the body of the message

Instruction messages are used to:

Explain clearly how to complete a task

Progress and interim reports

Explain continuing projects including work completed, work in progress, future activities, and completion date

What should you do in the body of the adjustment letter:

Explain how you are complying with the claim

Expressing Courtesy

Expressions such as you should, you must, and you have to cause people to instinctively react with Oh, yeah? One remedy is to turn these demands into rhetorical questions that begin with Will you please .... Giving reasons for a request also softens the tone.

Allan is writing instructions for filing an employee grievance. He should use a bulleted list because the order of steps in the process is important

False

Because jargon can be confusing, it should never be used in business writing.

False

Business communicators generally spend the most time on the prewriting phase of the 3-x-3 writing process.

False

Caitlin is writing a sales letter to encourage customers to add features to their wireless data plans. She should use the direct approach.

False

During freewriting, it is important to edit each sentence before moving on to the next one.

False

Encoding is the process of translating a message from its symbol form into meaning.

False

Exhibiting sarcasm or anger in a business message can help you get your point across or meet your goals.

False

Expressions such as due to the fact that and in the near future can help your business documents sound more professional.

False

If you have any new ideas is an example of an independent clause.

False

It is safer and better to proofread on your computer screen than to proofread from a printed copy because you will catch more errors this way and will be able to correct them immediately.

False

Microblogging messages such as tweets should be concise, but they don't have to include conventional spelling, grammar, or punctuation.

False

Most experts recommend trying to produce error-free first drafts of your documents.

False

Most experts who have had a lot of practice can prepare a perfect document on the first try.

False

Paragraphs arranged in the direct plan start with supporting sentences and conclude with the topic sentence.

False

Robert is gathering data for a business proposal he is writing. Robert is in the first phase of the writing process.

False

Routine documents and complex documents are proofread using the same method.

False

Since our restaurant opened last week, we have been booked solid is an example of a compound sentence.

False

Since you have prepared thoroughly for the job interview and have the necessary college education is an example of an effective sentence.

False

Text messages, e-mail messages, business letters, memos, and reports are most effective when they use a formal tone.

False

The best brainstorming sessions have no time limits.

False

The direct organizational pattern should be used when writing to an audience that will be unwilling, uninterested, displeased, disappointed, or hostile.

False

The first question to ask yourself when composing a business message is "What channel should I use to send the message?"

False

The first step of Phase 3 of the 3-x-3 writing process is evaluating the document.

False

The focus of a brainstorming session should be on the quality of ideas, not the quantity.

False

The following sentence contains a dangling modifier: Working all night, the report was finished by Robert.

False

The following sentence contains parallel structure: The policy affected all vendors, suppliers, and those involved with consulting.

False

The primary goal of business writing is to impress your reader.

False

The process of communication begins when the receiver puts a message into writing.

False

The sentence Clara was accepted into an MBA program is an active-voice sentence.

False

The topic sentence of a paragraph must always appear first.

False

Today's advanced spell checkers are capable of identifying all spelling errors.

False

When you expect the audience to be uninterested, unwilling, displeased, or hostile, the direct organizational strategy is more appropriate.

False

Words and phrases such as accordingly, as a result, and consequently are transitional expressions that contradict previous ideas.

False

Words like denigrate, the undersigned, and expropriate should be used in business messages because they will make you sound more professional.

False

You need to give me an answer by Friday is an example of sentence that uses a positive tone.

False

____ helps the sender know whether the message was received and understood.

Feedback

____ helps the sender know whether the message was received and understood. a.noise b.bypassing c.decoding d.feedback

Feedback

When should the active voice be used?

For most business writing

Melanie is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process. What should she do first in this second phase?

Gather any necessary information.

When should you send a thank you note:

Gift, Favor, Guest

Google Docs and other collaboration software

Google Docs and other collaboration software. For simple projects, collaboration software such as Google Docs permits teams to work on text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations either in real time or at different times. Multiple team members can edit and share Web pages, MS Word documents, or PDF (portable document format) files. Another popular collaboration tool is Dropbox, which offers cross-platform file sharing and online backup. Other useful, free programs enabling you to collaborate with team members, clients, and suppliers are Slack, Google Hangouts, and Trello

Which of the following is an example of a comma splice?

Hallie submitted her résumé online, she hoped to receive a response from the employer by the end of the week.

Which of the following sentences uses conversational, middle-level diction?

Hello! You will not believe what I just learned. Drop by my office before you leave today to discuss it.

Which of the following sentences uses conversational, middle-level diction? a) Salutations! I deem it possible that you will be perplexed by what has transpired on this very day. Please approach my office to confer with me before you depart for the present day. b) All of these sentences use conversational, middle-level diction. c) Hey, dude! UR not gonna believe this! Come by 2C me B4 you leave 2day. d) Hello! You will not believe what I just learned. Drop by my office before you leave today to discuss it.

Hello! You will not believe what I just learned. Drop by my office before you leave today to discuss it.

Adapting a message to its Audience

Identify the message purpose. Why are you writing, and what do you hope to achieve? Consider both primary and secondary audiences. Select the most appropriate channel. Consider the importance, feedback, interactivity, cost, formality, sensitivity, and richness of the options. Profile the audience. What is your relationship with the receiver? How much does the receiver know or need to know? Focus on audience benefits. Phrase your statements from the reader's view. Concentrate on the "you" view. Avoid gender, racial, age, and disability bias. Use bias-free words (businessperson rather than businessman, manager rather than Hispanic manager, new employee rather than new twenty-two-year-old employee, uses a wheelchair rather than confined to a wheelchair). Be conversational but professional. Strive for a warm, friendly tone that is not overly formal or familiar. Avoid slang and low-level diction. Express ideas positively rather than negatively. Instead of We can't ship until June 1, say We can ship on June 1. Use short, familiar words. Avoid big words and technical terms unless they are appropriate for the audience (end not terminate). Search for precise, vigorous words. Use a thesaurus if necessary to find strong verbs and concrete nouns (announces instead of says, brokerage instead of business).

You are talking with the president of your company about a possible merger. Which of the following is the most useful feedback you can provide during the conversation?

If I understand you correctly, your recommendation is that we go through with the merger.

You are talking with the president of your company about a possible merger. Which of the following is the most useful feedback you can provide during the conversation? a.There's no way this merger can possibly work b.Are you insane? c.I just don't understand why you think we should go through with this merger d. If I understand correctly, your recommendation is that we go through with the merger.

If I understand you correctly, your recommendation is that we go through with the merger.

What is the most accurate statement about slang and buzzwords?

If you want to sound professional, avoid using slangy expressions and buzzwords in your writing.

Best way to ask a series of questions in an e-mail:

In a bulleted or numbered list in the body of your e-mail

Communication

In its simplest form, communication may be defined as the transmission of information and meaning from a sender to a receiver. The crucial element in this definition is meaning. The process is successful only when the receiver understands an idea as the sender intended it.

Which of the following sentences does not contain any buried verbs? a. we have made plans to create a reduction in our operating expenses b. The health care industry is dependent on a highly trained staff c. The task force reached a conclusion that the company should go public. d.In some parts of the world, business is not conducted over meals

In some parts of the world, business is not conducted over meals

Which of the following sentences does not contain any buried verbs?

In some parts of the world, business is not conducted over meals.

Where should deadlines and action information be placed in a routine request message:

In the closing

You have just been given the job to write tweets for your company and to respond to customers' tweets using the Twitter microblogging service. What should you do?

Include only main ideas and choose descriptive but short words.

If an audience will be unwiling, uninterested, displeased, dissapointed the most effective organizational pattern is the:

Indirect

Instant messaging and texting

Instant messaging and texting. Because they ensure immediate availability, instant messaging and texting allow members to clear up minor matters immediately. They also may be helpful in initiating a quick group discussion.

Justification/recommendation reports

Make recommendations to management; provide data to solve problems and make decisions.

Inform

Many business messages do nothing more than inform. They explain procedures, announce meetings, answer questions, and transmit findings. Such messages are usually developed directly,

Select the active-voice sentence.

Many companies now offer wellness programs.

Select the active-voice sentence. a) Many companies now offer wellness programs. b) The applicant was contacted by the hiring manager. c) The sales meeting has been scheduled for Friday. d) The contract must be signed by all parties.

Many companies now offer wellness programs.

Which of the following is an example of an internal disruption in the decoding process? a. Sylvia finds it difficult to read her colleague's email message because its filled with grammatical errors b. Meghan finds her mind drifting during a lecture as she thinks about her upcoming trip to Florence. c. Loud construction sounds outside prevent Samuel from hearing the message d. Brandon is finding it hard to pay attention during the interview because the interviewer's phone keeps ringing

Meaghan finds her mind drifting during a lecture as she thinks about her upcoming trip to Florence

Which of the following is an example of an internal disruption in the decoding process?

Meaghan finds her mind drifting during a lecture as she thinks about her upcoming trip to Florence.

Select the most accurate statement about team writing.

Members of effective teams are usually eager to implement their recommendations

What should you do in the body of a direct clain letter:

Mention you have enclosed copies of all permanent documents

Robert must send an e-mail message to a client in Turkey. He is carefully selecting his words to ensure that his Turkish client, who speaks English as a second language, will understand them. He is involved in which part of the communication process?

Message encoding

Robert must send an e-mail message to a client in Turkey. He is carefully selecting his words to ensure that his Turkish client, who speaks English as a second language, will understand them. He is involved in which part of the communication process? a) Message encoding b) Idea formation c) Message transmission d) Message decoding

Message encoding

Which statement is most accurate about the 3x3:

Most experienced wirters spend most of their time in the third phase

Which of the following is an example of an effective, businesslike expression?

None of these choices

Micah is writing a proposal and wants to write powerful paragraphs. To ensure his paragraphs are powerful, how many ideas should he cover per paragraph?

One

The opening of a direct claim letter should:

Open with a clear statement of the problem or with the action you want the reciever to take

Other communication barriers

Other communication barriers are emotional interference, physical distractions, and digital interruptions. Shaping an intelligent message is difficult when one is feeling joy, fear, resentment, hostility, sadness, or some other strong emotion

Which of the following sentences does not contain a long lead-in?

Our meeting time has been changed.

Which of the following sentences demonstrates parallelism?

Our new CEO's objectives are to improve employee morale, to boost revenues, and to enhance community relations.

Which of the following sentences demonstrates parallelism?

Our new CEO's objectives are to improve empoyee morale, to boost revenues and enhance community relations

Which of the following sentences demonstrates parallelism?

Our regional sales staff will meet in Los Angeles on February 1, in Pittsburgh on August 15, and in Kansas City on December 1

Which of the following sentences demonstrates parallelism?

Our regional sales staff will meet in Los Angeles on February 1, in Pittsburgh on August 15, and in Kansas City on December 1.

Team Writing

Phase 1 of the writing process, teams work together closely as they discuss the project and establish their purpose. In Phase 2 members generally work separately when they conduct research, organize their findings, and compose a first draft. During Phase 3, some teams work together to synthesize their drafts and offer suggestions for revision. Other teams appoint one person to proofread and edit and another to prepare the final document. The revision and evaluation phase might be repeated several times before the final product is ready for presentation. Sharing the entire writing process, means that all team members contribute their skills during the three phases.

Hannah posts her resume on the websites of several companies. Unfortunately, it is poorly formatted and contains several spelling and grammar errors. What kind of communication barrier may this cause? a. Bypassing b. Emotional distraction c. Physical distraction d. Differing frames of reference

Physical distraction

Hannah posts her résumé on the websites of several companies. Unfortunately, it is poorly formatted and contains several spelling and grammar errors. What kind of communication barrier may this cause?

Physical distraction

Which of the following is an independent clause?

Please call with any questions you have

Which is the best closing to a direct claim letter:

Please credit $24 to my account by March 31, when my next billing cycle begins

You want your writing to sound positive and courteous. Which of the following sentences has the best choice of wording?

Please give us your feedback about your online ordering experience.

Which of the following sentences best demonstrates clarity?

Please let your employees know about next Friday's meeting.

Which of the following is the best example of business writing?

Please tell your employees about the company's new social media policy.

The body of a routine response message should:

Present details that explain your request or response

Jorge is working on a sales brochure to promote a new product. Which of the following will Jorge do during the third phase of the writing process?

Proofread the brochure carefully for correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

During Phase 3 of the 3-x-3 writing process, Jamar is correcting his document's grammar, spelling, punctuation, format, and mechanics. What is Jamar doing?

Proofreading

Which of the following documents would most likely use an introduction, a proposed solution, staffing, a schedule and/or costs, and authorization organization?

Proposal

Blake has just written an e-mail message to his colleagues. Before sending it, he wants to make sure that his colleagues will immediately understand the message. What is Blake checking for?

Punctuation

digital collaboration tools

Ranging from simple to complex, inexpensive to expensive, locally installed to remotely hosted, commercial to open source, and small to large. Digital collaboration tools are especially necessary when team members are not physically in the same location. Even when members are nearby, they may use collaboration tools such as the following: Email, instant messaging and texting, Wikis, track changes and other tools, web and telephone conference, Google Docs and other collaboration software

Which of the following is a compound sentence?

Raymond applied for the position and he was called for an interview two days later.

Which of the following is a compound sentence?

Raymond applied for the position, and he was called for an interview two days later.

Which of the following is a compound sentence? a. It's highly likely that your request for leave will be approved. b. If you have any questions, please e-mail me. c. Before the meeting ended, Sofia shared her new product idea; consequently, her ideas were included in the meeting minutes. d. Raymond applied for the position, and he was called for an interview two days later.

Raymond applied for the position, and he was called for an interview two days later.

Which of the following is not an advantage of the indirect pattern?

Reduces frustration

formal research

Research that may include accessing digital sources, searching manually, investigating primary sources, and conducting scientific experiments.

Which of the following subject lines is most effective:

Sales Meeting on January 30

Samuel is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process. What question should he ask while collecting information during this second phase?

Samuel should ask all of these questions

Samuel is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process. What question should he ask while collecting information during this second phase? a.What is the receiver to do and how is the receiver to do it? b.What does the receiver need to know about the topic? c. Samuel should ask all of these questions. d.When must the receive do it?

Samuel should ask all of these questions

Samuel is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process. What question should he ask while collecting information during this second phase?

Samuel should ask all of these questions.

Samuel is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process. What question should he ask while collecting information during this second phase? a) Samuel should ask all of these questions. b) What is the receiver to do and how is the receiver to do it? c) What does the receiver need to know about the topic? d) When must the receiver do it?

Samuel should ask all of these questions.

What is the least accurate statement about typefaces and fonts?

San serif typefaces are best for business messages and longer documents.

Which of the following is not one of the 5 S's

Savvy

passive voice

Sentences in which the subject is acted upon (The message was posted by Shawn.)

active voice

Sentences in which the subject is the doer of the action (Shawn posted the message).

Chuck is part of a team identifying ideas to cut expenses. The team has decided to hold a brainstorming session. What is the best strategy the team can do during this session?

Set an established time limit.

Edwin has just been hired as an executive assistant and will be doing a lot of writing on the job. What is the best advice you can give him about composing documents?

Set aside a given time for writing during which he will have no visitors, phone calls, or interruptions.

Which of the following is a dependent clause?

Since the company began selling stock to the public

persuade

Some business messages, however, are meant to persuade. These messages attempt to sell products, convince managers, motivate employees, and win over customers. Persuasive messages are often developed indirectly,

barriers

Some of the most significant barriers for individuals are bypassing, differing frames of reference, lack of language skill, and distractions.

Best business writers do what in the opening paragraph:

State immediately whay they are writing

Francis is starting his first full-time job after graduating from college, and he wants to sound conversational but professional on the job. What is the best advice you can give him?

Strive for an informal, conversational tone in most business messages.

Francis is starting his first full-time job after graduating from college, and he wants to sound conversational but professional on the job. What is the best advice you can give him? a. Use texting-style abbreviations such as BTW and slang in his professional messages to be concise and to show that he's up-to-date with technology. b. Strive for an informal, conversational tone in most business messages. c. Use high-level diction in most business messages. d. Avoid sending text messages on the job because doing so will make him look unprofessional.

Strive for an informal, conversational tone in most business messages.

Which of the following statements about team writing is most accurate?

Team members will usually gather at the beginning of a project to brainstorm.

Which of the following statements about team writing is most accurate? a. Team members are more likely to work together during Phase 2 of the writing process than any other phase. b. Team members will usually gather at the beginning of a project to brainstorm. c. To save time, teams should go through the revision and evaluation phase just one time. d. In preparing big projects, teams will usually function together for each phase of the writing process.

Team members will usually gather at the beginning of a project to brainstorm.

Why Are Team-Written Documents Better?

Team-written documents and presentations are standard in most organizations because collaboration has many advantages. Most important, collaboration usually produces a better product because many heads are better than one. In addition, team members and organizations benefit from team processes.

informal research

Techniques such as searching the company's files, talking with the boss, interviewing a target audience, and conducting an informal survey.

Which of the following sentences sounds most conversational?

Thanks for your help last week.

3-x-3 writing process

The 3-x-3 writing process breaks the entire task into three phases: prewriting, drafting, and revising

You want to use precise, vigorous words to give your readers more information and keep them interested. Which of the following sentences has the best wording?

The March balance sheet reports a 10 percent decrease in expenses for the first quarter of the fiscal year.

Which sentence best emphasizes the attorney? a. Before the trial resumed, the attorney practiced her closing arguments b. Because the attorney is ready, she will give her closing arguments. c. The attorney delivered the closing argument. d.The closing arguments were delivered by the attorney

The attorney delivered the closing argument.

Communication process

The communication process begins when the sender has an idea. The form of the idea may be influenced by complex factors surrounding the sender. These factors include mood, frame of reference, background, culture, and physical makeup, as well as the context of the situation and many other factors.

receiver

The individual for whom the message is intended is the receiver.

Which of the following sentences does not contain a verb that has been converted into a noun?

The jury concluded that the defendant was guilty.

medium

The medium over which the message travels is the channel. Messages may be delivered by computer, wireless network, smartphone, social network, letter, memorandum, report, announcement, picture, spoken word, fax, Web page, or some other channe

encoding

The next step in the communication process involves encoding. This means converting the idea into words or gestures that will convey meaning. A major problem in communicating any message verbally is that words have different meanings for different people.

organizing

The part of the writing process that involves grouping and strategizing.

Sender

The process is successful only when the receiver understands an idea as the sender intended it.

When choosing the best channel for your message, you should consider the importance of the message, the amount and speed of feedback and interactivity required, the necessity of a permanent record, the cost of the channel, the degree of formality desired, the confidentiality and sensitivity of the message, and a. the receiver's preference and level of experience b.the ability of the channel to make your company look cutting edge c. The ability of the channel to showcase your technical expertise d. your own communication channel preference

The receiver's preference and level of expertise

Which of the following sentences does not show gender bias?

The servers at Cafe Divine are always professional.

brainstorming

The spontaneous contribution of ideas from members of a group; a popular method for generating ideas.

feedback

The verbal and nonverbal responses of the receiver create feedback, a vital part of the communication process. Feedback helps the sender know that the message was received and understood.

Select the passive-voice sentence.

The website was redesigned by a team of professionals.

writing techniques

These techniques include featuring audience benefits, cultivating a "you" view, sounding conversational but professional, and using positive, courteous expression. Additional adaptive techniques include using bias-free language and preferring plain language with familiar but vigorous words.

A newly hired colleague has asked for your advice about revising e-mail messages, text messages, and tweets. What is the best advice you can give her?

To avoid messages that waste time, create confusion, and reduce your credibility, take time to revise e-mail messages, text messages, and tweets.

When should the passive voice be used?

To de-emphasize bad news

Track Changes and other tools

Track Changes and other tools. MS Word includes Track Changes and Comment features that enable collaborators working on the same document to identify and approve edits made by team members. See the accompanying Plugged In box for more information about using these collaboration tools.

decoding

Translating the message from its symbol form into meaning involves decoding.

A topic sentence should reveal the main idea of a paragraph.

True

A useful technique for proofreading important documents that must be perfect is to read the message aloud.

True

Add end punctuation to a numbered or bulleted list only if the items in the list are complete sentences.

True

Cassandra is trying to decide whether to call her boss or to send an e-mail message. Cassandra is in the first phase of the writing process.

True

Concise messages are easier to read and comprehend than wordy messages.

True

Encourage the receiver to respond to your message to evaluate its success.

True

Every message you write should begin with the notion that your audience is thinking What's in it for me?(WIIFM)

True

Good attorneys always defend their clients demonstrates better business writing than A good attorney always defends his client.

True

In team writing projects, team members usually work most closely together during Phase 1, the prewriting phase.

True

In the sentence It is absolutely essential that you turn your expense claim in by Friday, the expression absolutely essential is redundant.

True

Jack is writing a memo to refuse an employee's vacation request. He should use the indirect pattern.

True

June is our busiest month, February is our slowest contains a comma splice.

True

Long reports and complex business problems generally require formal research methods.

True

Madeline is writing an e-mail message to ask about conference facility availability and rates. She should use the direct pattern.

True

Many communication experts regard poor organization as the greatest failing of business messages.

True

Many communication experts regard poor organization as the greatest failing of business writers.

True

Numbered and bulleted lists can improve readability, comprehension, and retention.

True

One of the benefits of effective research in business writing is that it can save the writer time.

True

Organizing one's ideas ahead of time and working from an outline are good ways to prevent writer's block.

True

Placing the main idea first or last in a sentence is a good way to emphasize it

True

Preparing a business message or presentation is easier and more efficient if you have a systematic process to follow.

True

Professional business messages should not include texting-style abbreviations such as BTW, slang, sentence fragments, or chitchat.

True

Profiling the audience means anticipating how both primary and secondary audiences will react to a message.

True

Ragged right margins⎯that is, without alignment or justification⎯provide more white space and improve readability.

True

Sentences that average 20 words are most effective for business writing.

True

Some experts recommend spending about half the total composition time editing, proofreading, and evaluating a document.

True

Team writing is especially important for documents that require the expertise or consensus of many people.

True

The best feedback to a message is descriptive rather than evaluative.

True

The first ATM opened near London in 1967 is an example of an independent clause.

True

The first step of Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process is to conduct research to collect all the needed information.

True

The first word of every item in a numbered or bulleted list should be capitalized.

True

The following sentence contains a verb that has been converted to a noun: Morgan performed an analysis of the quarterly sales figures.

True

The third phase of the writing process involves editing, proofreading, and evaluating your message.

True

The verb in the following sentence is in the active voice: James responded to the inquiry.

True

There are, there is, and it is are examples of unnecessary opening fillers.

True

To achieve parallel construction, use similar structures to express similar ideas.

True

Underlining, bold type, or italics can be used to call attention to important points and terms.

True

With a solid plan and careful planning is a sentence fragment.

True

You and your boss come from very different educational and professional backgrounds. You are most likely to experience communication barriers due to differing frames of reference.

True

You can start lowering your energy expenses immediately is an example of an audience-focused sentence.

True

Elizabeth wants to avoid monotony and add spark to her business messages. What should she do? a. use brightly colored font when she prints her docs b. use a variety of sentence type faces c.spritz her printed messages with an exciting fragrance d. Make sure that every sentence is compound-complex because this is the most complicated type of sentence type

Use a variety of sentence types

Monique wants to be an effective e-mail communicator:

Use bullets,consider cultural differences,double check before hitting send

What is the most accurate statement about white space in a business document?

Use headings, bulleted or numbered lists, and effective margins to create the desired amount of white space.

Which of the following is not a mechanical technique for stressing important ideas?

Using vivid words

Which of the following sentences best controls exuberance?

We are happy to learn that your banquet room is available on December 15.

Which of the following is the best opening to an adjustment letter:

We have credited $24 to your account

Which of the following sentences avoids use of trite business phrases?

We have received your loan application.

Which of the following is the best closing for an adjustment message:

We hope this refund proves our commitment to providing exellent customer service

Which of the following sentences does not contain any slang or buzzwords?

We need to do everything possible to stay ahead of our competition.

You are preparing an outline for your report on Web security in the workplace. Which of the following should be a major category for this outline?

Web Security Threats

You are preparing an outline for your report on Web security in the workplace. Which of the following should be a major category for this outline? a) Web Security Threats b) Spam c) Adware and Spyware d) Phishing

Web Security Threats

Web and telephone conferencing

Web and telephone conferencing. When teams need to share information and make decisions in real time, conferencing tools such as WebEx and GoToMeeting work well. Telephone conferencing tools also enable teams to work together when they can't be together.

Brooke is working on a business proposal for a prospective client. What is the primary question Brooke should ask as she gathers information for her project?

What does the client need to know about this topic?

In the planning stage of the writing process, business writers collect research. Which question should a business writer ask when collecting research?

What does the receiver need to know about this topic?

Which of the following statements about business writing is least accurate?

When writing business documents, business communicators should recognize that quantity enhances quality.

Which of the following is a clause?

When you were on vacation

Which of the following is a clause? a) Will be presenting b) On our Facebook page c) On Monday d) When you were on vacation

When you were on vacation

Which of the following statements about formal and informal research is least accurate?

When you work on a business report, avoid using the Web for research because much of what is available on the Web isn't credible.

Wikis

Wikis. A wiki is a website that allows multiple users to create, revise, and edit their own documents as well as contribute ideas to others'. A wiki facilitates teamwork because members can make comments and monitor the progress of a project. Perhaps the best part of a wiki is that it serves as an ongoing storehouse of information that can be used for reference. Wikis avoid the danger of losing track of information in e-mails and separate documents

You are in charge of preparing a sales brochure and must profile your audience. What question should you ask to profile your primary audience?

You should ask all these questions

You are in charge of preparing a sales brochure and must profile your audience. What question should you ask to profile your primary audience? a. You should ask all these questions. b. How much does this person know about the subject? c. Should I expect a neutral, positive, or negative response to my message? d. What do I know about this person's education, beliefs, culture, and attitudes?

You should ask all these questions.

Which of the following statements about anticipating and profiling your audience is most accurate?

You will adjust your tone, style, and content to accommodate the expectations and needs of your audience.

Which sentence best illustrates the "you" view?

You will receive your complete walking tour itinerary one month before your trip.

Which sentence best illistrates the "you" view

You will recive your complete itinerary one month before your trip

Which of the following represents the best business writing?

Your plane leaves San Francisco at 7:20 a.m., PST, and arrives in Atlanta at 3 p.m., EST.

To apply for a job, a résumé must be submitted contains a. a dangling modifier b.a limiting clause c. the active voice d. a misplaced modifier

a dangling modifier

An American sales team offended a group of Peruvian business people by starting its sales presentation without first engaging in informal conversation as expected in the Peruvian culture. The communication barrier in this instance could be attributed to a. emotional interference caused when senders or receivers are distracted by internal feelings. b. a failure to recognize different frames of reference. c. poor listening skills. d. bypassing.

a failure to recognize different frames of reference.

Jeanette is offended when she notices that only masculine pronouns are used in the company's human resources manual. This decoding problem is a result of

a semantic obstacle

Which of the following is a sentence fragment? a) Although we expect sales to increase next quarter. b) Although we expect sales to increase next quarter, we can't afford to hire any additional employees right now. c) We can't afford to hire any additional employees right now. d) We expect sales to increase next quarter.

a) Although we expect sales to increase next quarter.

Sofia is an event planner and is responding to an e-mail request from a client. What should Sofia do during the second phase of the writing process? a) Determine the best organizational pattern for her reply message to the client. b) Analyze the situation and anticipate how her client will respond to her message. c) Proofread for spelling and grammar errors in the message. d) Check the format of the message.

a) Determine the best organizational pattern for her reply message to the client.

Angelica has been asked to learn how many pedestrians walk by a specific location that her company is considering for a new sporting goods retail shop. Probably the most useful way to research this information would be by a) investigating primary sources. b) searching the Web. c) conducting a scientific experiment with controlled variables. d) manually searching resources in her public library.

a) investigating primary sources.

is the process of creating a message that suits your audience

adaption

Anthony is part of a virtual team collaborating on a written proposal. Which of the following collaboration tools can help his team work together on this shared document?

all of the choices

What should you do to make a business message clear? a. keep your message short and simple b. all of these c.dump trite business phrases d. avoid cliches, slang and buzzwords

all of these

What is an advantage of creating well-designed documents? a. all of these are advantages of a well designed document b. well-designed docs are easier to read c. well-designed docs make their writer look well-organized and intelligent d. well-designed docs are easier to comprehend

all of these are advantages

What is an advantage of concise business messages?

all of these are advantages of concise business messages

To make your business messages concise, you should avoid which of the following?

all of these choices

which of the following takes place during the third phase of the 3-x-3 writing process?

all of these choices

When proofreading a document, be concerned with

all of these choices.

The final phase of the 3-x-3 writing process focuses on

all of these tasks

Which of the following should be organized in a direct pattern?

an online manual showing visitors how to download a software program

The best business writing is purposeful, economical, and

audience oriented

Which of the following is an example of using a formal research method? a) Hank talks with his boss to decide what items to include on the meeting agenda. b) Amy conducts a Web search to find information about a competitor's products. c) Galen looks in the company files for copies of minutes from previous meetings. d) Emily calls a few of her colleagues to learn how they feel about carpooling.

b) Amy conducts a Web search to find information about a competitor's products.

Brooke is working on a business proposal for a prospective client. What is the primary question Brooke should ask as she gathers information for her project?

b) What does the client need to know about this topic?

Jeanette is offended when she notices that only masculine pronouns are used in the company's human resources manual. This decoding problem is a result of a) a closed communication climate. b) a semantic obstacle. c) an external disruption. d) bypassing.

b) a semantic obstacle.

An organizational pattern that presents the main idea after the details, explanation, and evidence is the? a) geographical organizational pattern. b) indirect organizational pattern. c) direct organizational pattern. d) chronological organizational pattern.

b) indirect organizational pattern.

A company's annual report describes the company's efforts to give back to the community. The primary purpose of this report is to ____; the secondary purpose is to ____. a) promote goodwill; persuade b) inform; promote goodwill c) inform; persuade d) persuade; inform

b) inform; promote goodwil

Kendra is part of a team that will be preparing a presentation to the board of directors about a new product idea. What will her team likely do the first time they meet?

brainstorm for ideas

Robert says that he will answer his client's questions "as soon as possible." Robert plans to answer the questions by early next week; his client expects the answers by the end of the day. This misunderstanding results from

bypassing

____ is the process of creating a message that suits your audience. a) Anticipation b) Analyzing c) Adaptation d) Researching

c) Adaptation

Suzanne has just received an e-mail message from a client and is reading it carefully to determine her client's needs. She is involved in the ____ part of the communication process. a) channel selection b) feedback c) decoding d) encoding

c) decoding

If an audience will be unwilling, uninterested, displeased, disappointed, or hostile, the most effective organizational pattern is the a) chronological pattern. b) geographical pattern. c) indirect pattern. d) direct pattern.

c) indirect pattern.

While reading an e-mail message from her boss, Melissa is distracted by numerous typographical and spelling errors. These errors that detract from the message and make it difficult to read are called a) feedback. b) bypassing. c) noise. d) frame of reference.

c) noise.

E-mail messages, text messages, tweets, smartphones, wireless networks, letters, memos, reports, pictures, and spoken words are all examples of

channels

When dependent clauses precede independent clauses, they always are followed by a

comma

What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses with a comma?

comma splice

What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses with a comma? a.Comma splice b. none of the above c. fragment d.run-on sentence

comma splice

What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses without using a conjunction or semicolon?

comma splice

What type of sentence fault results when a writer punctuates a broken-off part of a complex sentence as if it were a complete sentence?

comma splice

what type of sentence fault results when a writer punctuates a brown off part of a complex sentence as if it were a complete sentence?

comma splice

What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses without using a conjunction or semicolon?

comma spllice

When dependent clauses precede independent clauses, they always are followed by a a) semicolon. b) period. c) colon. d) comma.

comma.

Differences in frames of reference are especially significant when

communicating with people from different cultures

differences in frames of reference are especially significant when

communicating with people from different cultures

Which sentence type contains an independent clause and a dependent clause?

complex

The sentence I am writing this e-mail message to let you know that we have received your application for the receptionist position

contains a long lead-in

While conducting an orientation session for new employees, Clayton noticed looks of confusion on the faces of some listeners. He then paused and asked his audience, "What questions do you have so far?" Clayton was striving to overcome communication barriers by

creating an environment for useful feedback.

In asking consumers what career its famous Barbie doll should pursue next, toymaker Mattel was using ________.

crowdsourcing

What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses without using a conjunction or semicolon? a) None of the above b) Run-on sentence c) Fragment d) Comma splice

d) Comma splice

Which of the following is done during Phase 2 of the writing process?

d) Organizing

Which of the following sentences does not show gender bias? a) All managers and their wives are invited to Friday's cocktail party. b) Two firemen will collect the toy donations. c) Every flight attendant must submit her security clearance card before boarding. d) The servers at Cafe Divine are always professional.

d) The servers at Cafe Divine are always professional.

To apply for a job, a résumé must be submitted contains a) the active voice. b) a misplaced modifier. c) a limiting clause. d) a dangling modifier.

d) a dangling modifier.

Differences in frames of reference are especially significant when a) overcoming physical barriers to communication. b) dealing with conflicting emotions. c) working on improving one's listening skills. d) communicating with people from different cultures.

d) communicating with people from different cultures.

Many communication experts regard ______________ as the greatest failing of business writers. a) bad spelling b) limited education c) overconfidence d) poor organization

d) poor organization

Suzanne has just received an e-mail message from a client and is reading it carefully to determine her client's needs. She is involved in the ____ part of the communication process.

decoding

Clauses that begin with words like although, since, because, when, and if are usually

dependent.

Clauses that begin with words like although, since, because, when, and if are usually a) dependent. b) direct. c) indirect. d) independent.

dependent.

Jargon

describes technical or specialized terms within a field. These terms enable insiders to communicate complex ideas briefly, but to outsiders they mean nothing

Sofia is an event planner and is responding to an e-mail request from a client. What should Sofia do during the second phase of the writing process?

determine the best organizational pattern for her reply message to the client

As a technical support rep, Michael is responding to a customer's question sent to him via e-mail. What is the very first task Michael should do

determine the purpose of the message he will send as a response

Alex is having trouble concentrating on a report he is reading because his smartphone keeps ringing and his colleagues keep sending him text messages. What kind of communication barrier is this?

digital interruptions

Most business messages use the ____ paragraph plan because it clarifies the subject immediately.

direct

An organizational pattern that presents the main idea after the details, explanation, and evidence is the a. chronological organizational pattern b. geographical organizational pattern c. indirect organizational pattern d.direct organizational pattern

direct organizational pattern

Jane's plan for a business message begins with the main idea, followed by the details, explanation, and evidence. Jane is using the _______.

direct organizational pattern

An organizational pattern that presents the main idea followed by details, explanation, and evidence is the

direct organizational pattern.

When you expect the reader to be pleased, mildly interested, or neutral the most effective organizational pattern is the

direct pattern

Peter is writing an e-mail message to his staff about an upcoming training session, and he is sure they'll be pleased with the news. Peter should use the

direct pattern.

Peter is writing an e-mail message to his staff about an upcoming training session, and he is sure they'll be pleased with the news. Peter should use the a) indirect pattern. b) chronological pattern. c) direct pattern. d) geographical pattern.

direct pattern.

When you expect the reader to be pleased, mildly interested, or neutral the most effective organizational pattern is the

direct pattern.

Sentences are _________ when an idea at the end of one connects with an idea at the beginning of the next.

dovetailed

Deborah is writing a proposal to solicit business from potential client. she should expect to spend the most time on

editing proofreading, and evaluating the proposal

Deborah is writing a proposal to solicit business from a potential client. She should expect to spend the most time on

editing, proofreading, and evaluating the proposal.

Deborah is writing a proposal to solicit business from a potential client. She should expect to spend the most time on a) composing the first draft of the proposal at her computer. b) researching the information to include in the proposal. c) analyzing the purpose of the message and anticipating the needs of the client. d) editing, proofreading, and evaluating the proposal.

editing, proofreading, and evaluating the proposal.

You want to simplify your language and use short, familiar words that your audience will recognize. Which of the following sentences has the best wording?

employees are invited to attend a special lincheon next week

the us army careful selected the words used in its slogan "be all you can be" while

encoding the message

The U.S. Army carefully selected the words used in its slogan, "Be all you can be," while a) selecting the channel. b) decoding the message. c) evaluating the message. d) encoding the message.

encoding the message.

Which of the following statements about the 3-x-3 writing process is most accurate

experienced writers usually spend the most time on the third phase of the writing process

During freewriting, it is important to edit each sentence before moving on to the next one.

false

Headings are used only in reports; they are never used in letters, memos, or e-mail messages.

false

The following sentence contains parallel structure: The policy affected all vendors, suppliers, and those involved with consulting.

false

When you expect the audience to be uninterested, unwilling, displeased, or hostile, the direct organizational strategy is more appropriate.

false --> indirect

___ helps the sender know whether the message was received and understood.

feedback

Jay includes the sentence "Let me know whether I can answer any questions" at the end of his e-mail message as a way to encourage

feedback.

Jay includes the sentence "Let me know whether I can answer any questions" at the end of his e-mail message as a way to encourage a. frame of reference. b. feedback c. decoding d. bypassing

feedback.

which of the following statements abut the "you" view is most accurate?

first person pronouns such as I, WE and OUR should be avoided in busienesss messages

The sentence In the event that you pass the CPA exam, please consider applying again could be made more effective by eliminating a(n)

flabby expression.

At this point in time, due to the fact that, feel free to, and in the near future are examples of

flabby expressions.

frame of reference

frame of reference. Everything you see and feel in the world is translated through your individual frame of reference. Your unique frame is formed by a combination of your experiences, education, culture, expectations, personality, and other elements. As a result, you bring your own biases and expectations to any communication situation.

Positive language

generally conveys more information than negative language does. positive messages are uplifting and pleasant to read. Positive wording tells what is and what can be done rather than what isn't and what can't be done.

One of the most important tasks in preparing well-organized messages is

grouping similar ideas together.

One of the most important tasks in preparing well-organized messages i

grouping. similar ideas together

Which of the following sentences uses conversational, middle-level diction

hello! you will not believe what I just learned drop by my office before you leave today to discuss it

Sensitive messages that deliver bad news should usually be organized

in an indirect pattern.

Sensitive messages that deliver bad news should usually be organized a) in an indirect pattern. b) in a direct pattern. c) in a pivoting pattern. d) by geographical area.

in an indirect pattern.

Which of the following sentences does not contain any buried verbs?

in some parts of the world, business is not conducted over meals

An organizational pattern that presents the main idea after the details, explanation, and evidence is the a. chronological organizational pattern b. geographical organizational pattern c. indirect organizational pattern d.direct organizational pattern

indirect organizational pattern

An organizational pattern that presents the main idea after the details, explanation, and evidence is the

indirect organizational pattern.

Peter is writing an e-mail message to his staff informing them that the new computers promised to arrive on Monday will be delayed for two weeks. He knows that many people will be frustrated because their current computers are slow and outdated. Which organizational pattern should his message follow?

indirect pattern

Claudia is writing to an employee to deny the employee's request to work from home three days a week. Claudia should write the letter using the a) chronological pattern. b) indirect pattern. c) geographical pattern. d) direct pattern.

indirect pattern.

Devon is writing an e-mail message to a customer to tell him that the customer's order has been shipped. His primary purpose is to

inform

The primary purpose of messages that explain procedures, announce meetings, answer questions, and transmit findings is to

inform

the primary purpose of messages that explain procedures announce meetings and answer questions and transmit findings is to

inform

A company's annual report describes the company's efforts to give back to the community. The primary purpose of this report is to ____; the secondary purpose is to ____.

inform; promote goodwill

Daniel has been asked to learn what features his customers consider most important when purchasing a car. Probably the best research method for Daniel is _______.

investigating primary sources

Angelica has been asked to learn how many pedestrians walk by a specific location that her company is considering for a new sporting goods retail shop. Probably the most useful way to research this information would be by

investigating primary sources.

A trite business phrase such as please do not hesitate to

is a stale expression that other writers have used over the years

Naoko has just moved to the United States from Japan and is taking a class to improve her English skills. What interpersonal communication barrier is she trying to overcome?

lack of language skill

The sentence In the event that you pass the CPA exam, please consider applying again could be made more effective by eliminating a(n) a.flabby expressions b. opening filler c. redundancy d. long lead-in

long lead-in

Because of budget cutbacks, you must lay off your receptionist. What is the best way for you to deliver this message?

meet with her face to face

Because of budget cutbacks, you must lay off your receptionist. What is the best way for you to deliver this message?

meet with her face to face conversation

Robert must send an e-mail message to a client in Turkey. He is carefully selecting his words to ensure that his Turkish client, who speaks English as a second language, will understand them. He is involved in which part of the communication process?

message encoding

While reading an e-mail message from her boss, Melissa is distracted by numerous typographical and spelling errors. These errors that detract from the message and make it difficult to read are called

noise

As her supervisor explains the new procedure, Rachel nods her head. Rachel's response is an example of

nonverbal feedback

As her supervisor explains the new procedure, Rachel nods her head. Rachel's response is an example of a.nonverbal feedback b.verbal feedback c.noise d.evaluation

nonverbal feedback

Micah is writing a proposal and wants to write powerful paragraphs. To ensure his paragraphs are powerful, how many ideas should he cover per paragraph?

one

The sentence There are five new items that we will add to our menu next week could be made more concise by eliminating a(n)

opening filler.

When dependent clauses precede independent clauses, they always are followed by a

period

collaboration software

permits teams to work on text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations either in real time or at different times.

The primary purpose of messages that sell products, convince managers, motivate employees, and win over customers is to

persuade

The primary purpose of messages that sell products, convince managers, motivate employees, and win over customers is to a.promote goodwill b.persuade c.educate d.inform

persuade

Victoria is writing an e-mail message to her colleagues to encourage them to take part in a charitable fund-raiser. Her primary purpose is to a. intimidate. b. promote goodwill. c. persuade d. inform.

persuade.

Shauna is writing a document that will compare and contrast different retirement plans. She will most likely use the ____ paragraph plan.

pivoting

Shauna is writing a document that will compare and contrast different retirement plans. She will most likely use the ____ paragraph plan. a. direct b.pivoting c.transitional d. indirect

pivoting

what want your writing to sound positive and courteous. what is the best sentence

please give us your feedback about your online ordering experience

Many communication experts regard ______________ as the greatest failing of business writers.

poor organization

The body of a routine request or response message should:

present details that explain your request or response

Basic fundamentals, exactly identical, and repeat again are all examples of

redundancies one word repeats the meaning of another

Basic fundamentals, exactly identical, and repeat again are all examples of

redundancies.

When brainstorming to generate ideas, a group should _______.

require every participant to contribute ideas

Informal research methods may include talking with your boss, interviewing the target audience, conducting an informal survey, and _______.

searching company files

When employees at Coors translated its slogan "Turn It Loose" into Spanish, they didn't realize it would translate to "suffer from diarrhea." To avoid similar problems, the sender of a message mus

select appropriate words or symbols as part of the encoding process

Determining whether a message will be transmitted by e-mail or delivered in person is part of a. adapting a message to the audience b. selecting an appropriate communication channel for the message c. using the correct tone for the message d. selecting the appropriate audience for the message

selecting an appropriate communication channel for the message

Determining whether a message will be transmitted by e-mail or delivered in person is part of

selecting an appropriate communication channel for the message.

Zachary needs to deliver a sensitive message to a colleague and decides to deliver it face-to-face. Zachary is in the process of

selection the channel for the message

so that your needs can be better met in the future, please complete the online survey about your recent flight with southwest airlines

spotlighting audience benefits

So that your needs can better be met in the future, please complete the online survey about your recent flight with Southwest Airlines is an example of

spotlighting audience benefits.

Francis is starting his first full-time job after graduating from college, and he wants to sound conversational but professional on the job. What is the best advice you can give him?

strive for an informal, conversational tone in most business messages

distractions

successful decoding is more likely to be achieved when the receiver creates a receptive environment and ignores distractions.

Select the active-voice sentence

the contract must be signed by all parties

When should the passive voice be used? a. for most business writing b. to de-emphasize bad news c. to emphasize the doer of the action d. never

the de-emphasize bad news

When should the passive voice be used? a. for most business writing b.to de-emphasize bad news c.to emphasize the doer of the action d. never

the de-emphasize bad news

the process of communication is successful only when

the receiver understands an idea as the sender intended it

The process of communication is successful only when

the receiver understands an idea as the sender intended it.

Two simple techniques can help writers organize data

the scratch list and the outline.

The process of communication begins when a.The receiver actually receives the message b. the sender has an idea c.the message is sent over a communication channel the receiver d. the message is put into words

the sender has an idea.

When should the passive voice be used?

to emphasize

As per your request, enclosed please find, and thank you in advance are all examples of

trite business phrases.

A face-to-face conversation is considered a richer medium than a written report or proposal.

true

A topic sentence should reveal the main idea of a paragraph.

true

Long reports and complex business problems generally require formal research methods.

true

Many communication experts regard poor organization as the greatest failing of business messages.

true

One of the benefits of effective research in business writing is that it can save the writer time

true

The following sentence contains a redundancy: After studying the basic fundamentals of the provisions, I have decided to vote for the contract.

true

The sentence James responded to the inquiry is an active-voice sentence in which James acts as the subject.

true

Omar is writing an e-mail message about a new delivery service. In anticipating and profiling the audience, he should

try to get a general idea of who his audience is

Omar is writing an e-mail message about a new delivery service. In anticipating and profiling the audience, he should

try to get a general idea of who his audience is.

Instruction messages should be written:

using a straighforward, direct approach

You have created a bulleted list showing features that you are including on your company's Facebook page. Which of the following items is not parallel with the others?

we will hold a weekly prize giveaway

Brooke is working on a business proposal for a prospective client. What is the primary question Brooke should ask as she gathers information for her project?

what does the client need to know about this topic

Which of the following statements about business writing is least accurate?

when writing business documents, business communicators should reunite that quantity enhances quality

Which of the following statements about formal and informal research is least accurate?

when you work on a business report, avoid using the web for research because much of what is available on the web isn't credible.

One effective way to overcome writer's block is to

work in a quiet environment in which you can concentrate

One effective way to overcome writer's block is to

work in a quiet environment in which you can concentrate.

One effective way to overcome writer's block is to a) stare at the page until you think of something to write. b) take a creativity-enhancing vitamin supplement. c) concentrate on finding the right words and perfect sentence structure before putting your ideas on paper. d) work in a quiet environment in which you can concentrate.

work in a quiet environment in which you can concentrate.

Suzanne has been told that freewriting may help her with her writer's block. What does freewriting mean

writing quickly without getting bogged down with the perfect words

gender-biased

you can avoid gender-biased language by choosing alternate language for words involving man or woman, by using plural nouns and pronouns, or by changing to a gender-free word (person or representative). Avoid the his or her option whenever possible. It's wordy and conspicuous. With a little effort, you can usually find a construction that is graceful, grammatical, and unself-conscious.

You are formatting a business document and want to make the best use of margins. What should you do?

you should do all of those

Which sentence best illustrates the "you" view?

you will receive your complete walking tour itinerary one month before your trip