BCOM 3113 Chapter 5

Example of incorrect usage of idioms

- Authority about - Comply to

Examples of correct idioms

- Different from - Attitude toward

Which of the following are actions to take when using an acronym that is likely unfamiliar to your readers?

- It should be spelled out on its first use - the acronym should e defined - the initials should be included after the first mention of the spelled-out term

Examples of concrete words

- Larry Bird - house - car

Before writing a message, you should do which of the following?

- Learn as much as possible about your readers - consider how to organize your message so that it appeals to your readers - consider previous correspondence with your readers

In a well-made paragraph, the elements are linked by which of the following?

- Purpose -Logic

What occurs when you paragraph strategically?

- Readers can better organize the information - Certain ideas will stand out - you are more likely to achieve the desired response to your message

Which of the following are kinds of things that concrete words stand for?

- Things that can be smelled - Things that can be counted - Things that can be seen

When you eliminate a camouflaged verb from a sentence, the sentence typically becomes which of the following?

- clearer - shorter

What functions do paragraphs serve?

- continuing an earlier point - concluding a message - introducing an idea

The use of long words in communication tends to do which of the following?

- create an impression of difficulty - hinder communication

What are potential benefits of repeating words?

- creation of writing style - added emphasis

What are benefits of using specialized language?

- efficiency - signaling your qualifications

Which of these cluttering phrases can "because" replace

- for the reason that - in view of the fact that

What are commonly used transitional words?

- however - likewise - for example

Which of the following cluttering phrases can "for" replace?

- in the amount of - for the purpose of

What are common functions of transitional devices between paragraphs?

- keeping a message focused - moving the reader smoothly between points - tying thoughts together

Examples of slang phrases currently popular with American youth?

- no worries - I know, right? - That was the worst

Which of the following strategies can help deal with surplus words?

- recasting the sentence that contains them - leaving them out

Which of the following are aspects of a word's connotations?

- social associations - emotional associations - shades of meaning

Which of the following must be considered when deciding how to compose the sentences of a successful message?

- the amount of information - the order of information - the form of information

Which of the following are demonstrative pronouns?

- those - this - that

What are good applications for short sentences?

- to end a message - to open a message - to get to a point quickly

What undermines a sentence's unity?

- unrelated ideas - excessive detail

What occurs as a result of frequent paragraph breaks?

-The text becomes easier to comprehend - The structure of your ideas becomes clearer - The text becomes more inviting

When business clichés are overused, they

Carry the risk of replacing thought

When communicating within your field of business, you should avoid using specialized terms and acronyms.

False

The main idea of the paragraph is contained in the

Topic Sentence

Paragraphs help readers mentally organize information by indicating

Where each topic begins and ends

When you include a modifier that doesn't modify anything in the sentence, you have created

a dangling modifier

Repeating key ideas and words from one sentence to the next is

a way to connect successive ideas

To subordinate ideas in a sentence, you

add modifying clauses or phrases

Trendy phrases used in business, such as "thought leaders," often

become clichés

When a reader is able to move easily and directly through your message, it is considered

coherent

When a sentence contains too much detail, you risk

concealing the central thought

When your message is reader focused, it signifies that you are

considerate

The property of a process that is repeated frequently and regularly

continual

The property of a process that is repeated without interruption

continuous

Longer sentences are used for

conveying complex ideas

When you treat ideas equally in a sentence, you _____ them.

coordinate

A word's basic meaning is called its

denotation

This is an example of a relatively uncommon word

disseminate

Avoiding _____ will help reduce the use of "to be" verbs.

dummy subjects

The kind of words used in everyday conversation are _____ words.

familiar

Typically, short words are _____ words.

familiar

Nouns that are abstract have _____ meaning

general

Transitional words indicate the nature of the connection between what

has been said and will be said

The least common location for a topic sentence is

in the middle of a paragraph

When a paragraph is arranged in an order appropriate for the situation, it is considered

logical

The _____ clause of a sentence expresses the main point of the sentence.

main (or independent)

When a modifier confuses the logic of a sentence, it is considered a

misplaced modifier

Compared to long sentences, short sentences contain

more emphasis

Pronouns help make smooth transitions because they

refer to previously used words

To ensure that you are furthering your purpose throughout a document, you should compare what a paragraph _____ and what it does.

says

If the ideas in a sentence don't clearly belong together, you should

separate them

Compared to body paragraphs, opening paragraphs are typically

short

When a detail is important but a sentence contains too many details, you should

split the sentence into multiple sentences

You can convey the importance of the various elements of a sentence by altering its

structure

Passive voice can be useful when you want to deemphasize

the doer of the action

The criterion you should use for choosing to include any detailed information in a paragraph is if

the information helps achieve your purpose

The information in a paragraph is tied together with

transitional devices

The concept that every part of a paragraph should concern every other part of the paragraph is called

unity

The most important part of a speech for making lively and engaging writing is the

verb

To ensure that a paragraph fulfills a strategic function, ask yourself

what it is saying and doing