BCOM Exam 2 Notes

What are texting best practices at work and with recruiters?

Response promptly (within 12 hours) Proofread carefully Remember EVERYTHING is an interview

Why and when do you use direct opening? What does a direct opening look like?

an email opens with a direct message that quickly and clearly conveys the important information in a message. if an email opens with pointless information, or lacks the useful information all together, then the recipient will not feel the need to read the email very closely.

How should you answer "tell me about yourself" in an interview?

answer in an authentic way Telling the interviewer about yourself is an opportunity for you make a positive professional impression. Consider what experience you can highlight that aligns well with the job duties and match your response to their needs. what do your points say about you as a person what you like to do and why you like to do it and how it helps you 30 seconds, 80-90 words, 8-10 sentences

How do you craft the main purpose?

will be about one topic let the reader know about any required action first

What are active and passive voice? Be able to identify them and use them in writing

• A - All sales orders are processed daily by Mackenzie. • B - Mackenzie processes all sales orders daily. Sentence A is written in active voice—a sentence structure in which the subject carries out the action. Sentence B is written in passive voice—a sentence structure in which the subject receives the action.

What is bypassing? When can it occur?

the misunderstanding that occurs when the receiver completely misses the source's intended meaning. can occur due to cultural differences, and often occurs over written communication

In what situations should you send a thank you note or follow up?

After an interview

Be able to identify different style revisions needed in a business document

Break Up Long Sentences By revising long sentences you can often increase the overall clarity of your document. To do this, let's start off with one strategy that will produce immediate results. Count the number of conjunctions in your document. Word processing programs will often perform a search for a specific a word and for our use, "and" will do just fine. Revise Big Words and Long Phrases Big words can clutter your writing with needless jargon that may be a barrier to many readers. Evaluate Long Prepositional Phrases A prepositional phrase is a phrase composed of a preposition (a "where" word; a word that indicates location) and its object, which may be a noun, a pronoun, or a clause. Some examples of simple prepositional phrases include "with Tom," "before me," and "inside the building security perimeter." Prepositional phrases are necessary—it would be difficult to write without them—but some add to the bottom line word count without adding much to the sentence. Examples The 1040 Form will in all certainty serve the majority of our customers. The 1040 Form will certainly serve the majority of our customers. Delete Repetitious Words Some level of repetition is to be expected and can be beneficial. It is also important to be consistent in your use of words when precise terminology is appropriate. However, needless repetition can make your document less than vigorous and discourage readers Eliminate Archaic Expressions or References Some writing has been ritualized to the point of cliché and has lost its impact. For example, consider "Heretofore, we have discussed the goal of omitting needless words." Heretofore is an outdated word that could easily be cut from the previous sentence. Avoid Fillers Like, you know, like, you know what I mean, ahh, umm, and all the fillers you may use or hear in oral communication have, well, little or no place in the written representation of the spoken word. Eliminate Slang Evaluate Clichés Clichés are words or phrases that through their overuse have lost their impact. That definition does not imply they have lost their meaning, and sometimes a well-placed cliché can communicate a message effectively Emphasize Precise Words Concrete words that are immediately available to your audience are often more effective than abstract terms that require definitions, examples, and qualifications. All these strategies have their place, but excessive use of abstractions will make your document less than precise, requiring additional clarification that can translate to work for you as the author and, more importantly, for your readers. Qualifiers deserve special mention here. Some instructors may indicate that words like "may," "seems," or "apparently" make your writing weak. Evaluate Parallel Construction When you are writing in a series or have more than one idea to express, it is important to present them in similar ways to preserve and promote unity across your document. Parallel construction refers to the use of same grammatical pattern; it can be applied to words, phrases, and sentences. For example, "We found the seminar interesting, entertaining, and inspiring" is a sentence with parallel construction, whereas "We found the seminar interesting, entertaining, and it inspired us" is not. Obscured Verbs Business writing should be clear and concise. If the meaning is obscured, then revision is required. One common problem is the conversion of verbs into nouns with the addition of suffixes like: -ant,-ent, -ion, -tion, -sion, -ence, -ance, and ing. Instead of hiding meaning within the phrase "through the consolidation of," consider whether to use the verb forms "consolidated" or "consolidating." Similarly, instead of "the inclusion of," consider using "including," which will likely make the sentence more active and vigorous. The "Is It Professional?" Test Finally, when revising your document with an attention to detail, you simply need to ask the question: is it professional? If a document is too emphatic, it may seem like an attempt at cheerleading. If it uses too much jargon, it may be appropriate for "nerds" but may limit access to the information by a nontechnical audience. If the document appears too simplistic, it may seem to be "talking down" to the audience, treating the readers more like children than adults. Does your document represent you and your organization in a professional manner? Will you be proud of the work a year from now? Does it accomplish its mission, stated objectives, and the audience's expectations? Business writing is not expository, wordy, or decorative, and the presence of these traits may obscure meaning. Business writing is professional, respectful, and clearly communicates a message with minimal breakdown.

What are the three styles of writing? How do you figure out which style to use?

Colloquial language: is an informal, conversational style of writing. It differs from standard business in that it often makes use of colorful expressions, slang, and regional phrases. Colloquial writing may be permissible, and even preferable, in some business contexts. For example, a marketing letter describing a folksy product such as a wood stove or an old-fashioned popcorn popper might use a colloquial style to create a feeling of relaxing at home with loved ones. mostly used among those you are personally close with, friends, family, maybe a coworker who you are close with Casual language involves everyday words and expressions in a familiar group context, such as conversations with family or close friends. The emphasis is on the communication interaction itself, and less about the hierarchy, power, control, or social rank of the individuals communicating. Used in most day-to-day writing and general conversation Formal language is communication that focuses on professional expression with attention to roles, protocol, and appearance. It is characterized by its vocabulary and syntax, or the grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence. That is, writers using a formal style tend to use a more sophisticated vocabulary—a greater variety of words, and more words with multiple syllables—not for the purpose of throwing big words around, but to enhance the formal mood of the document. Use inside of a business environment, mainly within documentation and email directed towards higher-ups

What are the major types of interview questions?

Common 30 seconds 80-90 words; 8-10 sentences Behavioral: asks questions about past 90-120 seconds 240-360 words' 24- 36 sentences (depends on writing style) Random/Creative/Situational: asks questions about the future 15-20 seconds 40-55 words; 4-6 sentences

What are four categories that require revision in a document? Be able to identify them in examples

Content Organization Style Readability

How do you answer behavioral or situational interview questions? Understand STAR and PARL

Discuss something that you did in the past, give specific details and metrics strike a balance between telling a story and providing information when answering the question, ask yourself, "what was the:" S for SITUATION T for TASK A for ACTION R for RESULT P for PROBLEM A for ACTIONS R for RESULTS L for LEARNING

How do ethos, pathos, and logos work in business writing?

Ethos, or your credibility, will come through with your choice of sources and authority on the subject(s). Your logos, or the logic of your thoughts represented across the document, will allow the reader to come to understand the relationships among who, what, where, when, and so forth. If your readers cannot follow your logic they will lose interest, fail to understand your message, and possibly not even read it at all. your pathos, or passion and enthusiasm, will be reflected in your design and word choices. If your document fails to convey enthusiasm for the subject, how can you expect the reader to be interested?

What is the SPIKES method? Be able to apply it.

S Setting up the interview or appointment P Assessing recipient perception & prepare I Obtaining the person's invitation K "Need to know" giving information E Empathy - addressing the patient's emotions S Strategy and summary Look at Communication and Competence notes

What's the difference between serif and sans serif fonts? When should you use each one?

Serif fonts are easily readable at small body copy size (use in the body) Sans Serif fonts really stand out in large titles. (use in the title) Some common Serif typefaces are Times New Roman, Georgia, Palatino and Garamond. In contrast, common Sans Serif typefaces include Arial, Helvetica and Tahoma.

How cannot sweating the small stuff (e.g., grammar and spelling) impact people's perception of you?

Spelling errors and incorrect grammar may be considered details, but they reflect poorly on you and, in a business context, on your company. They imply either that you are not educated enough to know you've made mistakes or that you are too careless to bother correcting them.

What are strengths, weaknesses, and expectations of communication channels? When and for which audiences should you use each channel?

Table 5.1

Understand the common errors in English

Table 6.6

What is Toulmin's 3-part rhetorical strategy? What does that look like in an example?

Table 6.8

What are the advantages/disadvantages of presenting negative news in writing?

The direct approach places the negative news at the beginning of the message, while the indirect approach packages the negative news between a positive introduction, sometimes called a "buffer" or cushion, and a conclusion. Your negative message may include the rationale or reasons for the decision. The direct approach is often associated with a message where the audience values brevity and the message needs to be concise. A positive introduction often introduces the topic but not the outcome. An effective negative news statement clearly states the message while limiting the possibility of misinterpretation. An effective closing statement may provide reasons, reference a policy, or indicate a procedure to follow for more information. Table 17.2

What are strategies on how to communicate when evaluating someone's work? "You" v "I" language, phrasing disagreement, focusing on the document as a product.

Until you know the author and have an established relationship, it is best to use "I" statements, as in "I find this sentence difficult to understand." The sentence places the emphasis on the speaker rather than the sentence, and further distances the author from the sentence. Avoid the use of the word you in your evaluation, oral or written, as it can put the recipient on the defensive. This will inhibit listening and decrease the probability of effective communication If you are asked to evaluate someone else's written work, keep in mind that not everyone can separate process from product, or product from personality. Many authors, particularly those new to the writing process, see the written word as an extension of self. To help the recipient receive your evaluation as professional advice, rather than as personal criticism, use strategies to be tactful and diplomatic.

Why do you need to give credit to your sources in written communication? What's plagiarism?

You would not want someone else to take credit for your work, so you should not take credit for someone elses, it is illegal. Whether the material is a photograph, text, a chart or graph, or any other form of media, taking someone else's work and representing it as your own is plagiarism

What makes a good subject line?

a subject line needs to be specific and complete, do not make it vague Use clear, routine wording. make it concise, do not put your entire message in the subject line. if the entire message fits in the subject line, write (EOM) (end of message) at the end

What is conversational tone? What's jargon?

conversational tone, as the name implies, resembles oral communication in style, tone, and word choice. It can be appropriate for some audiences, and may serve you well in specific contexts, but it can easily come across as less than professional jargon: a vocabulary that has been developed by people in a particular group, discipline, or industry, and it can be a useful shorthand as long as the audience knows its meaning.

What's the difference between verbal and nonverbal communication?

nonverbal focuses on visual design verbal focuses on wording

Why is it important to evaluate your sources? How do you do that?

the abundance of online information that is incomplete, outdated, misleading, or downright false. Anyone can put up a Web site; once it is up, the owner may or may not enter updates or corrections on a regular basis. In general, documents that represent quality reasoning have the following traits: • A clearly articulated purpose and goal • A question, problem, or issue to address • Information, data, and evidence that is clearly relevant to the stated purpose and goals • Inferences or interpretations that lead to conclusions based on the presented information, data, and evidence • A frame of reference or point of view that is clearly articulated • Assumptions, concepts, and ideas that are clearly articulated * unbiased * sources are properly cited

Who determines if a source/message sender is credible?

the receiver of the message

What are fallacies in writing?

"Fallacy" is another way of saying false logic. Fallacies or rhetorical tricks deceive your audience with their style, drama, or pattern, but add little to your document in terms of substance. They are best avoided because they can actually detract from your effectiveness. There are several techniques or "tricks" that allow the writer to rely on style without offering substantive argument, to obscure the central message, or twist the facts to their own gain. Table 6.10

What are best practices for paragraphs? What's block format?

-Keep the paragraph on one topic. -Include a topic sentence. -Use supporting sentences that give ​details or facts about the topic. -Include vivid words. -Make sure it does not have run-on sentences. -Include sentences that make sense and stick to the topic. -Sentences should be in order and make sense. -Write sentences that begin in different ways. -Make sure the sentences flow. -Be sure sentences are mechanically correct — spelling, punctuation, capitalization, indentation. In block format, the entire text is left aligned and single-spaced. The exception to the single spacing is a double space between paragraphs (instead of indents for paragraphs).

What are best practices for headings and emphasis?

-Use headings to provide structure to your page! -Do not use styles to give the appearance of headings, without using the proper header tag. For example, do not use color, underline, bold or italics, etc. to emphasize text importance. -Do not skip heading levels. Proper header levels ascend from H1-H6. -Headings should not be used to emphasize the importance of content instead, use underline or bold text. -Your webpage content should remain consistent and readable when text is resized up to 200% -Always provide a descriptive page title! -Do not use lists for layout purposes -Proper HTML markup (<li>,<ol>,<ul>) should be used to provide list items Emphasis 1. Italicize 2. Bold 3. Change Size 4. Use Space 5. Add Color

Why should white space be incorporated into document design? How do you create white space?

1. Improved comprehension 2. Focus and Attention 3. Increased interaction rate 4. Guide the user through logical grouping 5. Branding and Design Tone 6. Creates a breathing space for users margins space between paragraphs

What are the steps to paraphrasing?

1. Read the passage out loud, paying attention to the complete thought rather than the individual words. 2. Explain the concept in your own words to a friend or colleague, out loud, face-to-face. 3. Write the concept in your own words, and add one or more illustrative examples of the concept that are meaningful to you. 4. Reread the original passage and see how your version compares with it in terms of grammar, word choice, example, and conveyance of meaning. 5. If your writing parrots the original passage or merely substitutes synonyms for words in the original, return to step one and start over, remembering that your goal is to express the central concepts, not to "translate" one word into another. 6. When you are satisfied that your expression of the concept can stand on its own merit, include it in your document and cite the original author as the source of the idea.

How do you craft message appearance?

5-6 lines per paragraph blank line between paragraphs subpoints listed with numbers or bullet points

How are commas used?

Commas are used to separate two independent clauses joined by a conjunction like "but," "and," and "or." Commas are not used simply to join two independent clauses. This is known as the comma splice error, and the way to correct it is to insert a conjunction after the comma The advertising department is effective, the sales department needs to produce more results. The advertising department is effective, but the sales department needs to produce more results. Commas are used for introductory phrases and to offset clauses that are not essential to the sentence. If the meaning would remain intact without the phrase, it is considered nonessential. Examples After the summary of this year's sales, the sales department had good reason to celebrate. The sales department, last year's winner of the most productive award, celebrated their stellar sales success this year. The sales department celebrated their stellar sales success this year. Commas are used to offset words that help create unity across a sentence like "however" and "therefore." Examples The sales department discovered, however, that the forecast for next year is challenging. However, the sales department discovered that the forecast for next year is challenging. Commas are often used to separate more than one adjective modifying a noun. Example The sales department discovered the troublesome, challenging forecast for next year. Commas are used to separate addresses, dates, and titles; they are also used in dialogue sequences. Examples John is from Ancud, Chile. Katy was born on August 2, 2002. Mackenzie McLean, D. V., is an excellent veterinarian. Lisa said, "When writing, omit needless words."

What are the 10 Cs of business communication?

Complete Concise Clear Conversational Correct Coherent Credible Complete Courteous Considerate

What are direct v. indirect strategies? What type of messages/audiences do you use each strategy for?

Direct • Main Idea • Reasons • Pleasant Conclusion • Routine Messages • Neutral Messages • Good News • Reader Needs (unlikely or unable to read the whole message) • Position of Hierarchical Power Used DIRECT when the audience will be • Pleased • Somewhat interested • Neutral • Unlikely or unable to read the whole message Typical Direct Messages • Routine Messages • Neutral Messages • Good News Sender Status: More Hierarchical Power Indirect • Buffer • Reasons • Main Idea • Pleasant Conclusion • Bad News • Readers Resistant • Explanations Needed • Reasons Matter (unlikely to be read if in the middle) • Less Hierarchical or Organizational Power Use INDIRECT when the audience will be • Displeased/disappointed • Uninterested • Hostile • Unlikely to read reasons if in the middle Typical Indirect Messages • Bad News • Persuasive toward a resistant audience Sender Status: Less Hierarchical Power

How would you organize an indirect message? How would you organize a direct message?

Direct Approach Sample Since the company's founding 25 years ago, we have provided regular repair service for all our electric appliances. This service has been an important selling point as well as a source of pride for our employees. However, we are paying a high price for our image. Last year, we lost $500,000 on our repair business. Because of your concern over these losses, you asked me to study the pros and cons of discontinuing our repair service. With the help of John Hudson and Susan Lefkowitz, I have studied the issue for the last two weeks and have come to the conclusion that we have been embracing an expensive, impractical tradition. By withdrawing from the electric appliance repair business, we can substantially improve our financial performance without damaging our reputation with customers. This conclusion is based on three main points that are covered in the following pages: It is highly unlikely that we will ever be able to make a profit in the repair business. Service is no longer an important selling point with customers. Closing down the service operation will create few internal problems. Indirect Approach Sample Since the company's founding 25 years ago, we have provided regular repair service for all our electric appliances. This service has been an important selling point as well as a source of pride for our employees. However, the repair business itself has consistently lost money. Because of your concern over these losses, you asked me to study the pros and cons of discontinuing our repair service. With the help of John Hudson and Susan Lefkowitz, I have studied the issue for the last two weeks. The following pages present my findings for your review. Three basic questions are addressed: 1. What is the extent of our losses, and what can we do to turn the business around? 2. Would withdrawal of this service hurt our sales of electric appliances? 3. What would be the internal repercussions of closing down the repair business?

How can confirmation bias, egocentrism, and sociocentrism impact writing and critical thinking? How do these concepts interact with each other?

If you only pay attention to information that reinforces your existing beliefs and ignore or discredit information that contradicts your beliefs, you are guilty of confirmation bias Egocentrism can be defined as the use of self-centered standards to determine what to believe and what to reject. sociocentrism involves the use of society-centered standards. Both ways of thinking create an "us versus them" relationship that can undermine your credibility and alienate readers who don't share your viewpoint. This leads to confirmation bias and groupthink, resulting in false conclusions with little or no factual support for a belief. If a person believes the earth is flat and never questions that belief, it serves as an example of egocentric thinking. The person believes it is true even though he has never questioned why he believes it. If the person decides to look for information but only finds information that supports his pre-existing belief, ignoring or discrediting information that contradicts that belief, he is guilty of confirmation bias. If he believes the earth 126 Business Communication for Success is flat because everyone in his group or community believes it, even though he himself has never questioned or confirmed the belief, he is guilty of sociocentrism. Overall, each of these false thinking strategies leads to poor conclusions

What are internal communication and external communication?

Internal: your communication is going to be read only by those in your organization External: your communication is going to be read by those outside the organization, such as vendors, customers or clients

How does document design and organization impact understanding? What are best practices or techniques?

Many people will choose to skim over a document, rather than read it fully. Designing a with the idea of the reader skimming over it can help them understand the message better • Present a quick overview, or "executive summary," at the beginning of the document. • Use boldface headings as signposts for the main sections and their subsections. • Where possible, make your headings informative; for example, a heading like "Problem Began in 1992" is more informative than one that says "Background." • Within each section, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that indicates what the paragraph discusses. • When you have a list of points, questions, or considerations, format them with bullets rather than listing them in sentences. • The "bottom line," generally understood to mean the total cost of a given expenditure or project, can also refer to the conclusions that the information in the report leads to. As the expression indicates, these conclusions should be clearly presented at the end of the document, which is the place where the time-pressed reader will often turn immediately after reading the first page.

How do you open and close an email professionally?

Opening: 1. include a greeting Can create a sense of politeness Can use to escalate tone Model the messages that you receive Modeling example: Them: Hi, Shin! Then you: Hi, June! Them: Shin, Then you: June, Closing: How you end will depend on your type of message Summarize the message Include a call to action Close pleasantly Weak closing: Thanks for your help on this. Improved closing: If possible, please answer our questions by May 2nd so we can make a final decision before the team meeting

What's the difference between analyzing and reading a document?

Reading: Grasp the meaning Come away with the feeling Get the main idea mostly Analyzing: Pay close attention Come away with more recall of the facts Be able to question or challenge the concepts

What are the different types of interviews?

Screening: interview takes place at the beginning of the hiring process Phone Online - more and more Job fairs Texting Messaging through a platform like LinkedIn Hiring/placement: interview takes place at the end of the hiring process One-on-one Panel Group Lunch/dinner interview Sequential Stress Online

How are semicolons used?

Semicolons have two uses. First, they indicate relationships among groups of items in a series when the individual items are separated by commas. Second, a semicolon can be used to join two independent clauses; this is another way of avoiding the comma splice error mentioned above. Using a semicolon this way is often effective if the meaning of the two independent clauses is linked in some way, such as a cause-effect relationship. Examples Merchandise on order includes women's wear such as sweaters, skirts, and blouses; men's wear such as shirts, jackets, and slacks; and outwear such as coats, parkas, and hats. The sales campaign was successful; without its contributions our bottom line would have been dismal indeed.

What's a visual hierarchy?

Visual hierarchy is the principle of arranging elements to show their order of importance. Designers structure visual characteristics—e.g., menu icons—so users can understand information easily.

Be able to identify errors with subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, split infinitives, double negatives, faulty comparisons, and misplaced modifiers

Subject-verb agreement The subject and verb should agree on the number under consideration. In faulty writing, a singular subject is sometimes mismatched with a plural verb form, or vice versa. Examples Sales have not been consistent and they doesn't [do not] reflect your hard work and effort. The president appreciates your hard work and wish [wishes] to thank you. Verb Tense Verb tense refers to the point in time where action occurs. The most common tenses are past, present, and future. There is nothing wrong with mixing tenses in a sentence if the action is intended to take place at different times. In faulty or careless writing, however, they are often mismatched illogically. Examples Sharon was under pressure to finish the report, so she uses [used] a shortcut to paste in the sales figures. The sales department holds a status meeting every week, and last week's meeting will be [was] at the Garden Inn. Split Infinitive The infinitive form of verb is one without a reference to time, and in its standard form it includes the auxiliary word "to," as in "to write is to revise." It has been customary to keep the "to" next to the verb; to place an adverb between them is known as splitting the infinitive. Some modern writers do this all the time (for example, "to boldly go..."), and since all grammar is essentially a set of customs that govern the written word, you will need to understand what the custom is where you work. Examples The Marketing Department needs assistance to accurately understand our readers [to understand our readers accurately]. David pondered how to best revise [how best to revise] the sentence. Double Negative A double negative uses two negatives to communicate a single idea, duplicating the negation. Examples John doesn't need no [any] assistance with his sales presentation. [Or John needs no assistance with his sales presentation.] Jeri could not find no [any] reason to approve the request. [Or Jeri could find no reason to approve the request.] Faulty Comparisons When comparing two objects by degree, there should be no mention of "est," as in "biggest" as all you can really say is that one is bigger than the other. If you are comparing three or more objects, then "est" will accurately communicate which is the "biggest" of them all. Examples Between the twins, Mackenzie is the fastest [faster] of the two. Among our three children, Mackenzie is the tallest. Misplaced Modifiers Modifiers that are misplaced are not lost, they are simply in the wrong place. Their unfortunate location is often far from the word or words they describe, making it easy for readers to misinterpret the sentence. Examples Trying to avoid the deer, the tree hit my car. My car hit the tree when I tried to avoid a deer in the road.

What are common errors associated with apostrophes?

When you indicate possession, pay attention to the placement of the apostrophe. Nouns commonly receive "'s" when they are made possessive. But plurals that end in "s" receive a hanging apostrophe when they are made possessive, and the word "it" forms the possessive ("its") with no apostrophe at all.

How are oral and written communication similar and different from each other?

Written communication involves the same eight basic elements as oral communication, but it is often asynchronous.

What do effective sentences look like?

each sentence needs to have a subject and a verb; most sentences also have an object. Sentences should avoid being vague and focus on specific content. Each sentence should convey a complete thought; a vague sentence fails to meet this criteria. The reader is left wondering what the sentence was supposed to convey. • Vague - We can facilitate solutions in pursuit of success by leveraging our core strengths. • Specific - By using our knowledge, experience, and capabilities, we can achieve the production targets for the coming quarter. Effective sentences also limit the range and scope of each complete thought, avoiding needless complexity. Sometimes writers mistakenly equate long, complex sentences with excellence and skill. Clear, concise, and often brief sentences serve to communicate ideas and concepts in effective and efficient ways that complex, hard-tofollow sentences do not. • Complex. Air transportation features speed of delivery in ways few other forms of transportation can match, including tractor-trailer and rail, and is readily available to the individual consumer and the corporate client alike. • Clear. Air transportation is accessible and faster than railroad or trucking. Effective sentences are complete, containing a subject and a verb. Incomplete sentences—also known as sentence fragments—demonstrate a failure to pay attention to detail. They often invite misunderstanding, which is the opposite of our goal in business communication. • Fragments - Although air transportation is fast. Costs more than trucking. • Complete - Although air transportation is fast, it costs more than trucking. Effective business writing avoids bureaucratic language and phrase that are the hallmark of decoration. Decoration is a reflection of ritual, and ritual has its role. Table 6.4 In oral communication, repetition can be an effective strategy to reinforce a message, but in written communication it adds needless length to a document and impairs clarity. • Redundant - In this day and age air transportation by air carrier is the clear winner over alternative modes of conveyance for speed and meeting tight deadlines. • Clear - Today air transportation is faster than other methods. effective sentences follow the KISS formula for success: Keep It Simple—Simplify! Transitions involve words or visual devices that help the audience follow the author's ideas, connect the main points to each other, and see the relationships you've created in the information you are presenting. Check the table

How do you determine when to use informal v. formal/bureaucratic style?

informal is used most often when writing to colleagues, in documents that won't leave the workplace. formal is best for customers and clients most of the time, you will avoid bureaucratic language

Why are lists good to use? What's the difference between numbers and bullets? How does parallelism play a role in lists?

lists provide important information and convey it clearly. A list stands out in a document and someone who is skimming the document would notice a list and focus on it. Bullets are majorly used to break a long sentence into points so that a sentence can be understood better by the reader. That's the usual use of bullets. Bullets can be shuffled as there is no ordering. Bullets follow the rule of parallelism. The information written in bullets can be incomplete sentences. Numbering is used when you want the reader to follow some steps in a sequential manner. The information in numbering is in full sentences. Parallelism isn't followed in it. Usually, the number of steps in a numbering are limited to max 10 and in some cases 15

How do you craft tone?

personalize the message write the message with the reader in mind do not write the message hastily and/or with anger