BA 105W CH 4

Business writers are usually most focused on discussing their feelings and displaying their knowledge when writing most business messages. - Business writers, however, have different goals

FALSE

You can enhance the quality of your business writing by making it lengthy and by adding complex vocabulary words. - Goal in bus writing is to express rather than impress. Conciseness and clarity enhance the quality of bus writing.

FALSE

The sentence You neglected to provide your account information makes good use of positive language.

FALSE. "Neglected" is a negative word that can create ill will and may get you in trouble

You need to make a decision by the end of the day is an example of sentence that uses a positive tone.

FALSE. "You need to make a decision by the end of the day" uses a negative tone and sounds too aggressive and demanding

The steps in the 3x3 writing process must be followed in order.

FALSE. Although writers perform the tasks described in the 3x3 writing process, the steps may be altered, compressed, or repeated.

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

FALSE. As you begin to compose a business message, ask yourself "Why am I sending this message?" Also, ask yourself "What do I hope to achieve?" Your responses will determine how you organize and present your information.

The only thing that matters when choosing a channel to send a business message is the cost involved.

FALSE. Choosing an appropriate channel for your message depends on many factors: 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, and the confidentiality and sensitivity of the message.

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

FALSE. Even when you feel justified in displaying anger, remember that losing your temper or being sarcastic will seldom accomplish your goals as a business communicator. Instead, try to be courteous

I have decided to allow you to take Friday off effectively applies the "you" view.

FALSE. I have decided to allow you to take Friday off" uses the "I/we" view

In the area of human resources, only written comments can trigger lawsuits.

FALSE. In statements to existing and prospective employees, companies must recognize that oral comments may trigger lawsuits.

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

FALSE. Instant messages, e-mail messages, business letters, memos, and reports are most effective when they use an informal, conversational tone instead of a formal, pretentious tone

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

FALSE. Jargon describes technical or specialized terms within a field. These terms can be useful because they enable insiders to communicate complex ideas briefly. However, jargon should be used with caution when communicating with outsiders

Business communicators generally spend the most time on the prewriting phase of the 3x3 writing process.

FALSE. Most business communicators spend most of their time on the final phase of the 3x3 writing process. During this phase they revise, proofread, and evaluate their messages.

Race, ethnicity, and age should never be mentioned in business writing

FALSE. Race, ethnicity, and age can be specified if they are relevant.

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

FALSE. Research, which involves gathering data to provide facts, takes place during the second phase of the writing process.

Meaghan must deliver confidential information to her boss. She should choose e-mail as her communication channel.

FALSE. The insecurity of e-mail makes it problematic for personal, emotional, private, or confidential messages. A written letter is the best channel for most confidential messages, although Meaghan may choose to meet with her boss face-to-face to deliver this message.

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

FALSE. These types of words will make you sound pompous and pretentious, not professional. Instead, you should use short, familiar words whenever possible.

Courts are more likely to allow fair use for educational purposes than for commercial ventures.

FALSE. When applying the four-factor test to assess fair use, courts are more likely to allow fair use for nonprofit educational purposes than for commercial ventures.

Business messages that inform explain procedures, announce meetings, answer questions, and transmit findings.

TRUE

Business messages that persuade sell products, convince managers, motivate employees, and win over customers.

TRUE

Business writing should be purposeful, persuasive, economical, and audience oriented.

TRUE

Preparing a business message or presentation is easier and more efficient if you have a systematic process to follow. Such as the 3x3 writing process.

TRUE

Sharon is trying to decide whether to call her boss or to send an email message. Sharon is in the first phase of the writing process.

TRUE

The third phase of the writing process involves revising, proofreading, and evaluating your messages.

TRUE

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

TRUE. "You can start lowering your energy expenses immediately" focuses on the audience by stressing benefits to the reader

Anticipating and profiling the audience for a message helps a communicator determine what to emphasize, how to be convincing, and what words and tone to use

TRUE. A good communicator should use language and tone appropriate for the audience, should know what to emphasize, and should know how to be convincing; anticipating and profiling the audience helps the writer make these decisions

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

TRUE. A richer medium, such as a face-to-face conversation, permits more interactivity and feedback. A leaner medium, such as a written report or proposal, presents a flat, one-dimensional message

Business communicators can protect themselves and avoid litigation by knowing what is legal and by adapting their language accordingly

TRUE. Business communicators can protect themselves from lawsuits by knowing what is legal and by adapting their language accordingly. Business communicators should be especially careful when their messages address or include mentions of investments, safety, marketing, human resources, and copyright law.

Team-written documents and presentations are standard in most organizations because collaboration produces a better product

TRUE. Collaboration has many advantages, including producing a better product because many heads are better than one.

Online collaboration tools such as mailing lists, discussion boards, groupware, and wikis are useful when team members are not physically in the same location.

TRUE. Collaboration tools such as e-mail, mailing lists, discussion boards, instant messaging, groupware, portals, blogs, and wikis are especially necessary when team members are not physically in the same location.

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

TRUE. Collaborative writing is especially important for projects that are (1) big, (2) have short deadlines, and (3) require the expertise or consensus of many people

Deciding whether the receiver of your business message will be neutral, positive, or negative will help you to effectively organize the message.

TRUE. Imagining whether the receiver is likely to be neutral, positive, or negative will help you determine how to organize your message

Many of today's progressive organizations will employ teams in some capacity to achieve their objectives

TRUE. Many of today's progressive organizations will employ teams in some capacity to achieve their objectives.

One of the most frustrating tasks for teams is writing shared documents.

TRUE. One of the most frustrating tasks for teams is writing shared documents. Keeping the various versions straight and recognizing who made what comment can be difficult.

Software tools such as Google Docs can help student groups collaborate on assignments.

TRUE. Student groups collaborating on assignments may find several helpful software tools. Google Docs is a free Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and form application program that keeps documents current and lets team members update files from their own computers.

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

TRUE. Team members generally work closely in Phase 1 (prewriting) of the writing process.

The "you" view emphasizes second-person pronouns instead of first-person pronouns.

TRUE. The "you" view emphasizes second-person pronouns ("you," "your") instead of first-person pronouns ("I/we," "us," "our")

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

TRUE. The first sentence avoids gender-biased language by using a plural noun (attorneys) and a plural pronoun (their). The second sentence includes gender bias because it assumes that all attorneys are male.

4. Professional business messages should not include IM abbreviations such a BTW, slang, sentence fragments, or chitchat

TRUE. To sound professional in your business messages, do not include IM abbreviations, slang, sentence fragments, or chitchat.

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

TRUE. When profiling an audience, the writer should anticipate how both the primary and secondary audiences will react to a message