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The Business Writing Process

Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. An imaginative expression that often compares two things that are basically not alike but have at least one thing in common.






2. Using short and long sentences strategically






3. An inoffensive substitute for a word or phrase that could be distasteful - offensive - or too blunt.






4. Iitalics - bold type - underlining etc.






5. Identifying your audience - Establishing your purpose - Formulating your message - and Selecting your style (how something is written rather than what is written) and tone (expresses your attitude toward your topic and audience)






6. What is the general Purpose of a Letter?






7. Concern policies and regulations found in employee handbooks and other internal corporate communications






8. Stages can also be summarized as...






9. Sentences can vary in sentence length - word order - loose and periodic sentences






10. When to use Instant Messaging?






11. How do you Plan the message?






12. The skeleton of the document you are going to write--structures your writing by ensuring that it has a beginning - middle - and end.Types: topic outlines - sentence outlines etc.






13. A group of words that has a special meaning apart from its literal meaning. Someone who 'runs for office'






14. Varying sentences by using a compound sentence - a complex sentence - or a simple sentence






15. Provide practical information - give facts not impressions - provide visuals to clarify and condense information - give accurate measurements - state responsibilities precisely - persuade and offer recommendations -






16. The attitude a writer expresses toward the subject and his or her readers. May range depending on purpose etc.






17. What is critical to a message's success?






18. Words or phrases that suddenly become popular and - because of an intense period of overuse - lose their freshness and precisness - E.g. interface (as a verb) - impact (as a verb) - skill sets - deliverables - slam dunk - bleeding edge - cash cow - 2






19. Introduction - list of materials - actual steps - warnings - cautions - and notes - conclusion when necessary






20. What are Pros of Email?






21. The ____________ of a word are its literal meanings - as defined in a dictionary.






22. Am I giving the reader too much or too little info? - does this point belong here? - is this point relevant? - am I repeating or contradicting myself? - have I ended appropriately?






23. Put instructions is correct order - right amount of information only - group closely related items into 1 step - give reader hints on how to best accomplish task - state when 1 step affects another - insert graphics where needed






24. What is Indirect Order?






25. What is format of most Memos?






26. What techniques can be used for gathering information?






27. How do you know what to include in your message?






28. Audience's preferences - personal work style - how widely info needs to be distributed etc.






29. General considerations with Email Messages






30. Avoid language that attempts to evade responsibility - Avoid deceptive language - Do not deemphasize or suppress important information - Do not emphasize misleading or incorrect information - Avoid using language that is biased - racist - or sexist o






31. Tell and show how to do something






32. Why Avoid Perfectionism in Drafting?






33. General ideas - qualities - conditions - acts or relationships-intangible things that cannot be detected by the five senses






34. What are three levels of Editing?






35. What is a Memorandum?






36. How do you present information in long messages?






37. Use to call attention to a particular word or statement --






38. Expressions that have been used fro so long that they are no longer fresh but come to mind easily bc they are so familiar. Often wordy as well as vague and cab be confusing - especially to non-native English speakers - E.g. all over the map - run it






39. Modifiers that repeat an idea implicit or present in the word being modified contribute to wordiness by being redundant (basic essentials - final outcome) - Coordinated synonyms (each and every - first and foremost.) - Expletives - relative pronouns






40. Goal and audience






41. Letters - memos - email - instant messages - telephone calls - Faxes - Face-to-face meetings - video conferences - web sites






42. Techniques for writing memos and emails are...






43. What types of research is done in gathering information?






44. The relationships among ideas are clear to readers. A logical sequence of related ideas and clear transitions between these ideas.






45. How do you present information in message?






46. Plan what you are going to say - polish what you wrote before you sent it - proofread everything


47. Make sure your e-mail is confidential and ethical - observe all of the proprietary requirements when using e-mail - use an acceptable format- follow all of the rules of 'netiqette' when answering e-mail - adopt a professional style - ensure that yo






48. An organized presentation of relevant data on any topic that a company or agency tracks in its day-to-day operations






49. Correctness






50. Introduction; list of equipment and materials; steps for your instructions; warnings - cautions - and notes; conclusion