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






2. Listing the ideas or facts within a sentence in sequence from least to most important






3. Condenses writing by omitting articles - pronouns - conjunctions - and transitions - e.g. ' Per 5/21 email 12 copies of instruction needed asap'






4. Stages can also be summarized as...






5. The use of language that is more formal - technical - or showy than necessary to communicate information to the reader.






6. How is formatting important?






7. What is Direct Order?






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






9. What is current emphasis on for a Letter?






10. Use Initialisms






11. Tell and show how to do something






12. What are three levels of Editing?






13. What are Pros of Email?






14. To emphasize the performer of an action: make the performer the subject of the verb






15. Used to show - by the structure of a sentence - the appropriate relationship between ideas of unequal importance.






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






17. A sentence that is so tangled with structural and grammatical problems that it cannot be repaired - often result from trying to include too many ideas in one sentence.






18. What is format of most Memos?






19. General considerations with Email Messages






20. To set you apart from the others; show that you have customized your resume for that company/job opening






21. Are these stages recursive or linear?






22. What should you know about a Letter?






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






24. 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






25. Purpose - problem - plan/solution - conclusion






26. Less formal than in the past - Varies from conversational style - The use of personal pronouns is important - In emails etc. something between conversational & business writing should be used - Only use we when it is company policy






27. What is a Memorandum?






28. Means that extraneous words - phrases - clauses - and sentences have been removed from writing without sacrificing clarity or appropriate detail.






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






30. The principle of of stressing the most important ieas in writing. You can achieve this with the careful use of: Position - Climatic Order - Sentence Type - Sentence Length - Sentence Length - Active Voice - Repetition - Intensifiers - Direct Stateme






31. Places the reader's interest and perspective foremost. It is based on the principle that most readers are naturally more concerned about their own needs than they are about those of a writer or a writer's organization - often means using the words y


32. 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






33. Steps to Successful Writing






34. What are the activities in the planning stage?






35. Using short and long sentences strategically






36. 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)






37. 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?






38. Casual






39. Where you put the idea - The first & last words of a sentence - paragraph - doc - stand out in readers' minds.






40. The ___________ of a word are its meanings and associations beyond its literal definitions - words often have particular connotations for audiences within professional groups and organizations






41. 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






42. How do you Plan the message?






43. Formality Considerations






44. Understand and agree on the important goals - organization - and deadlines for the report - Establish group rules early on and stick to them - Put the good of the group ahead of individual egos - Agree on the group's organization - Identify each mem






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






46. When should email NOT be used?






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






48. Conciseness






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






50. What are three levels of Revision?