Test your basic knowledge |

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. What are the activities in the planning stage?






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






3. Formality Considerations






4. What is a Memorandum?






5. 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






6. 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






7. Words and expressions that offend because they make inappropriate assumptions or stereotypes about gender - ethnicity - physical or mental disability - age or sexual orientation.






8. Formal






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






10. Purpose - findings - conclusion - and recommendations






11. How do you present information in message?






12. 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)






13. E.g. 'most important'






14. 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






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






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






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






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


19. 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






20. What is the best advice for Drafting?






21. How to end an email






22. What are Pros of Email?






23. General considerations with Email Messages






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






25. Why Avoid Perfectionism in Drafting?






26. How is formatting important?






27. Use Initialisms






28. Steps to Successful Writing






29. Correctness






30. Are these stages recursive or linear?






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






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






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






34. How do you Plan the message?






35. 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






36. Purpose - problem - plan/solution - conclusion






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






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






39. How do you begin the message?


40. What is Direct Order?






41. 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


42. Iitalics - bold type - underlining etc.






43. Honesty - attractive - carefully organized - concise accurate - current information - relevance






44. Clairty






45. Informal






46. 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






47. 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






48. How do you present information in long messages?






49. 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.






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