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The Business Writing Process

Subjects : writing-skills, business-skills

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. E.g. 'most important'
Direct Statements
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Guidelines for successful group writing
Buzz Words

2. An inoffensive substitute for a word or phrase that could be distasteful - offensive - or too blunt.
Garbled Sentences
Denotaion
Keep Distance between Writer and Reader - Avoid Personal References/Contractions - Longer Sentences - for people of Higher Status
Euphemismss

3. What is a Memorandum?
Internal Letters. Sometimes classified as Reports
Instructions
Subordination
Garbled Sentences

4. What is Indirect Order?
Buzz Words
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience
Garbled Sentences
Long Dashes

5. Using words like 'most - much - very' with caution - wthout overdoing it.
Intensifiers
Coherent writing
Keep Distance between Writer and Reader - Avoid Personal References/Contractions - Longer Sentences - for people of Higher Status
Goal of a letter of application

6. Repeating keywords and key phrases
Repetition
Get Feedback From Others!
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
Cut out nonessentials - Minimize references to Previous Communications

7. Informal
Proper Conversation - Personal Pronouns/Contractions - Sentences are Short - Organized - Well Structured;
Garbled Sentences
Three P's for success in writing a memo
Recipient's Name and Introduce Yourself

8. To emphasize the performer of an action: make the performer the subject of the verb
Active Voice
Preparation - Research - Organization - Writing - Revision
Selecting the proper medium
similar

9. 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.
Outlining
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience

10. When to use Instant Messaging?
Procedures
Sentence Type
Stress Brevity - uses abbreviations - Convey ideas completely - minimal need for response - Telephone message - but in writing.
Characteristics of job-related writing

11. Honesty - attractive - carefully organized - concise accurate - current information - relevance
Preparation - Research - Organization - Writing - Revision
Tone
Long - Complicated - Requires Negotiation - Questions/Info need clarification/discussion - Info Confidential/Sensitive - Requires Security - Could be Misinterpreted - Emotionally Charged - Requires Tone of Voice - Sent to Avoid - Contains Sensitive I
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume

12. What types of research is done in gathering information?
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews
Coherent writing
Concrete Words
Your Name - Closing Statement such as Thanks - Regards in more formal messages

13. 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

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14. The ____________ of a word are its literal meanings - as defined in a dictionary.
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise
Your audience is the best guide for What and How
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Denotaion

15. Means that extraneous words - phrases - clauses - and sentences have been removed from writing without sacrificing clarity or appropriate detail.
Position
Idioms
Conciseness
Characteristics of job-related writing

16. Where you put the idea - The first & last words of a sentence - paragraph - doc - stand out in readers' minds.
Long Dashes
Four keys to effective writing
Position
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.

17. Etiquette
Denotaion
Selecting the proper medium
Main parts of internal proposals
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING

18. General ideas - qualities - conditions - acts or relationships-intangible things that cannot be detected by the five senses
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
Coherent writing
Abstract words
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume

19. What is format of most Memos?
Purpose - Format - Composition
Idioms
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
Cliches

20. Goal and audience
Three P's for success in writing a memo
Characteristics of job-related writing
Things to think through when planning a website
Guidelines for successful group writing

21. 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
Main parts of a set of instructions
Emphasis
Stress Brevity - uses abbreviations - Convey ideas completely - minimal need for response - Telephone message - but in writing.
Long - Complicated - Requires Negotiation - Questions/Info need clarification/discussion - Info Confidential/Sensitive - Requires Security - Could be Misinterpreted - Emotionally Charged - Requires Tone of Voice - Sent to Avoid - Contains Sensitive I

22. What are Individual Contexts
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose
Examples of medium s of business communication
Organizational - Professional - Personal
Subordination

23. Listing the ideas or facts within a sentence in sequence from least to most important
Idioms
Main parts of internal proposals
Climatic Order
Long Dashes

24. Condenses writing by omitting articles - pronouns - conjunctions - and transitions - e.g. ' Per 5/21 email 12 copies of instruction needed asap'
Telegraphic Style
Figures of Speech
Procedures
Concrete Words

25. The relationships among ideas are clear to readers. A logical sequence of related ideas and clear transitions between these ideas.
Main parts of a set of instructions
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
Coherent writing
Sentence Length

26. What should you know about a Letter?
Characteristics of job-related writing
Position
Guidelines for successful group writing
Purpose - Format - Composition

27. What is current emphasis on for a Letter?
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Strategy and Humanness
Intensifiers

28. The attitude a writer expresses toward the subject and his or her readers. May range depending on purpose etc.
Tone
Long - Complicated - Requires Negotiation - Questions/Info need clarification/discussion - Info Confidential/Sensitive - Requires Security - Could be Misinterpreted - Emotionally Charged - Requires Tone of Voice - Sent to Avoid - Contains Sensitive I
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message
Your Name - Closing Statement such as Thanks - Regards in more formal messages

29. Formal
Keep Distance between Writer and Reader - Avoid Personal References/Contractions - Longer Sentences - for people of Higher Status
Idioms
Denotaion
Outlining

30. How do you present information in message?
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
Emphasis
Revision of content - Organization - Formatting
Position

31. Introduction; list of equipment and materials; steps for your instructions; warnings - cautions - and notes; conclusion
Purpose - Format - Composition
Instructions
Main parts of a set of instructions
Intensifiers

32. How do you present information in long messages?
Stress Brevity - uses abbreviations - Convey ideas completely - minimal need for response - Telephone message - but in writing.
Casual - Informal - or Formal
Key draft questions
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose

33. Conciseness
Main parts of a set of instructions
Cut out nonessentials - Minimize references to Previous Communications
Active Voice
Main parts of instructions

34. How do you Plan the message?
Preparation - Research - Organization - Writing - Revision
One-third
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;
Guidelines for effective business e-mail messages

35. A group of words that has a special meaning apart from its literal meaning. Someone who 'runs for office'
Direct Statements
Long - Complicated - Requires Negotiation - Questions/Info need clarification/discussion - Info Confidential/Sensitive - Requires Security - Could be Misinterpreted - Emotionally Charged - Requires Tone of Voice - Sent to Avoid - Contains Sensitive I
Idioms
Rules for writing instructions

36. Purpose - problem - plan/solution - conclusion
Main parts of internal proposals
Euphemismss
Proper Conversation - Personal Pronouns/Contractions - Sentences are Short - Organized - Well Structured;
Date - To - From - Subject Headings

37. They dentify things that can be perceived by the 5 senses - such as diploma - manager - or keyboard
Concrete Words
Characteristics of job-related writing
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs
Revision - Editing - Proofreading

38. Words and expressions that offend because they make inappropriate assumptions or stereotypes about gender - ethnicity - physical or mental disability - age or sexual orientation.
Biased Language
Tone
Recipient's Name and Introduce Yourself
Slang; Colloquialisms - Contractions - Short Sentences - for close friends only

39. 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
Keep Distance between Writer and Reader - Avoid Personal References/Contractions - Longer Sentences - for people of Higher Status
Emphasis
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
Cliches

40. How much time should a student spend in each writing stage?
Recipient's Name and Introduce Yourself
One-third
Eliminates phone tag - saves time - facilitates fast decisions - cheap - provides written record
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.

41. Clairty
Cliches
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs
Denotaion
Long - Complicated - Requires Negotiation - Questions/Info need clarification/discussion - Info Confidential/Sensitive - Requires Security - Could be Misinterpreted - Emotionally Charged - Requires Tone of Voice - Sent to Avoid - Contains Sensitive I

42. Stages can also be summarized as...
Idioms
Rules for writing instructions
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Instructions

43. What are three levels of Editing?
Things to think through when planning a website
Revision - Editing - Proofreading
Your audience is the best guide for What and How
Repetition

44. Correctness
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility
Sentence Type
Casual - Informal - or Formal
Telegraphic Style

45. General considerations with Email Messages
Four keys to effective writing
Your audience is the best guide for What and How
Conciseness - Clarity - Etiquette - Correctness
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume

46. 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
Ethics in Business Writing
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
Organizational - Professional - Personal
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose

47. What is important in the Revising stage?
Stress Brevity - uses abbreviations - Convey ideas completely - minimal need for response - Telephone message - but in writing.
Get Feedback From Others!
Characteristics of job-related writing
Business Writing Style

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

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49. What are Cons of Email?

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50. The use of language that is more formal - technical - or showy than necessary to communicate information to the reader.
Information the reader will want - put it first.
Affectation
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
Biased Language