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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. How is formatting important?
Be Flexible - Avoid Perfectionism - Keep Going - Keep making progress
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs

2. Conciseness
Cut out nonessentials - Minimize references to Previous Communications
Sentence Variety
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams

3. What are Individual Contexts
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;
Organizational - Professional - Personal
Characteristics of job-related writing
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs

4. To set you apart from the others; show that you have customized your resume for that company/job opening
Figures of Speech
Procedures
Keep Distance between Writer and Reader - Avoid Personal References/Contractions - Longer Sentences - for people of Higher Status
Goal of a letter of application

5. The use of language that is more formal - technical - or showy than necessary to communicate information to the reader.
Affectation
Keep Distance between Writer and Reader - Avoid Personal References/Contractions - Longer Sentences - for people of Higher Status
Key draft questions
Wordiness

6. What types of research is done in gathering information?
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews
Coherent writing
Main parts of a set of instructions
Intensifiers

7. The attitude a writer expresses toward the subject and his or her readers. May range depending on purpose etc.
Tone
Emphasis
Sentence Length
Attractive and Readable Format

8. What is format of most Memos?
Not Confidential - Doesn't Communicate Emotions - Tone of Voice - or Unspoken Communications - Can be Ignored or Delayed
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
Selecting the proper medium
Connotation

9. Using words like 'most - much - very' with caution - wthout overdoing it.
Eliminates phone tag - saves time - facilitates fast decisions - cheap - provides written record
Revision - Editing - Proofreading
'You Viewpoint'
Intensifiers

10. Letters - memos - email - instant messages - telephone calls - Faxes - Face-to-face meetings - video conferences - web sites
Strategy and Humanness
Purpose - Format - Composition
Examples of medium s of business communication
Position

11. Repeating keywords and key phrases
Instructions
One-third
Repetition
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience

12. General ideas - qualities - conditions - acts or relationships-intangible things that cannot be detected by the five senses
Abstract words
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Intensifiers
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility

13. How do you begin the message?

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14. Goal and audience
Wordiness
Buzz Words
Things to think through when planning a website
Recursive

15. Correctness
Ethics in Business Writing
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility
Affectation

16. Casual
Cut out nonessentials - Minimize references to Previous Communications
Be Flexible - Avoid Perfectionism - Keep Going - Keep making progress
Slang; Colloquialisms - Contractions - Short Sentences - for close friends only
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.

17. Honesty - attractive - carefully organized - concise accurate - current information - relevance
Key draft questions
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume
Internal Letters. Sometimes classified as Reports
Cautiously i.e. BTW: by the way

18. Words and expressions that offend because they make inappropriate assumptions or stereotypes about gender - ethnicity - physical or mental disability - age or sexual orientation.
Mechanical Devices
Strategy and Humanness
Biased Language
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING

19. Where you put the idea - The first & last words of a sentence - paragraph - doc - stand out in readers' minds.
Ethics in Business Writing
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
Position
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs

20. E.g. 'most important'
Biased Language
Direct Statements
Purpose - Format - Composition
Slang; Colloquialisms - Contractions - Short Sentences - for close friends only

21. Why Avoid Perfectionism in Drafting?
Stress Brevity - uses abbreviations - Convey ideas completely - minimal need for response - Telephone message - but in writing.
Procedures
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise
Emphasis

22. What are Pros of Email?
Sentence Type
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Euphemismss
Eliminates phone tag - saves time - facilitates fast decisions - cheap - provides written record

23. Sentences can vary in sentence length - word order - loose and periodic sentences
Sentence Variety
Conciseness - Clarity - Etiquette - Correctness
Attractive and Readable Format
Position

24. 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
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Key draft questions
One-third
Connotation

25. What is the best advice for Drafting?
Active Voice
Be Flexible - Avoid Perfectionism - Keep Going - Keep making progress
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility

26. Provide practical information - give facts not impressions - provide visuals to clarify and condense information - give accurate measurements - state responsibilities precisely - persuade and offer recommendations -
Characteristics of job-related writing
Emphasis
Mechanical Devices
Not Confidential - Doesn't Communicate Emotions - Tone of Voice - or Unspoken Communications - Can be Ignored or Delayed

27. What are three levels of Editing?
Affectation
Main parts of internal proposals
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Revision - Editing - Proofreading

28. 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.
Repetition
Information needed for short report
Sentence Length
Outlining

29. What should you know about a Letter?
Purpose - Format - Composition
Recursive
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
Key draft questions

30. General considerations with Email Messages
Procedures
Figures of Speech
Position
Conciseness - Clarity - Etiquette - Correctness

31. Used to show - by the structure of a sentence - the appropriate relationship between ideas of unequal importance.
Attractive and Readable Format
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose
Get Feedback From Others!
Subordination

32. What is Indirect Order?
'You Viewpoint'
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
Revision - Editing - Proofreading

33. Clairty
Main parts of instructions
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
Sentence Type
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs

34. How do you Plan the message?
Selecting the proper medium
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;
Wordiness
'You Viewpoint'

35. What techniques can be used for gathering information?
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Coherent writing
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams

36. 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
Three P's for success in writing a memo
Things to think through when planning a website
Proper Conversation - Personal Pronouns/Contractions - Sentences are Short - Organized - Well Structured;
Guidelines for effective business e-mail messages

37. Stages can also be summarized as...
Internal Letters. Sometimes classified as Reports
Purpose - Format - Composition
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose

38. 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
Intensifiers
Proper Conversation - Personal Pronouns/Contractions - Sentences are Short - Organized - Well Structured;
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews
Rules for writing instructions

39. How much time should a student spend in each writing stage?
Buzz Words
One-third
Position
Conciseness

40. The ____________ of a word are its literal meanings - as defined in a dictionary.
Denotaion
Things to think through when planning a website
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message
Main parts of a set of instructions

41. Formal
Keep Distance between Writer and Reader - Avoid Personal References/Contractions - Longer Sentences - for people of Higher Status
Revision of content - Organization - Formatting
Guidelines for successful group writing
Intensifiers

42. Provide practical info - give facts - not impressions - provide visuals to clarify - give accurate measurements - stating responsibility precisely - persuading and offering recommendations
Active Voice
Characteristics of job-related writing
Tone
Long Dashes

43. What is critical to a message's success?
Active Voice
Attractive and Readable Format
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
Characteristics of job-related writing

44. Means that extraneous words - phrases - clauses - and sentences have been removed from writing without sacrificing clarity or appropriate detail.
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews
Purpose - Format - Composition
Conciseness
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs

45. How do you know what to include in your message?
Your audience is the best guide for What and How
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message
Key draft questions
Repetition

46. Formality Considerations
Repetition
Casual - Informal - or Formal
Information the reader will want - put it first.
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order

47. How do you present information in long messages?
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews
Intensifiers
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience

48. Tell and show how to do something
Main parts of internal proposals
Instructions
Long Dashes
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility

49. Introduction - list of materials - actual steps - warnings - cautions - and notes - conclusion when necessary
Main parts of instructions
Attractive and Readable Format
Selecting the proper medium
Intensifiers

50. What is a Memorandum?
Preparation - Research - Organization - Writing - Revision
Business Writing Style
Internal Letters. Sometimes classified as Reports
Information needed for short report