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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. 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)






2. How to end an email






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






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






5. Use Initialisms






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






7. 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






8. What is Direct Order?






9. 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






10. Are these stages recursive or linear?






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






12. When should email NOT be used?






13. Repeating keywords and key phrases






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






15. Stages can also be summarized as...






16. Formal






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






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






19. Using short and long sentences strategically






20. Clairty






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






22. General considerations with Email Messages






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


24. 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






25. 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






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






27. What is important in the Revising stage?






28. How do you present information in message?






29. How do you present information in long messages?






30. Etiquette






31. What are the activities in the planning stage?






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






33. What is Indirect Order?






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






35. What are Pros of Email?






36. 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






37. 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






38. They dentify things that can be perceived by the 5 senses - such as diploma - manager - or keyboard






39. How do you begin the message?


40. What is the general Purpose of a Letter?






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






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






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






44. What techniques can be used for gathering information?






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






46. What should you know about a Letter?






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






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






49. 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






50. When to use Instant Messaging?