Test your basic knowledge |

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. Using words like 'most - much - very' with caution - wthout overdoing it.
Intensifiers
Key draft questions
Sentence Type
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume

2. Letters - memos - email - instant messages - telephone calls - Faxes - Face-to-face meetings - video conferences - web sites
One-third
Examples of medium s of business communication
Ethics in Business Writing
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise

3. What is the general Purpose of a Letter?
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Figures of Speech
Climatic Order
Idioms

4. 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
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Emphasis
Information the reader will want - put it first.
Short report

5. The relationships among ideas are clear to readers. A logical sequence of related ideas and clear transitions between these ideas.
Short report
Purpose - Format - Composition
Key draft questions
Coherent writing

6. Conciseness
'You Viewpoint'
Repetition
Cut out nonessentials - Minimize references to Previous Communications
Ethics in Business Writing

7. Formality Considerations
Casual - Informal - or Formal
Main parts of instructions
Outlining
Key draft questions

8. Correctness
Wordiness
Not Confidential - Doesn't Communicate Emotions - Tone of Voice - or Unspoken Communications - Can be Ignored or Delayed
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility
Guidelines for successful group writing

9. Steps to Successful Writing
Climatic Order
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs
Preparation - Research - Organization - Writing - Revision

10. E.g. 'most important'
Goal of a letter of application
Direct Statements
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews
Concrete Words

11. 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.
similar
Outlining
Rules for writing instructions
Information the reader will want - put it first.

12. A group of words that has a special meaning apart from its literal meaning. Someone who 'runs for office'
Idioms
Casual - Informal - or Formal
Direct Statements
Biased Language

13. Provide practical information - give facts not impressions - provide visuals to clarify and condense information - give accurate measurements - state responsibilities precisely - persuade and offer recommendations -
Three P's for success in writing a memo
Denotaion
Characteristics of job-related writing
Intensifiers

14. What is a Memorandum?
Not Confidential - Doesn't Communicate Emotions - Tone of Voice - or Unspoken Communications - Can be Ignored or Delayed
Guidelines for successful group writing
Business Writing Style
Internal Letters. Sometimes classified as Reports

15. When should email NOT be used?
Climatic Order
Internal Letters. Sometimes classified as Reports
Recursive
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

16. General considerations with Email Messages
Revision - Editing - Proofreading
Telegraphic Style
Garbled Sentences
Conciseness - Clarity - Etiquette - Correctness

17. 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

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183

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

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183

19. How is formatting important?
Sentence Variety
Recipient's Name and Introduce Yourself
Figures of Speech
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.

20. An organized presentation of relevant data on any topic that a company or agency tracks in its day-to-day operations
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
Key draft questions
Short report
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message

21. What are three levels of Editing?
Recursive
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
Revision - Editing - Proofreading
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience

22. What are three levels of Revision?
Information the reader will want - put it first.
Revision of content - Organization - Formatting
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Figures of Speech

23. 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)
Four keys to effective writing
Sentence Variety
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
Examples of medium s of business communication

24. Iitalics - bold type - underlining etc.
Mechanical Devices
Information needed for short report
'You Viewpoint'
Sentence Length

25. Formal
Business Writing Style
Keep Distance between Writer and Reader - Avoid Personal References/Contractions - Longer Sentences - for people of Higher Status
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise
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

26. What are Pros of Email?
similar
Sentence Length
Eliminates phone tag - saves time - facilitates fast decisions - cheap - provides written record
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose

27. 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
Guidelines for effective business e-mail messages
Cliches
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise
Information the reader will want - put it first.

28. Audience's preferences - personal work style - how widely info needs to be distributed etc.
Four keys to effective writing
Selecting the proper medium
Figures of Speech
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose

29. 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
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility
Not Confidential - Doesn't Communicate Emotions - Tone of Voice - or Unspoken Communications - Can be Ignored or Delayed
Guidelines for effective business e-mail messages
Sentence Type

30. How much time should a student spend in each writing stage?
Attractive and Readable Format
Climatic Order
Characteristics of job-related writing
One-third

31. How to end an email
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume
Your Name - Closing Statement such as Thanks - Regards in more formal messages
Instructions
Long Dashes

32. Means that extraneous words - phrases - clauses - and sentences have been removed from writing without sacrificing clarity or appropriate detail.
Active Voice
Attractive and Readable Format
Cliches
Conciseness

33. Where you put the idea - The first & last words of a sentence - paragraph - doc - stand out in readers' minds.
Position
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise
Attractive and Readable Format
Characteristics of job-related writing

34. Purpose - findings - conclusion - and recommendations
Recipient's Name and Introduce Yourself
Information needed for short report
Eliminates phone tag - saves time - facilitates fast decisions - cheap - provides written record
Cliches

35. How do you Plan the message?
Cautiously i.e. BTW: by the way
Proper Conversation - Personal Pronouns/Contractions - Sentences are Short - Organized - Well Structured;
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs

36. 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.
Sentence Length
Abstract words
Rules for writing instructions
Garbled Sentences

37. 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
Wordiness
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message
Business Writing Style
Direct Statements

38. What techniques can be used for gathering information?
Abstract words
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Get Feedback From Others!

39. Use Initialisms
Cautiously i.e. BTW: by the way
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Cut out nonessentials - Minimize references to Previous Communications
Information needed for short report

40. What types of research is done in gathering information?
Proper Conversation - Personal Pronouns/Contractions - Sentences are Short - Organized - Well Structured;
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews
One-third
Coherent writing

41. 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?
Key draft questions
One-third
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Conciseness - Clarity - Etiquette - Correctness

42. Sentences can vary in sentence length - word order - loose and periodic sentences
Sentence Variety
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience
Things to think through when planning a website
Coherent writing

43. To set you apart from the others; show that you have customized your resume for that company/job opening
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
Goal of a letter of application
Ethics in Business Writing
Subordination

44. 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
Characteristics of job-related writing
Rules for writing instructions
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;
Active Voice

45. Condenses writing by omitting articles - pronouns - conjunctions - and transitions - e.g. ' Per 5/21 email 12 copies of instruction needed asap'
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Things to think through when planning a website
Abstract words
Telegraphic Style

46. What should you know about a Letter?
Outlining
Sentence Variety
Tone
Purpose - Format - Composition

47. How do you present information in message?
Emphasis
Cliches
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
Information needed for short report

48. How do you present information in long messages?
Your audience is the best guide for What and How
Guidelines for effective business e-mail messages
Tone
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose

49. 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
Subordination
Wordiness
Buzz Words
Direct Statements

50. What is important in the Revising stage?
Revision - Editing - Proofreading
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
Get Feedback From Others!