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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. Audience's preferences - personal work style - how widely info needs to be distributed etc.
Information needed for short report
Sentence Length
Position
Selecting the proper medium

2. 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
Affectation
Position
Wordiness
Date - To - From - Subject Headings

3. What is Indirect Order?
Direct Statements
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience
Characteristics of job-related writing
Repetition

4. What is current emphasis on for a Letter?
Strategy and Humanness
Revision - Editing - Proofreading
similar
Sentence Variety

5. An organized presentation of relevant data on any topic that a company or agency tracks in its day-to-day operations
Denotaion
Figures of Speech
Short report
Revision of content - Organization - Formatting

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
Buzz Words
Business Writing Style
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
Recursive

7. 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
Emphasis
Sentence Length
Guidelines for successful group writing
Information needed for short report

8. Formality Considerations
Casual - Informal - or Formal
Get Feedback From Others!
Examples of medium s of business communication
Goal of a letter of application

9. Using words like 'most - much - very' with caution - wthout overdoing it.
One-third
Intensifiers
Revision of content - Organization - Formatting
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.

10. The relationships among ideas are clear to readers. A logical sequence of related ideas and clear transitions between these ideas.
Mechanical Devices
Coherent writing
Garbled Sentences
Subordination

11. A group of words that has a special meaning apart from its literal meaning. Someone who 'runs for office'
Key draft questions
Stress Brevity - uses abbreviations - Convey ideas completely - minimal need for response - Telephone message - but in writing.
Idioms
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews

12. Use to call attention to a particular word or statement --
Long Dashes
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume
Wordiness
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility

13. What is format of most Memos?
Long Dashes
Date - To - From - Subject Headings
Strategy and Humanness
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility

14. Letters - memos - email - instant messages - telephone calls - Faxes - Face-to-face meetings - video conferences - web sites
Three P's for success in writing a memo
Examples of medium s of business communication
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose
Keep Distance between Writer and Reader - Avoid Personal References/Contractions - Longer Sentences - for people of Higher Status

15. Stages can also be summarized as...
Denotaion
Conciseness
Wordiness
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better

16. 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
Intensifiers
Eliminates phone tag - saves time - facilitates fast decisions - cheap - provides written record
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams

17. Clairty
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Stress Brevity - uses abbreviations - Convey ideas completely - minimal need for response - Telephone message - but in writing.
Key draft questions
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs

18. Conciseness
Cut out nonessentials - Minimize references to Previous Communications
Climatic Order
Figures of Speech
Eliminates phone tag - saves time - facilitates fast decisions - cheap - provides written record

19. How do you know what to include in your message?
Your audience is the best guide for What and How
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
Characteristics of job-related writing
'You Viewpoint'

20. The use of language that is more formal - technical - or showy than necessary to communicate information to the reader.
Recursive
Main parts of a set of instructions
Proper Conversation - Personal Pronouns/Contractions - Sentences are Short - Organized - Well Structured;
Affectation

21. They dentify things that can be perceived by the 5 senses - such as diploma - manager - or keyboard
Concrete Words
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
Coherent writing
Cautiously i.e. BTW: by the way

22. How do you present information in message?
Business Writing Style
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
Euphemismss
Tone

23. When should email NOT be used?
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
Biased Language
Goal of a letter of application

24. 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
Preparation - Research - Organization - Writing - Revision
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Business Writing Style

25. 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
Position
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility
Business Writing Style
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;

26. General considerations with Email Messages
Organizational - Professional - Personal
Wordiness
Sentence Type
Conciseness - Clarity - Etiquette - Correctness

27. How to end an email
Your Name - Closing Statement such as Thanks - Regards in more formal messages
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews
Abstract words
Long Dashes

28. What types of research is done in gathering information?
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews
Be Flexible - Avoid Perfectionism - Keep Going - Keep making progress
Organizational - Professional - Personal
Proper Conversation - Personal Pronouns/Contractions - Sentences are Short - Organized - Well Structured;

29. Repeating keywords and key phrases
Repetition
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Mechanical Devices
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience

30. Etiquette
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Information the reader will want - put it first.

31. Used to show - by the structure of a sentence - the appropriate relationship between ideas of unequal importance.
Subordination
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Biased Language
Main parts of internal proposals

32. How do you Plan the message?
Get Feedback From Others!
Idioms
Repetition
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;

33. What is the best advice for Drafting?
Be Flexible - Avoid Perfectionism - Keep Going - Keep making progress
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Direct Statements
Buzz Words

34. An inoffensive substitute for a word or phrase that could be distasteful - offensive - or too blunt.
Subordination
Euphemismss
Purpose - Format - Composition
Attractive and Readable Format

35. 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
Main parts of internal proposals
Strategy and Humanness
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility

36. Why Avoid Perfectionism in Drafting?
Intensifiers
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise
Instructions
Date - To - From - Subject Headings

37. Purpose - problem - plan/solution - conclusion
Main parts of internal proposals
Get Feedback From Others!
Four keys to effective writing
Cautiously i.e. BTW: by the way

38. What are Cons of Email?

39. The attitude a writer expresses toward the subject and his or her readers. May range depending on purpose etc.
Keep Distance between Writer and Reader - Avoid Personal References/Contractions - Longer Sentences - for people of Higher Status
Tone
Recursive
Outlining

40. Words and expressions that offend because they make inappropriate assumptions or stereotypes about gender - ethnicity - physical or mental disability - age or sexual orientation.
Attractive and Readable Format
Biased Language
Telegraphic Style
Sentence Length

41. Purpose - findings - conclusion - and recommendations
Connotation
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience
Repetition
Information needed for short report

42. Honesty - attractive - carefully organized - concise accurate - current information - relevance
What do you want to say - Say It - Say it Better
Procedures
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume
Buzz Words

43. Goal and audience
Business Writing Style
Things to think through when planning a website
Information the reader will want - put it first.
Four keys to effective writing

44. Varying sentences by using a compound sentence - a complex sentence - or a simple sentence
Strategy and Humanness
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility
Active Voice
Sentence Type

45. Where you put the idea - The first & last words of a sentence - paragraph - doc - stand out in readers' minds.
Get Feedback From Others!
similar
Position
Characteristics of job-related writing

46. To set you apart from the others; show that you have customized your resume for that company/job opening
Main parts of instructions
Goal of a letter of application
Outlining
Main parts of a set of instructions

47. Provide practical info - give facts - not impressions - provide visuals to clarify - give accurate measurements - stating responsibility precisely - persuading and offering recommendations
Characteristics of job-related writing
Short report
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
Cliches

48. 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
Guidelines for effective business e-mail messages
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews

49. Means that extraneous words - phrases - clauses - and sentences have been removed from writing without sacrificing clarity or appropriate detail.
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
One-third
Tone
Conciseness

50. What is important in the Revising stage?
Get Feedback From Others!
Abstract words
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume
Guidelines for successful group writing