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. An organized presentation of relevant data on any topic that a company or agency tracks in its day-to-day operations
Garbled Sentences
Short report
Denotaion
Affectation

2. Condenses writing by omitting articles - pronouns - conjunctions - and transitions - e.g. ' Per 5/21 email 12 copies of instruction needed asap'
Direct Statements
Concrete Words
Euphemismss
Telegraphic Style

3. The ____________ of a word are its literal meanings - as defined in a dictionary.
Sentence Variety
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
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews

4. A group of words that has a special meaning apart from its literal meaning. Someone who 'runs for office'
Idioms
Position
Get Feedback From Others!
Main parts of internal proposals

5. Used to show - by the structure of a sentence - the appropriate relationship between ideas of unequal importance.
Subordination
Business Writing Style
Cut out nonessentials - Minimize references to Previous Communications
Your Name - Closing Statement such as Thanks - Regards in more formal messages

6. Etiquette
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
Revision of content - Organization - Formatting
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience
Biased Language

7. 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
Your Name - Closing Statement such as Thanks - Regards in more formal messages
Climatic Order
Characteristics of job-related writing
Cliches

8. 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
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility
Emphasis
Eliminates phone tag - saves time - facilitates fast decisions - cheap - provides written record

9. Audience's preferences - personal work style - how widely info needs to be distributed etc.
Euphemismss
Selecting the proper medium
Instructions
Casual - Informal - or Formal

10. What techniques can be used for gathering information?
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;
Revision - Editing - Proofreading
Mechanical Devices

11. 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
Tone
Visualize Readers - Keep their interests in mind - List Pertinent Facts - Brainstorming - Diagrams
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
Rules for writing instructions

12. When to use Instant Messaging?
Stress Brevity - uses abbreviations - Convey ideas completely - minimal need for response - Telephone message - but in writing.
Instructions
Main parts of instructions
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs

13. Using short and long sentences strategically
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience
Sentence Length
Main parts of a set of instructions

14. How do you present information in message?
Intensifiers
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
Main parts of instructions

15. Understand and agree on the important goals - organization - and deadlines for the report - Establish group rules early on and stick to them - Put the good of the group ahead of individual egos - Agree on the group's organization - Identify each mem
Sentence Variety
Guidelines for successful group writing
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Revision of content - Organization - Formatting

16. Why Avoid Perfectionism in Drafting?
similar
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs
'You Viewpoint'
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise

17. 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
Climatic Order
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.

18. Tell and show how to do something
Instructions
Cliches
Ethics in Business Writing
Biased Language

19. How do you Plan the message?
Three P's for success in writing a memo
Internal Letters. Sometimes classified as Reports
NO offensive or abusive emails should be sent - and no upper case - as that is considered SCREAMING
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;

20. 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
'You Viewpoint'
Information needed for short report
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

21. To set you apart from the others; show that you have customized your resume for that company/job opening
Denotaion
Goal of a letter of application
Gathering and Collecting Information - Analyzing and Organizing Information - Choosing the Form - Channel - and Format of the Message
Past Correspondence - Employees - Records - Warranties - Product Descriptions - Survey - Interviews

22. Purpose - problem - plan/solution - conclusion
Direct Statements
Main parts of internal proposals
Rules for writing instructions
Abstract words

23. Clairty
Most Important Information First - and then Descending Order
Denotaion
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs
Get Feedback From Others!

24. Introduction - list of materials - actual steps - warnings - cautions - and notes - conclusion when necessary
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.
Main parts of instructions
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility
Conciseness

25. What is the general Purpose of a Letter?
Key draft questions
Tone
Represent writer and topic formally to recipient. Correspondence with People Outside the your organization.
Repetition

26. Letters - memos - email - instant messages - telephone calls - Faxes - Face-to-face meetings - video conferences - web sites
Wordiness
Examples of medium s of business communication
Things to think through when planning a website
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume

27. Correctness
Your audience is the best guide for What and How
Write Correctly so others will not think you are stupid or lack credibility
Information needed for short report
Wordiness

28. How is formatting important?
Organizational - Professional - Personal
Business Writing Style
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume
It is integral in how your audience will receive and accept the information.

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

30. Concern policies and regulations found in employee handbooks and other internal corporate communications
Procedures
Helps include all important information; Makes you more willing to revise
Characteristics of job-related writing
Slang; Colloquialisms - Contractions - Short Sentences - for close friends only

31. How much time should a student spend in each writing stage?
Main parts of instructions
One-third
Instructions
Short report

32. 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
Wordiness
Use Direct Pattern if positive - Use Indirect Pattern if neutral or negative; State Objective - ALWAYS Consider Audience and Purpose
Attractive and Readable Format
Examples of medium s of business communication

33. What is a Memorandum?
Main parts of a set of instructions
Three P's for success in writing a memo
Things to think through when planning a website
Internal Letters. Sometimes classified as Reports

34. Steps to Successful Writing
Revision - Editing - Proofreading
Preparation - Research - Organization - Writing - Revision
Ethics in Business Writing
Subordination

35. Formality Considerations
Casual - Informal - or Formal
Four keys to effective writing
Rules for writing instructions
Repetition

36. What is important in the Revising stage?
Define the Problem - Consider the Audience and their Individual Contexts - Consider your own Contexts - Best Way to Achieve message;
Information the reader will want - put it first.
Affectation
Get Feedback From Others!

37. Introduction; list of equipment and materials; steps for your instructions; warnings - cautions - and notes; conclusion
Main parts of a set of instructions
Sentence Type
Emphasis
Characteristics of job-related writing

38. Conciseness
Cut out nonessentials - Minimize references to Previous Communications
Get Feedback From Others!
Affectation
Cautiously i.e. BTW: by the way

39. What is critical to a message's success?
Preparation - Research - Organization - Writing - Revision
Cliches
Attractive and Readable Format
Conciseness - Clarity - Etiquette - Correctness

40. E.g. 'most important'
Revision of content - Organization - Formatting
Connotation
Direct Statements
Goal of a letter of application

41. 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
Direct Statements
Strive for Concreteness - Vigor - Precision - Short sentences and paragraphs
Emphasis

42. 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
Telegraphic Style
Not Confidential - Doesn't Communicate Emotions - Tone of Voice - or Unspoken Communications - Can be Ignored or Delayed
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume

43. Techniques for writing memos and emails are...
Recursive
Not Confidential - Doesn't Communicate Emotions - Tone of Voice - or Unspoken Communications - Can be Ignored or Delayed
similar
Position

44. Purpose - findings - conclusion - and recommendations
Put it Last - using the opening to prepare the audience
Main parts of internal proposals
Information needed for short report
Characteristics do employers like to see in a resume

45. Using words like 'most - much - very' with caution - wthout overdoing it.
Main parts of instructions
Cautiously i.e. BTW: by the way
Sentence Length
Intensifiers

46. What are Individual Contexts
Active Voice
Ethics in Business Writing
Organizational - Professional - Personal
Goal of a letter of application

47. How to end an email
Garbled Sentences
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
Strategy and Humanness

48. What are Cons of Email?

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

49. The relationships among ideas are clear to readers. A logical sequence of related ideas and clear transitions between these ideas.
Casual - Informal - or Formal
Coherent writing
Purpose - Format - Composition
Main parts of a set of instructions

50. What are three levels of Revision?
Revision - Editing - Proofreading
Affectation
Revision of content - Organization - Formatting
Emphasis