Exam 4: Principles of Business Communication

Generally, the direct plan of paragraph organization is recommended for good news or neutral news.

In some situations negative words can be used for emphasis.

One way to emphasize an idea is to tell the receiver what is important.

Composing with style means

What is paragraph coherence? Describe three ways to improve coherence between and within paragraphs.

Write an alternate word or phrase for the obsolete phrases below. a. enclosed please find b. hoping to hear from you soon c. I remain, d. I regret to inform you e. hereby advise

An obsolete word is one that is overused in normal conversation or messages and has lost its effectiveness.

Rewrite the following negative sentences to emphasize positive words or a can-do attitude. a. Your reasoning is faulty. b. Don't let the house get dirty. c. We had clouds and rain three days last week. d. I cannot go to the convention until Friday. e. Don't forget the deadline.

Which words are examples of obsolete words?

Rewrite the following sentences to make the mean clear and concise. a. Larry Jones, the plant manager, plans to meet with employees on November 12; and the purpose of the meeting is to describe the new medical insurance program that is to be changed the first of the year to provide considerably more coverage at lower cost. b. When mowing the yard, a bee stung Robin, our neighbor.

Identify and describe five of the eight different ways you can give emphasis to ideas in sentences.

The primary criterion for an understandable word choice for a message is to choose a word that the sender understands.

For each of the following sentences, select a strong alternative word for the italicized weak word. a. The ceiling tile fell to the floor. b. The referee sent the player out of the game for rough play. c. The two young men looked much the same. d. The message presented was strong. e. The argument between Eugenia and Meredith left both feeling displeasure.

Rewrite the following sentences to omit unnecessary words or phrases. a. She laid the papers upon the top of the table, which was a dining table. b. Marjorie printed out three copies of the report on the Jones' case.

Of the following sentences, which would be unbiased?

Explain why positive words are usually preferable to negative words, and give an example of when negative words might be preferred.

Explain how to avoid use of biased language.

Write a paragraph that explains why active voice of the verb is considered preferable in most cases to the passive voice.

Create sentences as directed. a. Use sentence structure to emphasize the benefits of earning a college degree and de-emphasize the effort to earn it.. b. Use location to emphasize a specific date you will ship a customer's order.

Obsolete words sound formal and, therefore, are appropriate in formal but not informal business communication.