Deck 10: Business Writing in Action

Question 1

A memo is more often written from a one-to-one, interpersonal perspective.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

An informational report establishes fault and includes judgmental statements.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Solicitation may come in the form of an indirect verbal or written request, but normally solicitations are direct, closed-bid to the public, and informally published.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

An effective business proposal's emphasis on persuasion guides the overall presentation.

Question 5

Unsolicited proposals require a thorough understanding of the market, product and/or service, and their presentation is typically customer-specific rather than general.

Question 6

If your letter includes a letterhead with the return address information, either in the header or the footer, you still need to include it before the date.

Question 7

Reports come in all sizes, but are typically shorter than a page.

Question 8

The conclusion in a letter restates the main point and always includes a call to action.

Question 9

Texting is useful for long and complicated messages.

Question 10

Effective business proposals are built around a great idea or solution.

Question 11

Memos should have a subjective tone.

Question 12

By association, if your organization is credible the product or service is often thought to be more credible.

Question 13

In a business letter, your signature should be five lines after the close, where you should type your name required) and, on the line below it, your title required).

Question 14

"Yours truly" is a standard business closing statement.

Question 15

The golden rule states that you should treat others as you would like to be treated.

Question 16

Effective, persuasive proposals are more often lengthy.

Question 17

A memo has a header that clearly indicates who sent it and who the intended recipients are.

Question 18

A good e-mail should get to the point and conclude in five small paragraphs or less.

Question 19

Delivery is often the greatest challenge for Web-based services.

Question 20

Electronic mail may be used like text, or synchronous chat, and it can be delivered to a cell phone.

Question 21

Which of the following statements is not true about texting?

A) It has become a common way to connect.
B) It is useful for long and complicated messages.
C) It is a convenient way to stay connected with others when talking on the phone would be cumbersome.
D) It is useful for short exchanges.
E) It is a form of written communication using a digital device.

Question 22

Regardless of the product or service, the audience is going to consider first what is in it for them.

Question 23

Not every sales message will make a direct sale.

Question 24

The more background research you can do on your buyer, the better you can individualize your sales message to meet them.

Question 25

An) _____ is normally used for communicating policies, procedures, or related official business within an organization.

A) letter
B) statement
C) memo
D) article
E) agenda

Question 26

A scannable résumé is a custom document that specifically highlights the experience and skills that are relevant to the job.

Question 27

Sales messages are often discussed in terms of reason versus faith.

Question 28

_____ are often printed on letterhead paper, and represent the business or organization in one or two pages.

A) Memos
B) Articles
C) Agendas
D) Statements
E) Letters

Question 29

Which of the following about a memo is false?

A) It occasionally includes an element of persuasion or a call to action.
B) It may be used to update a team on activities for a given project.
C) It may be used to inform a specific group within a company of an event, action, or observance.
D) It is more often written from a one-to-one, interpersonal perspective.
E) It includes statements that align business and employee interest.

Question 30

Which of the following statements is true about e-mail?

A) In business, it has largely replaced memos for external correspondence.
B) In business, it has taken the place of print copy letters for internal communication.
C) It can be very useful for messages that have slightly less content than a text message.
D) It is best used for fairly lengthy messages.
E) Many businesses use automated e-mails to acknowledge communications from the public.

Question 31

In a résumé, you need to list your education in reverse chronological order, with your most recent degree first.

Question 32

Make sure your résumé includes a character recognition program; no italics, underlining, shading, boxes, or lines.

Question 33

What is the purpose of a memo?

A) To inform
B) To introduce you to a potential employer
C) To announce a product or service
D) To communicate feelings and emotions
E) To introduce your skills and qualifications to prospective employers

Question 34

Which of the following is not a tip to be followed for writing effective business memos?

A) Always consider the audience and their needs when preparing a memo.
B) Memos are often announcements which are linear, from the organization to the employees.
C) The subject is normally declared in the subject line and should be clear and concise.
D) Memos are always direct.
E) Memos should have a subjective tone.

Question 35

Which of the following tips for effective business texting is not true?

A) Know your recipient.
B) Contacting someone too frequently can border on harassment.
C) Anticipate intentional misinterpretation.
D) Do not text and drive.
E) Unplug yourself once in awhile.

Question 36

A report should contain figures, tables, and art that are easily understood without text support.

Question 37

Which of the following tips for effective business e-mails is true?

A) Use "Reply All" sparingly.
B) Use abbreviations.
C) Be brief and omit necessary words.
D) A good e-mail should conclude in five small paragraphs or less.
E) Subject lines should be clear, lengthy, and specific.

Question 38

Which of the following about letters is false?

A) It can serve to introduce you to a potential employer.
B) It may include statements that align business and employee interest, and underscore common ground and benefit.
C) It can be used to communicate feelings and emotions.
D) It may serve to deliver important or specific information.
E) It can be used to announce a product or service.

Question 39

In a résumé, the first element of the contact information is your address.

Question 40

A research report studies problems scientifically by developing hypotheses, collecting data, analyzing data, and indicating findings.

Question 41

The function of this report is to describe one-time events, such as trips, conferences, seminars, as well as reports from branch offices, industrial and manufacturing plants.

A) Field study report
B) Progress report
C) Case study
D) Feasibility study
E) Benchmark report

Question 42

What is the primary function of a report?

A) To focus on work history
B) To serve as a written record of correspondence
C) Demonstrate skills that can clearly link to job functions
D) Setting the agenda
E) The demonstration of an analysis

Question 43

This part of a report clearly indicates the main results and their relationship to recommended action or outcome.

A) Informational abstract
B) Label, report, features title, author, affiliation, date, etc.
C) A list of the main parts of the report
D) Related supporting materials
E) Concise presentation of findings

Question 44

Which of the following about solicited proposals is true?

A) Solicitation may come in the form of an indirect verbal or written request.
B) Normally solicitations are direct, closed-bid to the public, and informally published.
C) They require a thorough understanding of the market, product and/or service, and their presentation is typically general.
D) They are often regarded as marketing materials, intended more to stimulate interest for a follow-up contact than make direct sales.
E) If you have been asked to submit a proposal it is considered solicited.

Question 45

A progress report:

A) analyzes problems and predicts whether current solutions will be practical, advisable, or produce the desired outcomes).
B) monitors and controls production, sales, shipping, service, or related business processes.
C) makes recommendations to management and becomes a tool to solve problems and make decisions.
D) discusses competing products with an analysis of relative advantages and disadvantages.
E) documents and indicates the extent to which a product is within established compliance parameters.

Question 46

Which of the following about reports is false?

A) Reports are part of any business or organization.
B) They serve to document specific information for specific audiences, goals, or functions.
C) Reports are always analytical.
D) The type of report is often identified by its primary purpose or function.
E) A report may have conclusions, propositions, or a call to action.

Question 47

The conclusion of a letter:

A) may include a call to action.
B) establishes the sender.
C) establishes the purpose.
D) articulates the message.
E) sometimes includes contact information.

Question 48

Which of the following about analytical reports is false?

A) It introduces information with a comprehensive analysis to solve problems.
B) It presents information with a complete analysis to demonstrate relationships.
C) It demonstrates information with a comprehensive analysis to make recommendations.
D) An example of an analytical report is a police accident report.
E) Reports often involve the rational analysis of information.

Question 49

RFQs:

A) typically specify the product.
B) emphasize cost.
C) normally specify the guidelines for submission and evaluation criteria.
D) are often job-specific.
E) encompass a project that requires a timeline, labor, and materials.

Question 50

Which of the following is false about business proposals?

A) Each assertion in your business proposal requires substantiation.
B) By association, if your organization is credible the product or service is often thought to be more credible.
C) Ethos refers to enthusiasm, pathos to credibility, and logos to reason.
D) In making claims about your product, you have to show why the claims you make are true and support your central assertion that your product is right for this client.
E) Make sure you cite sources and indicate "according to" in your business proposal when you support your points.

Question 51

Which of the following about a business proposal is false?

A) An effective business proposal's emphasis on persuasion guides the overall presentation.
B) An effective business proposal is built around a great idea or solution.
C) It features many of the common elements of a report.
D) In order to be successful in business, you should be familiar with the business proposal.
E) It is a document designed to make a persuasive appeal to the audience to achieve an imperceptible outcome.

Question 52

RFPs:

A) typically specify the product, guidelines for submission, and evaluation criteria.
B) emphasize cost.
C) emphasize service and maintenance as part of the solicitation.
D) are often job-specific.
E) encompass a project that requires a timeline, labor, and materials.

Question 53

According to the text, _____ is often the greatest challenge for Web-based services.

A) delivery
B) budget
C) postpurchase customer service
D) getting customers for your business
E) location

Question 54

This is a one- or two-paragraph outline of the product or service and how it meets the requirements and exceeds expectations.

A) Background
B) Cover page
C) Benefits
D) Executive summary
E) Marketing plan

Question 55

Which of the following about unsolicited proposals is true?

A) Their presentation is typically customer-specific rather than general.
B) They are often regarded as marketing materials, intended more to make direct sales than to stimulate interest for a follow-up contact.
C) They can be tailored to specific businesses with time and effort.
D) They encompass a project that requires a timeline, labor, and materials.
E) They typically specify the product or service.

Question 56

_____ are documents designed to record and convey information to the reader.

A) Statements
B) Memos
C) Letters
D) Forms
E) Reports

Question 57

In a business proposal, the _____ is a clear presentation, often with visual aids, of the process, from start to finish, with specific, dated benchmarks noted.

A) conclusion
B) proposal
C) marketing plan
D) executive summary
E) timeline

Question 58

All of the following are key "body" elements of a report except:

A) background.
B) methodology.
C) results.
D) informational abstract.
E) analysis and recommendations.

Question 59

Which of the following about letters is true?

A) If your letter includes a letterhead with the return address information, either in the header or the footer, you still need to include it before the date.
B) The date should be placed at the top, left justified, and three lines from the top of the page.
C) Use impersonal salutations like "Dear Prospective Customer," as using personalization can make future clients uncomfortable.
D) Your signature should be five lines after the close, where you should type your name required) and, on the line below it, your title required).
E) The conclusion can serve to remind the reader, but should not introduce new information.

Question 60

Identify the incorrect statement regarding business proposals.

A) A professional document is a base requirement.
B) Information that pertains to credibility should be to find and clearly relevant.
C) If word processing files have their formatting changed, a PDF format may be used to preserve content location.
D) Effective, persuasive proposals are more often than not lengthy.
E) There should be no errors in spelling or grammar, and all information should be accurate and clearly referenced when appropriate.

Question 61

Sales messages are often discussed in terms of:

A) reason versus faith.
B) reason versus excuse.
C) reason versus belief.
D) reason versus loyalty.
E) reason versus emotion.

Question 62

Discuss the format of a memo.

Question 63

What is the disadvantage of a targeted résumé?

A) Some employers prefer a reverse chronological order.
B) It is often associated with people who have gaps in their employment history.
C) They cannot clearly link to job functions or duties.
D) It may be difficult to highlight skills and experience.
E) Custom documents take additional time, preparation, analysis of the job announcement, and may not fit the established guidelines.

Question 64

A _____ is a document that summarizes your education, skills, talents, employment history, and experiences in a clear and concise format for potential employers.

A) letter
B) memo
C) career portfolio
D) résumé
E) brochure

Question 65

Which of the following about maximizing your scannable résumé content is true?

A) Use nonstandard terms to stand out
B) Choose a sans serif font like Arial that will not be misread
C) Use italics, underlining, and lines
D) The bigger your font, the more likely the computer is to make the error of combining adjacent letters
E) Use Inkjet printers to get crisp letter formation

Question 66

The first element of the contact information is your _____.

A) address
B) phone numbers)
C) e-mail address
D) photograph
E) name

Question 67

What is a business proposal? Why is it important to be familiar with a business proposal?

Question 68

What is texting? When is it useful and when is it not useful?

Question 69

Which of the following about résumés is false?

A) All résumé formats should organize information in the same way.
B) Employers need your résumé to be accurate.
C) Employers expect your résumé to be up to date.
D) Employers expect your résumé to be clear.
E) This document represents you in your absence.

Question 70

What is the advantage of a scannable résumé?

A) Demonstrates skills that can clearly link to job functions or duties
B) Highlights the skills you have that are relevant to the job and provides a reverse chronological work history
C) Points out to the reader how your qualifications and experience clearly match the job duties
D) Facilitates search and retrieval, and reduces physical storage costs
E) Demonstrates a consistent work history

Question 71

In a sales message, the _____ should use humor, novelty, surprise, or the unusual to get noticed.

A) introduction
B) attention statement
C) body
D) conclusion
E) residual message

Question 72

What is the disadvantage of a functional résumé?

A) It may be difficult to highlight skills and experience.
B) Custom documents take additional time, preparation, and may not fit the established guidelines.
C) They cannot clearly link to job functions or duties.
D) It is often associated with people who have gaps in their employment history.
E) Scanners may not read the résumé correctly.

Question 73

Which of the following is false about sales messages?

A) Buyers make purchase decisions on emotion as well as reason.
B) If your sales message does not appear to have credibility, the message will be dismissed.
C) If your sales message focuses exclusively on emotion, with little or no substance, it may not be taken seriously.
D) Even if buyers have researched all the relevant facts about competing products, the decision may still come down to impulse, emotion, and desire.
E) If your sales message focuses exclusively on reason and nothing but the facts, you may appeal to the majority of the audience.

Question 74

Which of the following is a sales message strategy for success?

A) Know your audience
B) Take big steps and give the audience a lot of information
C) Start with your least interesting benefit
D) Lead with reason
E) Follow with emotion

Question 75

What is the advantage of a reverse chronological résumé?

A) Highlights skills and experience
B) Demonstrates a consistent work history
C) Demonstrates skills that can clearly link to job functions
D) Highlights the skills you have that are relevant to the job
E) Points out to the reader how your qualifications and experience clearly match the job duties

Question 76

What is the advantage of a combination résumé?

A) It demonstrates a consistent work history.
B) It demonstrates skills that can clearly link to job functions or duties.
C) It highlights the skills you have that are relevant to the job and provides a reverse chronological work history.
D) It is often associated with people who have gaps in their employment history.
E) It highlights skills and experience.

Question 77

An) _____ is what the buyer gains with the purchase and is central to your sales message.

A) appeal
B) idea
C) gift
D) benefit
E) reward

Question 78

List the fifteen parts of a standard business letter.

Question 79

A sales message is the central _____ message that intrigues, informs, persuades, calls to action, and closes the sale.

A) natural
B) topical
C) persuasive
D) neutral
E) refusal

Question 80

List some of Virginia Shea's rules of netiquette.