Deck 6: Writing Preparation

Question 1

Both egocentrism and sociocentrism can lead to confirmation bias and groupthink.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

In business communication, your goal is to maintain and enhance your credibility, and that of your organization, at all times.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The specific purpose influences the presentation and expectation for feedback.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Owing to threats of plagiarism, you are forbidden to quote from your sources.

Question 5

One thing that professional writers agree on is that you need to be in the "right mood" to write.

Question 6

Part of learning to write effectively involves learning to read quickly and efficiently while conducting research.

Question 7

Reading and writing from an audience-centered view means acknowledging your confirmation bias and moving beyond it.

Question 8

Fear of the unknown means the writer has a pre-existing negative association or view of the task or activity.

Question 9

Every piece of business writing requires research or investigation.

Question 10

Analyzing a movie with attention to its use of lighting, camera angles, and music to influence the audience is an example of critical thinking.

Question 11

Both egocentrism and sociocentrism can create an "us versus them" relationship that can undermine your credibility and alienate readers who don't share your viewpoint.

Question 12

Giving credit where credit is due will build your credibility and enhance your document.

Question 13

In order to be productive, it is advised that you work in the morning.

Question 14

The specific purpose is the result that will happen once your written communication has been read.

Question 15

Our ability to concentrate is central to our ability to write effectively.

Question 16

Those who read your writing will have their own confirmation bias.

Question 17

Information literacy is an essential skill set in the process of writing.

Question 18

If a person believes the earth is flat and never questions that belief, it serves as an example of sociocentric thinking.

Question 19

The purpose of the message is closely associated with channel.

Question 20

An important aspect of Internet research is the abundance of online information that is incomplete, outdated, misleading, or downright false.

Question 21

Which of the following examples involves critical thinking?

A) Watching a baseball match along with your friends
B) Preparing breakfast while listening to the radio
C) Reading the morning news while commuting by train
D) Checking the stock updates for the latest highs and lows
E) Preparing a document on the most effective way to create a web page

Question 22

_____ can be defined as "self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking.

A) Psychoanalysis
B) Introspection
C) Critical thinking
D) Self-criticism
E) Guided reflection

Question 23

_____ purposes involve the overall goal of the communication interaction: to inform, persuade, entertain, facilitate interaction, or motivate a reader.

A) Primary
B) Overall
C) Comprehensive
D) Standard
E) General

Question 24

_____ is the perception of integrity of the message based on an association with the source.

A) Veracity
B) Responsiveness
C) Transparency
D) Credibility
E) Professionalism

Question 25

If you only pay attention to information that reinforces your existing beliefs and ignore or discredit information that contradicts your beliefs, you are guilty of _____.

A) egocentrism
B) critical thinking
C) cognitive bias
D) confirmation bias
E) self-fulfilling prophecy

Question 26

In many cases of business writing, the audience needs to be able to analyze the content, and reading is secondary.

Question 27

In an e-mail, avoid a "subject" line that reveals the gist of your message before the reader opens it.

Question 28

As a habit of mind, critical thinking requires all of the following except:

A) established standards and attention to the use of standards.
B) effective communication and problem solving.
C) experience in the field of critical analysis and writing.
D) acknowledging our own tendency for confirmation bias.
E) recognizing our egocentrism and sociocentrism.

Question 29

One strategy to tell when to skim and when to pay attention to detail is to look for abstracts before you commit time to reading an article all the way through.

Question 30

In an informative message, which of the following is an optional predictable element?

A) Who
B) When
C) Why
D) What
E) Where

Question 31

Rupert believes that eating yogurt can improve your intelligence. When asked how he came to the conclusion, he said that all his friends said so. Rupert is guilty of:

A) sociocentrism.
B) unilateralism.
C) confirmation bias.
D) determinism.
E) critical thinking.

Question 32

Mervin strongly believes that a hierarchical organization tends to be more productive in the long run. When Zeta, his colleague points out that modern workplaces require employees to be at their creative best and strong hierarchy is antithetical to creativity, Mervin shrugs off her suggestion. Mervin is guilty of:

A) determinism.
B) confirmation bias.
C) notation bias.
D) self-fulfilling prophecy.
E) narcissism.

Question 33

While writing a report or proposal, presenting a quick overview, or "executive summary," at the beginning of the document is suggested.

Question 34

Rita is asked to prepare a document on workplace politics. She approaches her mentor and reveals that she is quite apprehensive of her ability to deliver. On probing, her mentor finds that Rita was a victim of organizational politics in her earlier organization and thus finds the topic a bit difficult to handle without being subjective. Rita's difficulty can be attributed to:

A) fear of failure.
B) fear of the unknown.
C) lack of critical thinking.
D) negative orientation.
E) confirmation bias.

Question 35

Incubation usually happens all at once.

Question 36

_____ can be defined as the use of self-centered standards to determine what to believe and what to reject.

A) Confirmation bias
B) Egocentrism
C) Unilateralism
D) Determinism
E) Notation bias

Question 37

Which of the following is a proper advice for productive writing?

A) Early morning is the ideal time to start writing.
B) Coffee is a stimulant that helps in creative writing.
C) Late night provides the ideal time to involve in writing.
D) There is no "right mood" to start writing.
E) It is generally advised to wait for the "right mood" to be most creative.

Question 38

The community orientation program expects all students to prepare an article on the topic of their choice. Jennifer, a volunteer teacher at community programs, decides to choose to write on teaching methodologies for learning disabled students. According to the checklist, which aspect of preparation has Jennifer addressed?

A) Determine your specific purpose.
B) Make sure your purpose is realistic.
C) Make sure your timing is appropriate.
D) Make sure your sources are credible.
E) Determine audience knowledge and awareness of topic.

Question 39

Analyzing can be compared to reading.

Question 40

Nicole is writing an article on optimization of utilization of scarce resources with a focus on water usage. She expects that her readers will make contributions to the volunteer group working toward this and also that they will review their water usage habits. Nicole's expectation is an example of:

A) positive feedback.
B) specific purpose.
C) indirect response.
D) planned response.
E) reasonable outcomes.

Question 41

_____ returns search results from several search engines at once.

A) Google
B) Hyperlinking
C) Phishing
D) Metasearch
E) Bookmarking

Question 42

Which of the following requires extensive research and documentation?

A) Proposal
B) Memo
C) Fax
D) Email
E) Text message

Question 43

_____ involves composing your document out of materials from other documents or sources.

A) Collating
B) Documenting
C) Compiling
D) Tagging
E) Source filing

Question 44

Which of the following questions should you ask as part of narrowing down the topic?

A) How large is the audience?
B) How specific is my topic?
C) Have I anticipated all the possible questions?
D) Does my audience know anything about the topic?
E) What is the composition of my audience?

Question 45

Evelyn is asked to prepare a document on filing systems. She consults publications and records on the subject and composes a document for presentation. It may be said that Evelyn is _____ the document.

A) compiling
B) sourcing
C) collating
D) tagging
E) documenting

Question 46

Which of the following is not sound advice regarding reliable and credible writing?

A) Your goal is to maintain and enhance your own credibility.
B) Your goal is to maintain and enhance your organization's credibility.
C) Make sure you never question the credibility of the information.
D) Business writing is usually related to your performance is evaluation.
E) Be a wise information consumer.

Question 47

Which of the following is used to communicate a general message within the organization?

A) Fax
B) Report
C) Proposal
D) Memo
E) Text message

Question 48

Which of the following scenarios present an ethical issue?

A) You mistakenly send a friendly message to the president's email address.
B) You refer your friend's name for a job interview at your firm.
C) You misquoted a source in your initial document that was sent for review.
D) You find a serious flaw in the existing organizational database.
E) You inform your friend about a yet-to-be-released innovative product.

Question 49

The excited state of awareness resulting from enthusiasm for a topic or area of interest is referred to as _____.

A) euphoria
B) transference
C) threshold experience
D) priming
E) initiating

Question 50

Sarah manages the ancillary unit at a garment manufacturing unit. She is known for her responsiveness to her employees. She is also keen to take in new information regarding her work. Sarah is _____.

A) empathetic
B) stimulated
C) excited
D) sensitive
E) absorptive

Question 51

Taking someone else's work and representing it as your own is _____.

A) plagiarism
B) copyrighting
C) trademark infringement
D) licensing
E) misdemeanor

Question 52

Give credit in your writing is advised for all the following reasons except:

A) it shows your level of preparation.
B) it builds your own credibility.
C) it will enhance your document.
D) you will feel more confident in the material.
E) you have a responsibility in business writing to be honest.

Question 53

Which of the following is not one of the aspects of the audience that the writer has to keep in mind, according to the twelve-item checklist?

A) Size
B) Credibility
C) Composition
D) Knowledge
E) Awareness of the topic

Question 54

Which of the following is not true regarding online research?

A) The Internet is a difficult place to get information you actually need.
B) A few search engines have come to dominate the field
C) There are specialized online databases for almost every industry
D) Some Internet sites require paying a subscription fee.
E) Most of online information is verified and credible.

Question 55

_____ refers to your capacity to respond to stimulation, being excited, responsive, or susceptible to new information.

A) Stimulatory response
B) Primary response
C) Absorptiveness
D) Empathy
E) Sensitivity

Question 56

Phyllis is embarking on a new project her firm has initiated in the Middle East. She has always been fond of knowing and experiencing more of that part of the world. Phyllis is excited at the prospect and feels encouraged to increase her knowledge about the project. She is experiencing _____.

A) transference
B) priming
C) euphoria
D) exposure
E) mediation

Question 57

Which of the following is not a proper guideline related to research in preparing for writing?

A) Research does not have to be all about long hours at a library.
B) Consult with business colleagues who have written similar documents.
C) Check if your proposed document fits within the agenda at your place of work.
D) Take shortcuts and "re-purpose" existing documents to meet a tight deadline.
E) Doing your own original work is the best approach to establish credibility.

Question 58

Which of the following is a specific purpose of your writing on safety measures to be followed at the boiler plant of your company?

A) Improve awareness of safety guidelines.
B) Inform employees about safety compliance standards.
C) Provide data on past records of compliance.
D) Provide historical records of non-compliance and resultant injuries.
E) Encourage people to comply with required safety measures.

Question 59

Which of the following is an instance of plagiarism?

A) You download a picture from the Internet and tweak it to suit your purposes.
B) You download a free utility software to add functionality to your tools.
C) You request information from an information portal.
D) You join a discussion group to obtain more information for your topic.
E) You subscribe to a database site and get required data updates.

Question 60

Which of the following strategies is most suitable to stay organized during online research?

A) Request a mentor to provide direction and guidance.
B) Involve a colleague in the collection and documentation of data.
C) Subscribe to a newsgroup or discussion group on the topic and check for updates.
D) Create a "Sources" file to record and track your information sources.
E) Send updated data files regularly for feedback from supervisors before creating the original document.

Question 61

_____ is the process by which you cause an idea or ideas to develop in your mind.

A) Assimilation
B) Gestation
C) Acculturation
D) Incorporation
E) Incubation

Question 62

_____ refers to the process by which you bring the information into a whole or complete topic.

A) Acculturation
B) Gestation
C) Incorporation
D) Incubation
E) Integration

Question 63

_____ refers to the process by which you integrate new ideas into your thinking patterns.

A) Compiling
B) Gestation
C) Induction
D) Assimilation
E) Incubation

Question 64

Geena is finalizing her study on organizational reporting systems. She integrates the reporting systems of the various departments and then finds that they have a common thread to them. She is able to relate the filing procedure at the unit level to the organizational policy regarding documentation. The process by which Geena is able to do this is referred to as _____.

A) incubation
B) incorporation
C) assimilation
D) compiling
E) induction

Question 65

What does critical thinking require as a habit of mind?

Question 66

How important is concentration in writing?

Question 67

What is the difference between critical thinking and other forms of non-focused thinking?

Question 68

Ryan is analyzing the idea presented by his operational team. Though he finds it difficult to accept initially, he slowly assesses the options and finds that the new process might result in better productivity. Ryan feels that the new process needs to be integrated into the existing process. The change in Ryan's thought is a result of _____.

A) incubation
B) gestation
C) assimilation
D) transference
E) exposure

Question 69

Megan is asked to prepare a document on labor conditions at mega construction sites. She travels to various major construction sites, stays with the labor teams, and gets a first-hand report on the working conditions. Megan is experiencing _____.

A) priming
B) sensitivity
C) transference
D) exposure
E) induction

Question 70

Delilah has been given a month's time to come up with a defect-reducing method to improve the operations. She has been pondering over it for the past weeks and gathers material to develop ideas. This process of idea development Delilah is going through is referred to as ____.

A) incubation
B) incorporation
C) gestation
D) acculturation
E) assimilation

Question 71

Which of the following is not a suggested technique to catch reader attention?

A) In an e-mail, use a subject line that tells the reader the gist of your message.
B) For a report, use boldface headings as signposts for the main sections and their subsections.
C) Format items on a list with bullets rather than listing them in sentences.
D) Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that indicates what the paragraph discusses.
E) Make your headings catchy and enigmatic to incite the curiosity of the reader.

Question 72

_____ refers to the process by which you adopt, adapt, or filter out new sources of information as they relate to your goal.

A) Accommodation
B) Incubation
C) Assimilation
D) Gestation
E) Selective filtering

Question 73

Discuss egocentrism and sociocentrism.

Question 74

_____ involves your condition of being presented views, ideas, or experiences made known to you through direct experience.

A) Exposure
B) Sensitivity
C) Introspection
D) Priming
E) Experiential learning

Question 75

What are the reasons people fear writing?

Question 76

What is "writer's block"?

Question 77

Briefly explain why the writing preparation checklist designates "Why" as an optional item?

Question 78

Neville is seeking information on his new project. He finds an abundance of material from the various sources he utilized. He sorts out what he requires, filters out the junk and takes in newer sources of information that are related to his topic. What Neville is doing is referred to as _____.

A) gestation
B) accommodation
C) assimilation
D) incubation
E) incorporation

Question 79

How does confirmation bias our writing? How can you overcome it?

Question 80

What is the best time and right mood for productive work?