Deck 4: Organization

Question 1

____ is the process of planning and arranging information in the manner most likely to achieve our objective.

A) Brainstorming
B) Preparation
C) Organization
D) Decoration

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following is not a guideline for developing a well-organized communication?

A) Outline before you write.
B) Employ organizational devices to highlight your structure.
C) Present information in the order you think of it.
D) Have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

We can boost our credibility by exploiting an effective organizational structure, as we will look like experts when we guide our audience through a well-structured communication.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Which of the following is not something an introduction should do?

A) Explain the communicator's interest in the topic
B) Specify the communication's goal
C) Engage the audience
D) Describe how the communication will proceed

Question 5

A "roadmap" tells the audience what the rest of the communication contains and how it is organized.

Question 6

No roadmap should exceed a single sentence.

Question 7

Which part of a communication should be the longest and most detailed?

A) Introduction (the beginning)
B) Conclusion (the end)
C) References
D) Body (the middle)

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true of a communication's conclusion? Select all that apply.

A) It should summarize key points.
B) It should repeat the introduction.
C) It should introduce new material.
D) It should answer any questions raised earlier in the communication.

Question 9

Some of the best outlines include in-text citations and References in addition to specifying the estimated length of each section.

Question 10

Outlines are only useful for long papers or when a professor requires them.

Question 11

Which of the following is not a benefit of outlines?

A) An outline can be used as an agreement, ensuring that we are heading in the right direction.
B) Outlining forces us to organize our thoughts in a logical and coherent way, exposing errors in thinking and gaps in information.
C) Outlining increases our efficiency, by pushing us to consider the big picture first and details second.
D) Outlining eliminates errors in writing mechanics.

Question 12

Which of the following is not one of the four general rules for outlining?

A) Focus on the body, excluding the introduction and conclusion.
B) Put your thesis/purpose/coverage statement at the top.
C) Distinguish between major and minor elements.
D) Identify at least two items on each level.

Question 13

A topic outline combines key words and phrases (for section and subsection headings) with complete sentences to convey specifically what information will be presented and in what order.

Question 14

Sometimes, it makes sense to start with a topic outline and then convert the topic outline into a sentence outline.

Question 15

When converting an outline to a paper draft, the paper's major (level 1) sections will correspond directly to the outline's Roman Numerals.

Question 16

Back-to-back section/subheadings generally should be avoided.

Question 17

What is the major flaw in the following outline? Select all that apply.
Thesis statement: Police should not release images of arrested crime suspects to the media.

I. Introduction
A. Ways police allow the media to obtain images of crime suspects
B. Consequences of media presentation of images of crime suspects
C. Roadmap of the rest of the paper

II. Alleged Benefits of Police Releasing Images of Crime Suspects to the Media
A. Keeps the public informed
B. Calms down an anxious public
C. Adheres to the First Amendment

III. First Reason: Implication of Guilt
A. Mug shots
B. Perp walks

IV. Second Reason: Imposition of Punishment
A. Humiliation
B. Reputational damage

V. Third Reason: Unfair in Administration
A. Discrimination
B. Profiling

VI. Conclusion
A. Summary of main points
B. Alternative ways to inform the public

A) lack of indentation
B) improper/unclear use of Roman Numerals, capital letters, numbers, and so on
C) lack of introduction
D) lack of conclusion
E) lack of thesis statement

Question 18

What is the major flaw in the following outline? Select all that apply.
Thesis statement: Police should not release images of arrested crime suspects to the media.

I. Alleged Benefits of Police Releasing Images of Crime Suspects to the Media
$\quad$ A. Keeps the public informed
$\quad$ B. Calms down an anxious public
$\quad$ C. Adheres to the First Amendment

II. First Reason: Implication of Guilt
$\quad$ A. Mug shots
$\quad$ B. Perp walks

III. Second Reason: Imposition of Punishment
$\quad$ A. Humiliation
$\quad$ B. Reputational damage

IV. Third Reason: Unfair in Administration
$\quad$ A. Discrimination
$\quad$ B. Profiling

A) lack of indentation
B) improper/unclear use of Roman Numerals, capital letters, numbers, and so on
C) lack of introduction
D) lack of conclusion
E) lack of thesis statement

Question 19

What is the major flaw in the following outline? Select all that apply.
Thesis statement: Police should not release images of arrested crime suspects to the media.

A. Introduction

1. Ways police allow the media to obtain images of crime suspects
2. Consequences of media presentation of images of crime suspects
3. Roadmap of the rest of the paper

II. Alleged Benefits of Police Releasing Images of Crime Suspects to the Media
A. Keeps the public informed
B. Calms down an anxious public
C. Adheres to the First Amendment

III. First Reason: Implication of Guilt
A. Mug shots
B. Perp walks

IV. Second Reason: Imposition of Punishment
A. Humiliation
B. Reputational damage

V. Third Reason: Unfair in Administration
A. Discrimination
B. Profiling
E. Conclusion
A. Summary of main points
2. Alternative ways to inform the public

A) lack of indentation
B) improper/unclear use of Roman Numerals, capital letters, numbers, and so on
C) lack of introduction
D) lack of conclusion
E) lack of thesis statement

Question 20

What is the major flaw in the following outline? Select all that apply.
Thesis statement: Police should not release images of arrested crime suspects to the media.
? Introduction
$\quad$ - Ways police allow the media to obtain images of crime suspects
$\quad$ - Consequences of media presentation of images of crime suspects
$\quad$ - Roadmap of the rest of the paper
?Alleged Benefits of Police Releasing Images of Crime Suspects to the Media
$\quad$ - Keeps the public informed
?- Calms down an anxious public
$\quad$ - Adheres to the First Amendment
? First Reason: Implication of Guilt
$\quad$ - Mug shots
$\quad$ - Perp walks
? Second Reason: Imposition of Punishment
$\quad$ - Humiliation
$\quad$ - Reputational damage
? Third Reason: Unfair in Administration
$\quad$ - Discrimination
$\quad$ - Profiling
? Conclusion
$\quad$ - Summary of main points
$\quad$ - Alternative ways to inform the public

A) lack of indentation
B) improper/unclear use of Roman Numerals, capital letters, numbers, and so on
C) lack of introduction
D) lack of conclusion
E) lack of thesis statement

Question 21

What is the major flaw in the following outline? Select all that apply.
I. Introduction
$\quad$ A. Ways police allow the media to obtain images of crime suspects
$\quad$ B. Consequences of media presentation of images of crime suspects
$\quad$ C. Roadmap of the rest of the paper

II. Alleged Benefits of Police Releasing Images of Crime Suspects to the Media
$\quad$ A. Keeps the public informed
$\quad$ B. Calms down an anxious public
$\quad$ C. Adheres to the First Amendment

III. First Reason: Implication of Gullt
$\quad$ A. Mug shots
$\quad$ B. Perp walks

IV. Second Reason: Imposition of Punishment
$\quad$ A. Humiliation
$\quad$ B. Reputational damage

V. Third Reason: Unfair in Administration
$\quad$ A. Discrimination
$\quad$ B. Profiling

VI. Conclusion
$\quad$ A. Summary of main points
$\quad$ B. Alternative ways to inform the public

A) lack of indentation
B) improper/unclear use of Roman Numerals, capital letters, numbers, and so on
C) lack of introduction
D) lack of conclusion
E) lack of thesis statement

Question 22

You will always have a choice about how to structure a communication.

Question 23

In choosing how to organize a communication, the primary determinant should be your comfort level with the various organizational structures.

Question 24

When we arrange information from the earliest to the most recent, we are using which organizational structure?

A) sequential
B) classification
C) specific to general
D) chronological

Question 25

When we arrange information according to similarities and differences, we are using which organizational structure?

A) advantages-disadvantages
B) compare-and-contrast
C) partition
D) effect and cause

Question 26

When we arrange information such that we describe a problem, then explain the problem, and then propose a logical solution to the problem, we are using which organizational structure?

A) problem-process-solution
B) advantages-disadvantages
C) problem-cause-solution
D) cause and effect

Question 27

It is possible to use more than one organizational structure in the same communication.

Question 28

A(n) ____ is a signal to the audience about how some information fits into, or advances, the overall communication.

A) organizational structure
B) organizational device
C) order indicator
D) role indicator

Question 29

Which of the following is not an effective organizational device in written communications?

A) transitions
B) headings and subheadings
C) "roadmap" paragraphs
D) punctuation marks

Question 30

How we format a list should be determined by avoiding monotony in list formats throughout the document.

Question 31

Which of the following is not a factor influencing the decision of whether to build a horizontal or vertical list?

A) Page position
B) Complexity
C) Length
D) Importance

Question 32

It can be difficult to follow a lengthy list when it is in the text (i.e., horizontally formatted), especially when the listed items themselves are long.

Question 33

Horizontal formatting draws attention to the list.

Question 34

Vertical listing can make complex information easier to follow.

Question 35

When making a list, if the number of items is important and/or there is an order to the items, then a numbered list is appropriate.

Question 36

If a list is preceded by the word "includes," then we should assume the list is a complete rather than partial list.

Question 37

Improper or inconsistent comma use might be viewed as sloppy but will not make it difficult for the reader to determine when the list moves from one to the next item.

Question 38

A(n) ____ connects ideas.

A) in-text citation
B) verb
C) noun
D) transition

Question 39

To be effective, transitions should be…. Select all that apply.

A) Used sometimes but not always, otherwise the paper comes across as too tedious.
B) Informative, being as clear and specific as possible about what the information is and how it relates to the rest of the information in the document.
C) Consistent with the paper's message and organizational structure.
D) Use consistently throughout the paper.

Question 40

In general, use some form of transition at the beginning of each section and each paragraph.

Question 41

Transitions are most effective when they appear in the middle or at the end of sentences.

Question 42

Transitions such as "alternatively," "however," and "whereas" are effective for….

A) indicating frequency
B) listing complementary points
C) distinguishing ideas
D) summarizing a point

Question 43

Transitions such as "because," "therefore," and "consequently" are effective for….

A) showing a causal effect
B) illustrating a point
C) qualifying a point
D) indicating spatial relationships

Question 44

Which of the following sets of transitions is not appropriate for indicating temporal/chronological order?

A) after, before, currently
B) close by, further away, nearby
C) earlier, recently, subsequently
D) now, later, soon

Question 45

Which of the following sets of transitions is appropriate for continuing a point or connecting similar ideas? Select all that apply.

A) additionally, furthermore, moreover
B) similarly, likewise, in a like manner
C) overall, in brief, to conclude
D) at any rate, that said, this is not to say

Question 46

A(n) ____ is when two or more transitional terms are combined to create a single transitional phrase.

A) compound transition
B) redundant transition
C) layered transition
D) complex transition

Question 47

____ is when two or more transitional structures are used in a single communication to distinguish between lines or thought or major versus minor elements.

A) Compound transitioning
B) Redundant transitioning
C) Layered transitioning
D) Complex transitioning

Question 48

Which of the following is/are true regarding organizational devices in (oral) presentations? Select all that apply.

A) Organizational devices should appear directly in PowerPoint slides.
B) Audience members have less ability to reorient themselves if they get lost in a presentation.
C) Organizational devices are at least as important in presentations as in papers.
D) Organizational devices in presentations are too important to be oral; they must be written down, too.

Question 49

Some elements in a communication are more important than others, with the most important items being the major elements.

Question 50

We need to organize communications in such a way that equal attention is drawn to the major and minor elements.

Question 51

Each paragraph should present and develop at least three distinct but related ideas.

Question 52

In general, each paragraph should start with a transition and contain a topic sentence.

Question 53

A(n) ____ is a clear statement of what the paragraph is about.

A) topic sentence
B) transition
C) organizational device
D) conceptual framework

Question 54

Generally speaking, the most important material should be placed in the middle of the paragraph.

Question 55

Within a single communication, paragraphs should be of roughly equivalent length.

Question 56

Each sentence should express part of a single thought.

Question 57

Which of the following statements is/are not true about sentence length? Select all that apply.

A) We should vary sentence length within a communication.
B) The most important information belongs in the middle of a sentence.
C) Commas, parentheses, and em dashes are methods for setting off material from the rest of a sentence.
D) Express more complicated thoughts using longer sentences than simpler thoughts.

Question 58

In which of the following situations is it effective to place a paragraph's main idea at the end of the paragraph? Select all that apply.

A) Dramatic material
B) Complicated material
C) Controversial material
D) Time-sensitive material

Question 59

Where major elements should be set off with commas or enclosed in parentheses, minor elements should be set off with an em dash.

Question 60

According to Chapter 4, a(n) ____ addresses a controversial topic and argues for a particular position on that topic.

A) position paper
B) opinion piece
C) case brief
D) persuasive paper

Question 61

A controversial issue is an issue that has more than one side to it.

Question 62

Which of the following is not an example of a controversial issue? Select all that apply.

A) Cameras in courtrooms: Should cameras be in the courtroom during criminal trials?
B) Prisons and deterrence: What is the history of using prisons to deter crime?
C) Marijuana legalization: Which states have legalized marijuana?
D) Video games and crime: Do video games contribute to violent crime?

Question 63

The main job of a persuasive paper is to inform the audience about the issue.

Question 64

When deciding which side to take on a controversial issue, Chapter 4 recommends picking the side you feel the most strongly about.

Question 65

Which of the following lists the parts of a persuasive paper in the recommended order?

A) introduction, background, your most strong point, your moderately strong point, your least strong point, conclusion
B) introduction, background, side 1 (your side), side 2, conclusion
C) introduction, background, side 2, side 1 (your side), conclusion
D) introduction, opposing argument, your least strong point, your moderately strong point, your most strong point, conclusion

Question 66

According to the ____ effect, audiences are strongly affected by material presented first.

A) volume
B) recency
C) sensitivity
D) primacy

Question 67

According to the ____ effect, audiences are strongly affected by material presented last.

A) volume
B) recency
C) sensitivity
D) primacy

Question 68

According to the ____ effect, audiences are strongly affected by material presented the most.

A) volume
B) recency
C) sensitivity
D) primacy

Question 69

The essence of a persuasive paper is to give reasons why your position is the most logical and evidence-based position on a controversial issue.

Question 70

Which of the following is not a best practice for developing compelling persuasive papers?

A) Identify and critically evaluate the evidence for and against your stance.
B) Make your stance clear as soon as possible.
C) Present your own argument before the opposing argument.
D) Maintain a professional, educated tone and writing style.

Question 71

A(n) ____ is a communication "designed to obtain a decision, to exchange information, or to review important details" (GlobalSecurity.org, n.d., Appendix B).

A) white paper
B) mission statement
C) action plan
D) intelligence briefing

Question 72

Which of the following is the key organizational rule for intelligence briefings?

A) Present the bottom line up front
B) Proceed from context to conclusion
C) Details, details, details!
D) Lay out but do not recommend specific courses of action

Question 73

Which of the following is not a section in intelligence briefings?

A) substantiation
B) key judgments
C) biography
D) context

Question 74

The ____ section in an intelligence briefing provides the evidence basis for the claims presented earlier in the briefing.

A) substantiation
B) key judgments
C) biography
D) context

Question 75

Which of the following is not recommended when constructing an intelligence briefing?

A) Bold key points when they are the first sentence of a paragraph.
B) Use graphics and test boxes to reinforce key points.
C) Place the details directly in the body of the text.
D) Present general information before specific information.

Question 76

Which of the following is not a best practice for developing compelling intelligence briefings?

A) Present the main conclusions first.
B) Substantiate each Key Judgement.
C) Be clear and concise.
D) Equivocate frequently.