Deck 10: Writing the Report

Question 1

Internal proposals may be written in an email textbox.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

"Decks" are reports that were created using presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

You can emphasize the importance of the problem discussed in a formal report by using first-person and second-person pronouns.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

You should avoid using he as a generic pronoun when referring to an unidentified person.

Question 5

When your report is formatted as a letter,you have the option of including headings and subheadings.

Question 6

In a recommendation report,you should explain the other alternatives you investigated before presenting the one you recommend.

Question 7

Long reports may also require a title page,cover note,executive summary,table of contents,appendix,and a reference list.

Question 8

The findings in most reports are organized in chronological order.

Question 9

Decision makers may prefer shorter documents as time-saving devices.

Question 10

Although you may phrase your headings in a variety of ways,noun phrases are probably the most common.

Question 11

You should use the verb tense (past,present,or future)that is appropriate at the time the reader reads the report-not necessarily at the time that you wrote the report.

Question 12

To avoid plagiarism a writer must not copy someone else's idea,language,data,or report without using source citations.

Question 13

The purpose of selecting an organizational basis for your findings is to show order,logic,and unity.

Question 14

Reports may be primarily text or a mix of text and graphics.

Question 15

A report header includes the report title,subtitle,and page number.

Question 16

Do not omit relevant information from a report.

Question 17

Reports written in programs such as Microsoft Word are still common,but more companies,particularly financial services and consulting firms,are using programs such as PowerPoint for reports that combine text and graphics.

Question 18

A text-based report is written as a narrative.

Question 19

For busy readers a writer must "frontload" the opening by grabbing the reader's attention in the first paragraph.

Question 20

When you write a report you follow these steps: planning,drafting,revising,and proofreading.

Question 21

You should cite all primary data sources as part of the reference list at the end of your report.

Question 22

To avoid repetition,do not include your conclusions and recommendations in the report's executive summary.

Question 23

Most formal reports use generic headings to identify the topic of each section.

Question 24

Conclusions are often given at the beginning of a report.

Question 25

When drafting the introduction to a report,include a discussion of the procedures used to gather and analyze data.

Question 26

When summarizing the main points immediately before the conclusions and recommendations,review for the reader by using the same wording used in the presentation.

Question 27

Headings and subheadings in the table of contents should be worded as they appear in the body of the report.

Question 28

Your summary should be at least one page long and possibly longer,depending on your report's complexity and length.

Question 29

You should not only present your findings but also analyze and interpret them in the same section of the report.

Question 30

For analytical and recommendation reports,the most logical organization is by criteria.

Question 31

Make your report easy to read by limiting the number of headings.

Question 32

The indirect approach is an appropriate organizational plan when you expect the reader to be resistant to the conclusions and recommendations in your report.

Question 33

The purpose of the report introduction is to provide information that the reader needs to understand the summary.

Question 34

The direct approach is preferred when the report topic is very complex and needs detailed explanations to help the reader understand and accept the conclusions.

Question 35

Use previews,conclusions,and recommendations,connected by smooth transitions,to achieve coherence and unity in a report.

Question 36

The findings section is generally the largest in the report.

Question 37

The amount of space you devote to an idea will emphasize or subordinate it.

Question 38

If you want to divide a longer report section,you should include at least two subsections.

Question 39

Ending a report with a concluding statement provides a definite sense of project completion and signals the reader not to look for additional pages.

Question 40

When writing a report,use verb tenses that reflect the reader's time frame,not your time frame.

Question 41

Which of the following is not a conclusion?

A) The network is not functioning correctly.
B) Employees do not know how to use the new network properly.
C) Both managers and employees are concerned about invasion of privacy.
D) All employees should receive formal training in network use.
E) Employees lack the confidence to use the new network.

Question 42

A formal report about a complex,serious problem typically includes all of the following except

A) a formal writing style.
B) use of the pronoun you.
C) a table of contents.
D) manuscript format.
E) many supplementary parts.

Question 43

The most logical organization for analytical and recommendation reports is by

A) Using an outline
B) Criteria
C) Presenting ideas
D) Offering a thesis

Question 44

The three major forms for documenting the ideas,information,and quotes of other people in a report are endnotes,footnotes,or author-date references.

Question 45

When planning a report,you should base the structure,formality,and length on

A) the writing style you use.
B) your decision to include supplementary parts.
C) the needs and desires of the reader.
D) the unity and coherence of the report.
E) how you collect and interpret your data.

Question 46

As long as you carefully paraphrase or summarize a source,you can avoid providing documentation of the source.

Question 47

If you organize first-level headings by criteria,you can do all of the following except

A) organize second-level headings differently.
B) avoid using Advantages and Disadvantages as headings.
C) organize second-level headings in order of importance.
D) factor the problem to highlight findings in second-level headings.
E) present second-level headings in simple-to-complex order.

Question 48

You can paraphrase the ideas of someone else by rearranging phrases or leaving out several words.

Question 49

Most reports are organized by

A) Time and location
B) A team
C) The Manager
D) An Editor

Question 50

Which of the following is not true about developing a report outline?

A) Your problem statement and subproblems serve as your first working outline.
B) A formal outline should provide an orderly visual representation of the report.
C) The outline is a guide for the reader to see the development of unity and coherence in the final report.
D) The outline is only a working draft and will be modified as you compose the report.
E) The outline should clearly show the points to be covered and the relationship of each point to the rest of the report.

Question 51

The direct organizational plan should be used when the reader

A) prefers to read the conclusions and recommendations last.
B) is receptive to the conclusions or prefers the direct plan.
C) needs detailed explanations because the topic is complex.
D) is initially not interested in the topic.
E) is expected to resist the recommendations at first.

Question 52

The answers to research questions are presented in the part of the report that covers your

A) references.
B) conclusions.
C) findings.
D) procedures.
E) purpose statement.

Question 53

One aspect of revising a report for style is to check that you have used active and passive voice appropriately.

Question 54

When proofreading a report,use a grammar software program to identify incorrect word usage and incorrect page order.

Question 55

The most common formats for a report are

A) memorandum, letter, and manuscript.
B) transmittal, supplemental, and reference.
C) formal, informal, and synthesized.
D) introduction, body, and conclusion.
E) informational, persuasive, and recommendation.

Question 56

Most business reports use the (Presenting Conclusions and Recommendations)

A) Direct Organizational Plan
B) Indirect Organizational Plan
C) Structure Plan
D) Clustering Plan

Question 57

Reserve direct quotation for definitions and for text passages that are so precise,clear,or noteworthy that you cannot improve them.

Question 58

Facts that can be verified easily do not need to be documented in a report.

Question 59

What time sequence is appropriate for meeting minutes?

A) Functional
B) Chronological
C) Eastern Daylight Savings
D) Global Time

Question 60

The conclusions and recommendations part of a report should

A) Summarize what was said in the first part of the report
B) Summarize what was said in the body of the report
C) Answer all research questions raised in the introduction
D) Develop the final solution to a problem

Question 61

The three distinct steps for revising reports are

A) Clarity, conciseness, and redundancy
B) Tone, language, and wordiness
C) Content, style, and correctness
D) Passive voice, action verbs, and mechanics

Question 62

In a report,the largest section is

A) Your findings
B) Your tone
C) Your language
D) Your thesis

Question 63

To make the report read clearly and smoothly use

A) Passive voice
B) Easy language
C) Emphasis, subordination, preview, summary, and transitions
D) Lots of data

Question 64

Generic headings are used

A) to identify the section topic and the major conclusion.
B) in newspapers and magazines.
C) as a preview or executive summary of the entire report.
D) when the report is written according to the indirect plan.
E) to focus attention on conclusions.

Question 65

The summary that precedes the conclusions and recommendations should

A) not repeat the main points or arguments.
B) refer readers to the transmittal document for more detail.
C) provide a review of the problem and the main findings.
D) reiterate the hypotheses and problem factors studied.
E) contain the same wording as the executive summary.

Question 66

The findings section of the report should

A) be the most concise in the report.
B) focus on the factors and subfactors of the problem.
C) appear before the hypotheses and problem statement.
D) accurately discuss and interpret relevant data.
E) summarize all conclusions for the reader.

Question 67

The section in which you present information about the authorization for the report is the

A) introduction.
B) findings.
C) conclusions.
D) preliminary.
E) appendix.

Question 68

When revising for content you should:

A) include sufficient information
B) describe your policy
C) give an answer
D) look for negative language

Question 69

The body of your report should end with

A) a list of references, if any.
B) a statement of authorization.
C) recommendations for further studies.
D) a concluding statement conveying a sense of completion.
E) an appendix with detailed data supporting the finding section.

Question 70

Some examples of numerical information given in reports are displayed in

A) Tables and figures
B) The textual content
C) At the beginning of a report
D) The conclusion

Question 71

Conclusions should be presented at the beginning of the report unless the reader prefers

A) The indirect plan, will not like the outcome, or if the topic is complex
B) Additional source support
C) Additional graphics for clarity
D) Reading the recommendations first

Question 72

Identify the correct guideline for constructing a table of contents.

A) Use the same wording for the headings as in the report body.
B) Include all levels of headings in the table of contents.
C) List both the starting and the ending page number of each section.
D) Draft the table of contents as an outline for writing the report.
E) Use the table of contents to emphasize important headings.

Question 73

The body of the report consists of

A) Findings, summary, conclusion, recommendation
B) Statistics
C) Policies
D) Solution

Question 74

In case readers want to locate the source of secondary data used in your report,make your ____ accurate in both content and format.

A) executive summary
B) reference list
C) appendix
D) table of contents
E) transmittal document

Question 75

Which of the following is not a component of the report body?

A) introduction
B) executive summary
C) conclusions
D) recommendations
E) findings

Question 76

When revising your draft for style you should

A) Vary your ideas
B) Use words that are clear, simple, and concise
C) Avoid active voice
D) Use wording that repeats so the reader understands

Question 77

When referring to primary and secondary data in the findings section,you should

A) call attention to key trends and contradictions.
B) present less important information in tables and figures.
C) allow readers to come to their own conclusions about implications.
D) present facts and figures in rapid succession for busy readers.
E) refer to research procedures when necessary.

Question 78

An effective executive summary should not

A) be written in the same writing style that is used for the report body.
B) assume that the reader will also read the entire report.
C) be more than 10% of the length of the report.
D) be used if the reader is resistant to the recommendations.
E) hint at the conclusions or recommendations shown in the report.

Question 79

You should use direct quotes

A) Sparingly
B) Often
C) One in each paragraph
D) Only in the conclusion

Question 80

Which of the following should not be included in an appendix?

A) a copy of the questionnaire mailed to the sample population
B) a copy of the cover letter that accompanied the questionnaire
C) a list of secondary sources cited in the report
D) forms and additional details that some readers may find helpful
E) supplementary tables not shown in the body of the report