Deck 16: Writing Information Reports

Question 1

A heading must cover all the material under it until the next heading.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Delaying action can be one of the conclusions of a feasibility report.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Functional patterns of report organizationdiscuss problems and solutions in units by their physical arrangement.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Business plans are developed in justification reports to prove that a business idea is so sound that the audience should invest in it.

Question 5

A one-page cover letter should be provided with long proposals.

Question 6

_____ reports assess a plan or idea based on a set of criteria established by an organization or a writer.

A)Incident
B)Feasibility
C)Closure
D)Justification

Question 7

Proposals are used to report information about a project that has already been completed.

Question 8

Both general-to-particular and particular-to-general are useful patterns of report
organizaton when you need to redefine the reader's perception of the problem to solve it effectively.

Question 9

During a revision,a PAIBOC analysis should be used to:

A)include only the information you want your readers to read.
B)organize the information such that it influences readers in any way.
C)include only the information your reader needs.
D)organize the information to influence your readers neutrally.

Question 10

Government agencies issue Request For Proposals (RFPs)when contracting out work.

Question 11

Feasibility reports normally begin by:

A)assessing the criteria.
B)explaining the decision to be made.
C)evaluating the alternatives.
D)detailing costs.

Question 12

Most readers want to read every word in a business document.

Question 13

In the compare or contrast pattern of report organization,whatever information comes second will carry more psychological weight.

Question 14

Yardstick reports:

A)use the chronological pattern of organization.
B)recommend a change in policy.
C)are written in response to an RFP.
D)are where business plans are developed.

Question 15

Cover letters should ask the reader to approve the proposal.

Question 16

Transitions are words,phrases,or sentences that tell the reader the discussion is continuing on the same point or is shifting points.

Question 17

_____ reports recommend a purchase,investment,hire,or change in policy.

A)Justification
B)Closure
C)Yardstick
D)Technical

Question 18

A topic sentence is the same as headings that "talk".

Question 19

Easy-to-read messages motivate people to do as you ask.

Question 20

When eliminating alternatives,discuss the impractical solutions first,showing why they will not work.

Question 21

The best headings:

A)introduce or summarize the main idea of a paragraph.
B)are words,phrases,and sentences that tell the reader the discussion is shifting points.
C)are parallel.
D)are the same size and font as the subheadings in the report.

Question 22

In the context of a proposal for a student report,your _____ section should clearly indicate where and how you will get the information you need to answer the questions in the Topics to Investigate section.

A)methods
B)problem
C)call to action
D)qualifications

Question 23

Which of the following must stress reader benefits and provide specific supporting details?

A)Mission statements
B)Business plans
C)Proposals
D)Feasibility reports

Question 24

Justification reports recommend:

A)an action.
B)out-going announcements.
C)an investment.
D)organizational plans.

Question 25

_____ are discussed in the business description of a feasibility study.

A)Conducts
B)Assets
C)Values
D)Codes

Question 26

A(n)_____ pattern of report organization works well when the solutions the reader is likely to favour will not work,while the solution you recommend is likely to be perceived as expensive,intrusive,or radical.

A)chronological
B)spatial
C)comparison
D)elimination of alternatives

Question 27

To create white space,one should use:

A)short paragraphs.
B)tabs,but not indents.
C)headings,but not subheadings.
D)lists-without numbers or bullets.

Question 28

You are writing a report that explains the current duties of each person in your department.The MOST appropriate organizational pattern would be _.

A)spatial
B)pro-con
C)functional
D)chronological

Question 29

In which of the following situations would a direct,deductive,or good news pattern for a report be appropriate?

A)When your audience has requested the report
B)When your recommendation is easy for your reader to accept
C)When you anticipate reader resistance
D)When your topic is brand new to your audience

Question 30

_____ forecast what you will discuss in a section or in an entire report.

A)White spaces
B)Transitions
C)Headings
D)Blueprints

Question 31

When your recommendation is easy for your reader to accept,_.

A)leave it to them to make a decision.
B)ask for the action you want.
C)provide all the evidence first.
D)discuss all other points first.

Question 32

_____ are reports that describe a method for solving a problem.

A)Business plans
B)Justification reports
C)Feasibility reports
D)Proposals

Question 33

A(n)_____ pattern of report organization is LEAST effective when you want to de-emphasize the disadvantages of a proposed solution.

A)general-to-particular
B)Elimination of alternatives
C)pro-con
D)problem-solution

Question 34

A _____ report records events in the order in which they happened or are planned to happen.

A)functional
B)spatial
C)particular-to-general
D)chronological

Question 35

Which of the following report organizational patterns works well when the reader is neutral?

A)Spatial
B)Elimination of alternatives
C)Inductive
D)Problem-solution

Question 36

In a _____ pattern of report organization,you discuss problems and solutions in units by their physical arrangement.

A)particular-to-general
B)comparison
C)chronological
D)spatial

Question 37

Which of the following is true about organizing a cover letter for long proposals?

A)Discuss each of the major benefits in the order in which you mention them in the last paragraph.
B)Mention benefits other than the major ones in detail.
C)Ask the reader to approve your proposal and provide a reason for acting promptly.
D)Catch the reader's attention and summarize up to five major benefits you offer.

Question 38

A _____ pattern of report organization starts with a problem as the audience defines it and moves to larger issues of which the problem is a part.

A)spatial
B)chronological
C)functional
D)particular-to-general

Question 39

_____ are words,phrases,and sentences that tell the reader the discussion is continuing on the same point or is shifting points.

A)Headings
B)Transitions
C)Blueprints
D)White spaces

Question 40

Which pattern of report organization helps the audience see a problem in a new way?

A)Chronological
B)General-to-particular
C)Functional
D)Problem-solution

Question 41

Distinguish between the general-to-particular and the particular-to-general patterns of report organization.

Question 42

How should the body of a feasibility report be developed?

Question 43

What are the two main goals of a proposal?

Question 44

Discuss the pro-con pattern of report organization.When is this pattern least effective?

Question 45

What is meant by repetition for reinforcement?