Archives

A: Format and Layout of Business Documents A-1 APPENDIX A: FORMAT AND LAYOUT OF BUSINESS DOCUMENTS APPENDIX OUTLINE First Impressions Paper Customization Appearance Letters Standard Letter Parts Heading Date Inside Address Salutation Body Complimentary Close Signature Block Additional Letter Parts […]

B: Documentation of Report Sources B-1 APPENDIX B: DOCUMENTATION OF REPORT SOURCES APPENDIX OUTLINE Chicago Humanities Style In-Text Citation—Chicago Humanities Style Bibliography—Chicago Humanities Style APA Style In-Text Citation—APA Style List of References—APA Style MLA Style In-Text Citation—MLA Style List of […]

C: Correction Symbols C-1 APPENDIX C: CORRECTION SYMBOLS Today’s business professionals often rely on electronic markup and comment features in word processors and Adobe Acrobat, but familiarity with traditional proofreading marks is still important. Early in the term, direct students […]

1: Professional Communication in Today’s Digital, Social, Mobile World 1-1 Copyright © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. CHAPTER 1: PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION IN TODAY’S DIGITAL, SOCIAL, MOBILE WORLD CHAPTER SUMMARY Chapter 1 focuses on the importance and benefits of becoming an effective […]

Copyright © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. employment. To help students get started, you may want to mention some communication examples from Tyco, ENRON, WorldCom, Martha Stewart’s company, and other organizations that have come under fire in recent years for unethical […]

10: Understanding and Planning Reports and Proposals 10–11 Finding credible information on the Internet is always an issue when students are researching reports. Discuss with the students what you perceive to be credible sites—such as the Internet Public Library (www.ipl.org), […]

10: Understanding and Planning Reports and Proposals 10–19 surround poor choices and unfortunate outcomes. (LO 10.6; AACSB Tag: Written and oral communication) 10-39. Message Strategies: Analytical Reports Students are preparing this report for a counselor or academic adviser, so they […]

11: Writing and Completing Reports and Proposals 11-1 CHAPTER 11: WRITING AND COMPLETING REPORTS AND PROPOSALS CHAPTER SUMMARY Chapter 11 discusses Steps 2 and 3 of the three-step process for writing reports and proposals. The chapter begins with Step 2, […]

11: Writing and Completing Reports and Proposals 11–11 OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES STUDENTS OFTEN FACE Some students will have difficulty comprehending when and how to structure analytical reports. During class discussion, provide examples of analytical reports that use the three common approaches: […]

11: Writing and Completing Reports and Proposals 11–18 design could increase this percentage and make telecommuting a more viable choice. (LO 11.1, 11.4; AACSB Tag: Written and oral communication) 11-23. Message Strategies: Analytical Reports These research and reporting tasks vary […]

12: Developing and Delivering Business Presentations 12–11  Is the equipment working—and do you know how to work it?  Is your timing on track?  Can you easily pronounce all the words you plan to use?  Have you […]

12: Developing and Delivering Business Presentations 12–18 communication) 12-15. This is an opportunity for students to see how nonverbal communication is used during a presentation. First, students will want to identify whether the speaker memorized the speech, read the speech, […]

13: Building Careers and Writing Résumés 13–11 OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES STUDENTS OFTEN FACE Although the majority of your students may have been employed at some time, many in the class may not yet have work experience. Help students build a list […]

13: Building Careers and Writing Résumés 13–17 The on-the-job training for this position is geared toward improving proficiency in:  Using ASP.NET, Visual C#, and related technologies  Creating or customizing SharePoint 2010 solutions  Designing and developing databases using […]

14: Applying and Interviewing for Employment 14–11 Following Up After an Interview Following up after an interview:  Shows that you really want the job and are determined to get it  Gives you another chance to demonstrate your communication […]

14: Applying and Interviewing for Employment 14–20 CASE SOLUTIONS Here are example solutions and solution guidelines for this chapter’s cases. 14-21. Message Strategies: Employment Messages Note: Based on their investigative work into the employer’s requirements, students should include key words […]

2: Collaboration, Interpersonal Communication, and Business Etiquette 2-1 CHAPTER 2: COLLABORATION, INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION, AND BUSINESS ETIQUETTE CHAPTER SUMMARY Building on material presented in Chapter 1, this chapter focuses on improving interpersonal skills that are critical in business. Students learn about […]

2: Collaboration, Interpersonal Communication, and Business Etiquette 2-9 7. Nonverbal Communication and Color. Assign students to work in teams of two or three. Ask students to research nonverbal responses to colors. Discuss how various colors project a definite message. You […]

3: Planning Business Messages 3-10 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 3-1. The three major steps in the writing process are 1) planning, 2) writing, and 3) completing business messages. (LO 3.1; AACSB Tag: Written and oral communication) 3-2. To develop an audience […]

4: Writing Business Messages 4-10 4-10. So that you can be served quickly, please bring your credit card to the store with you. (LO 4.1; AACSB Tag: Written and oral communication) 4-11. For the next week, you can receive a […]

5: Completing Business Messages 5-10 5-8. White space is always helpful, but it’s critical on small screens because readers are trying to get the point of every message as quickly as possible. Keep your paragraphs short (4–6 lines) and separate […]

6: Crafting Message for Digital Channels 6-1 CHAPTER 6: CRAFTING MESSAGES FOR DIGITAL CHANNELS CHAPTER SUMMARY Chapter 6 focuses on the digital channels used for business communication: social networks, information and content sharing sites, email, instant messaging (IM), text messaging, […]

6: Crafting Message for Digital Channels 6-11 When composing short messages such as memos and letters, some students will tend to use too many short sentences or too many long, complex ones. Other students will tend to write a business […]

6: Crafting Message for Digital Channels 6-19 The anonymous nature of online interactions often removes social inhibitions. Many people use foul language and strike out at others on Internet platforms; something they would not do face- to-face. Keeping one’s cool […]

7: Writing Routine and Positive Messages 7-1 CHAPTER 7: WRITING ROUTINE AND POSITIVE MESSAGES CHAPTER SUMMARY Chapter 7 focuses on writing effective routine messages by applying the three-step writing process that was introduced in Chapters 3, 4, and 5. For […]

7: Writing Routine and Positive Messages 7-11 Here is a revised and improved version of the message: August 14, 2013 Mr. John Thompson 347 Cemetery Rd. New Lebanon, NY 12125 Dear Mr. Thompson: Thank you for your recent letter regarding […]

7: Writing Routine and Positive Messages 7-18 many potential clients. (LO 7.4; AACSB Tag: Written and oral communication) 7-39. Message strategies: Providing Recommendations August 2, 2015 To Hiring Managers: I am pleased to recommend Ms. Maxine Chenault (at her request) […]

8: Writing Negative Messages 8-11 reasons for the bad news. On the other hand, distorting graphs and charts is an attempt to hide the bad news altogether or manipulate the audience’s perception of reality. Rather than trying to be kind, […]

8: Writing Negative Messages 8-21 8-31. Message Strategies: Negative Announcements on Routine Matters Note: Because the concierge service is so popular, this announcement is sure to disappoint the employees who’ve taken advantage of it. The indirect approach will probably be […]

9: Writing Persuasive Messages 9-1 CHAPTER 9: WRITING PERSUASIVE MESSAGES CHAPTER SUMMARY Chapter 9 focuses on writing effective persuasive messages by applying the three-step writing process introduced in earlier chapters. The messages addressed in this chapter are often more suitable […]

9: Writing Persuasive Messages 9-11 9-8. Starting a promotional message immediately with a call to action would not result in the best possible outcome. Promotional messages should include planning steps to ensure that the audience’s needs are being met. In […]

9: Writing Persuasive Messages 9-21 of us seem to have interpreted “authentic and conversational” to mean “anything goes.” And the first to go have been grammar and spelling, closely followed by common sense and common courtesy. txtg language, acronyms, ALL […]

Collaborative Writing Guide COLLABORATIVE WRITING GUIDE Adapted from materials prepared by Deborah Bosley The University of North Carolina at Charlotte If we teach students that writing is a solitary activity, we may not be preparing them adequately for entry into […]

Collaborative Writing Guide Collecting Secondary and Primary Information. The next phase is to collect data for the report (see Chapter 10). You may assign reports that require library (secondary) research, primary research (typically collected through interviews), or both secondary and […]

Diagnostic Tests of English Skills DIAGNOSTIC TESTS OF ENGLISH SKILLS Good English skills are vital for every business professional, and Business Communication Essentials stresses knowledge and practice of correct usage—most notably in Chapter 5, “Completing Business Messages,” and in the […]

More Practice in Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage MORE PRACTICE IN GRAMMAR, MECHANICS, AND USAGE The following exercises are keyed to the “Handbook of Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage.” 1. Possessive Nouns Review Section 1.1.4. Then, beside each noun below, write its […]

More Practice in Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage n. I have received no greater compliment (than, then) the one she gave me yesterday. o. That chair is (stationary, stationery), but the other one can be moved. 23. Frequently Misused Words Review […]

Service Learning Guides USE SERVICE LEARNING TO ADD REAL-WORLD WRITING EXPERIENCE TO YOUR COURSE by Kathy Mennen Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, Michigan WHAT IS SERVICE LEARNING? Service leaning is both a pedagogy and a philosophy; the central idea is […]

Service Learning Guides REAL CLIENTS, REAL MANAGEMENT, REAL FAILURE: THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF SERVICE LEARNING By Dale Cyphert University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa As I entered the classroom, a team waited for me at the media console: […]

A Social Security number should always be included on a résumé. Answer: Conveying negative organizational news should only be done on social media sites that allow for little audience feedback. Answer: FALSE Explanation: When making negative announcements, match your approach […]

The most important aspect of any presentation is getting the audience to receive, understand, and embrace your message. Answer: Curation tools are used to develop online portfolios on specific topics. Answer: TRUE Explanation: New curation tools, including Pinterest and Scoop.it, […]

Before sending a message that may contribute to information overload, what should the sender consider? A. If the message is clear and meaningful B. If the purpose is acceptable to the organization C. If the time is right for the […]

How can a video component improve live phone conversations? A. Distractions are minimized B. Visual aids can be utilized C. Nonverbal communication can be observed D. Professionalism is more obvious E. More people can participate in the conversation Answer: When […]

Which of the following has the purpose of helping the audience understand information, or to explain information? A. Operating reports B. Informational reports C. Planning reports D. Analytical reports E. Unsolicited reports Answer: When seeking to emphasize similarities, using colors […]

In the Work Experience section of the résumé, what positions should receive the largest write up? A. The position that is most closely related to the target position B. The position that you enjoyed the most C. The position where […]

Which of the following is a primary result of the change in the nature of communication as a result of mobile technology? A. Spelling and grammar skills have improved. B. The relationship between senders and receivers has been altered. C. […]

Which of the following allows the writer to borrow from something familiar to explain something unfamiliar? A. Attention getting devices B. Analogy C. Circular reasoning D. Cause and effect E. Reinforcement Answer: The ability to create an effective visual aid, […]

The interest and preferred communication style of your company takes precedence over your own views and personal communication style. Answer: The best way to start an opening is to determine the single most important thing to say. Answer: TRUE Explanation: […]

Which of the following uses bias-free language? A. Despite Ms. Curtis’s disability, she does a good job. B. Ms. Curtis’s disability does not prevent her from doing a good job. C. For a disabled person, Ms. Curtis does a good […]

Which of the following would be the most likely reason to include a detailed explanation of why the news is negative when writing a direct message for bad news? A. The reasons are confidential. B. The reasons are complicated. C. […]

Which of the following is not affected by good organization of a message? A) The audience’s understanding of the message B) The acceptance of the message C) The time the writer spends crafting the message D) The time the audience […]

To increase the likelihood of a résumé generating “hits” in an applicant tracking system, what should be incorporated? A. Multiple pages B. Infographics C. Keywords and phrases used by the employer D. Symbols such as numbers and ampersands E. New […]

What can be done to make sure a remote audience can see what you really want them to see? A. Allow plenty of time for everyone to get connected and familiar with the screen they are viewing. B. View the […]

Opening statements should be what? A. Detailed B. Brief and to the point C. Neutral D. Hedge sentences E. Apologetic Answer: Which of the following can become a benefit of the social media environment for the organization? A. Online rumors […]

Which of the following allows you to instantly change the flow of your presentation in response to audience feedback? A. Slide builds B. Hyperlinks C. Prezi’s D. Audio clips E. Video clips Answer: Which of the following is true regarding […]

When leaving a voice mail, what information is least important for the recipient of the voice mail? A. Reason for calling B. Your name C. Your phone number D. Your email address E. Best time to reach you Answer: To […]

For a new entrant to the work force, which of the following would indicate an ability to problem solve and manage projects? A. Job-search websites B. A well written résumé C. Volunteering D. Membership in a student business organization E. […]

No. 10 envelopes used in U.S. businesses measure 8 1/2 inches in length to accommodate standard letters. Answer: Podcasts are considered to be media rich communication tools. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Podcasting is the process of recording audio or video files […]

When conducting a presentation, it is important to control the pace and pitch of your speaking voice to prevent what type of appearance? A. The appearance of being unprepared B. The appearance of being unconcerned C. The appearance of being […]

Using too many quotes creates choppy writing that gives the impression that all you did was piece together the work of others. Answer: A corporate code of ethics provides employees with explicit ethics policies and procedures for all potential workplace […]

Metasearch engine directories use human editors to categorize and evaluate websites. Answer: When a collaborator is located off site, the most productive way of working with that person would be to require attendance at regularly scheduled meetings with the rest […]

Most persuasive messages are requests for action. Answer: A great way to capture and keep the audience’s attention is to integrate storytelling wherever possible. Answer: TRUE Explanation: No matter what the length, look for opportunities to integrate storytelling into the […]

What is the goal when editing for conciseness? A. To impose parallelism B. To make sure the document is as clear and easy to read as possible C. To make sure the document is grammatically correct D. To shorten the […]

Which of the following is not a basic sentence structure? A. A passive sentence B. A simple sentence C. A compound sentence D. A complex sentence E. A compound-complex sentence Answer: To encourage a positive response to your persuasive message, […]

Using comments and critiques on a social media site can be an effective way to do which of the following? A. Exchange large volumes of data B. Build a personal social media brand C. Explain new or unfamiliar systems D. […]

Which of the following sentence types tends to be the most specifically related to the subject? A. Topic sentences B. Support sentences C. Simple sentences D. Transitional sentences E. Unifying sentences Answer: Activities that support incompatible goals to those of […]

How should a message that was developed using the indirect approach open? A. With a neutral buffer B. With an introduction to the writer C. With an apology for the news D. With reasons for the news E. With a […]

To avoid accusations of defamation, which of the following would be most appropriate? A. Use words that sound confident and convincing. B. Use vague information that is open to interpretation. C. Only use abusing language verbally, never in writing. D. […]

When preparing a written termination notice, the written document should be presented in person if possible. Answer: Blogs are online journals. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Blogs, and online journals that are easier to personalize and update than conventional websites, have become […]