46) Using words such as I and we decreases the formality of your report.
47) Using the “you” attitude is inappropriate when writing proposals.
48) Communicating with people inside your organization usually requires more formality than
communicating with people outside the organization, such as suppliers or customers.
49) Including transitional phrases such as “As you can see” in a business report is helpful to
readers as they seek to understand the document.
50) In a long report, including review sections at the end of every major section is redundant and
distracting.
51) Using descriptive headings, such as “Effects of Pay Scales on Employee Turnover,” will help
you maintain a hard-hitting, direct tone in a business report.
52) You don’t have to worry about documenting your sources of information, when you’re
writing a report or proposal in the workplace.
53) In the workplace, readers will prejudge the quality of your products or services by the
proposal you submit.
54) The components of a formal proposal are entirely different from those of other formal
reports.
55) The close of a formal proposal emphasizes the benefits that readers will realize from your
solution.
56) If your report is intended to prompt others to action, in the close you should specify exactly
what should happen next.
57) In solicited proposals, you have more freedom in terms of scope and organization than you
do in unsolicited proposals.
58) Most RFPs spell out exactly what you should cover in your report and in what order.
59) Your writing approach for a proposal should be similar to that used for persuasive messages.
60) The close of a proposal is the right place to discuss any costs associated with your
recommendations.
61) The body of a proposal on health insurance would be the best place to mention that your staff
includes several individuals with MD degrees.
62) In a formal proposal, it is unprofessional to point out your company’s advantages over its
competitors.
63) In the close of a proposal to install energy-saving light fixtures at a local hospital, don’t
emphasize client benefits if you think they are obvious.
64) If your proposal involves providing replacement machine parts that your company regularly
stocks, the Work Plan doesn’t need to describe how you’ll accomplish what must be done.
65) If your proposal is solicited, follow the instructions in the RFP.
66) A synopsis is generally more comprehensive than an executive summary.
67) Reports do not need an introduction if they have a synopsis and a letter of transmittal.
68) The most common supplementary parts to include in a formal report are the appendix, the
bibliography, and the index.
69) Typical RFPs are nothing more than routine requests.
70) When you’re composing the requirements section of a request for proposals (RFP), you can
assume that bidders will understand the conventions and protocols of your industry.
71) The cover, title page, and table of contents are among the ________ parts of a formal report.
72) The letter of ________ conveys the essence of the report to the readers in a manner that can
be less formal than the rest of the report.
73) A(n) ________ synopsis presents the main points of a report in the order in which they
appear in the text.
74) A(n) ________ synopsis simply tells what the report is about.
75) A(n) ________ ________ is a fully developed “mini” version of the report itself.
76) An appendix, a bibliography, and an index are the ________ parts of a formal report.
77) A request for proposals (RFP) is an ________ report that provides potential bidders with the
information they need to compose effective proposals.
78) In an unsolicited proposal, the letter of transmittal follows the pattern for ________
messages.
79) Use a more ________ tone for longer reports, especially those dealing with controversial or
complex information and those that will be sent to other parts of the organization or to outsiders.
80) The general purpose of any ________ is to persuade readers to do something, such as
purchase goods or services, fund a project, or implement a program.
81) The introduction of a proposal includes the ________ or boundaries of the proposal; that is,
what you will and will not do.
82) The ________ ________ of a proposal describes (among other things) how you’ll accomplish
what must be done, when the work will begin, and when it will be completed.
83) Words or phrases that tie ideas together and show how one thought relates to another are
known as ________ and are useful for keeping readers on track as they read your report.
84) ________ sections introduce important topics by helping readers get ready for new
information.
85) Use ________ sections after a body of material in a report to summarize the information for
your readers.
86) List three ways to increase the formality of business reports.
87) List at least three factors that can help you decide what parts to include in a business report.
88) In a formal proposal, how do you determine the organizational approach to use in the letter
of transmittal?
89) Briefly explain the difference between an informative synopsis and a descriptive synopsis.
90) What is a letter of transmittal?
91) List three functions of the close in a business report.
92) In researching a proposal to expand your division, you find evidence that does not support
your line of reasoning. Should you include it in your report? Why or why not?
93) What does it mean to “package your proposal attractively”? Why is it important to do so?
94) What is the difference between a title page and a title fly?
95) List and briefly explain five characteristics of effective report content.
96) Describe six strategies (in addition to using the AIDA format) for strengthening your
argument in business proposals.
97) What four topics are commonly covered in the introduction to a business proposal? Briefly
explain each one.
98) In a formal proposal, where does the Work Plan section normally appear, and what
information does it contain?
99) What elements are normally included in the body of a formal proposal?
100) What is a request for proposals (RFP)?