Chapter 02 Writing Effectively for Your Audience, Purpose, and
Medium Answer Key
True / False Questions
1.
Good business writing skills are important because writers essentially have
no
safety net.
2-2
2.
Business writers should think of the three stages of writing as strictly chronological or
separate.
3.
Relatively inexperienced business writers should spend roughly a third of their writing time
in each of the three stages of writing.
2-3
4.
Information is gathered and analyzed during the planning stage of the writing process.
5.
While it is necessary to plan your message keeping your audience in mind, concentrating
on the audience’s interests in later stages will impede the writing process.
2-4
6.
If you have information that your readers will consider routine, neutral, or positive, present
such information at the end of your message.
7.
A Venn diagram is commonly used to identify all the tasks needed to complete a project
and to determine how much time each task will take.
2-5
8.
If your reader’s software is
not
compatible with your version of Microsoft Word, saving to
an earlier version will preserve all your formatting and styles.
9.
Careful proofreading is still in order after a document has been checked with a spelling
checker.
2-6
10.
Letters are the best channel of communication for business people to use when
communicating with someone they do
not
know well.
11.
Business letters always use the most formal level of language and forms of address.
2-7
12.
Memos are primarily used for corresponding with people outside of an organization.
13.
The high costs associated with using email are the reason why most businesses do
not
use it for communicating with their internal audiences.
2-8
14.
The “Bcc” field in an email message stands for “backup confidential copy.”
15.
Using initialisms, such as “BTW” and “ASAP,” is acceptable in informal business emails.
2-9
16.
You should avoid the use of informal language in business email messages, especially
when writing to people you know only on a business basis.
17.
Businesses use text messaging primarily for data reporting purposes.
2-10
18.
It is best to avoid the use of abbreviations when composing text messages.
19.
On the job, companies often monitor employees’ computer activity to detect inappropriate
or unethical behavior or disclosure of proprietary information.
2-11
20.
Cloud computing makes it possible for nearly everyone in a business to have access to
essential programs such as Microsoft Word.
Multiple Choice Questions
2-12
21.
Which of the following is true of written communication?
2-13
22.
Which of the following is true about the process of writing?
2-14
23.
Which of the following is true regarding the amount of time novice business writers should
ideally spend on each stage of the writing process?
2-15
24.
The first step in the process of writing is
2-16
25.
Regarding the writing process, which of the following steps is typically included as part of
the planning process?
2-17
26.
Which of the following statements about the planning stage of the writing process is true?
2-18
27.
As director of the human resources department, Alex has to write an email to employees
requesting them to volunteer at the company’s annual United Way fund raiser. After
determining the purpose of his message, which of the following steps should Alex take
next in planning his message?
2-19
28.
Which of the following constitutes formal research in the context of gathering information
for a message?
2-20
29.
Which of the following is the best practice to follow when writing messages?