Critical Thinking Questions
1. When is the direct order appropriate in inquiries? When would you use the indirect order?
Give examples. (LO1)
2. “Explanations in inquiries merely add length and should be eliminated.” Discuss. (LO3)
3. Discuss why just reporting truthfully may not be a sufficient strategy for handling negative
information in messages answering inquiries. (LO4)
4. Defend a policy of doing more than asked in answering routine inquiries. Can the policy be
carried too far? (LO4)
5. What can acknowledgment messages do to build goodwill? (LO5)
6. Discuss situations where the following email forms of an order acknowledgment would be
preferred: form message and a special message. (LO5)
