2
Unit Assessment
Question 1
Indicate the one best means of achieving coherence in a letter.
Correct Answer:
logical arrangement
Response
Feedback:
All are coherence techniques, but logical arrangement is the most effective of
those techniques mentioned.
Question 2
Which of these positions in a letter would give greatest emphasis?
Correct Answer:
First sentence of the first paragraph.
Response Feedback: The beginning and ending sentences carry more emphasis than any of the
others.
Question 3
The average sentence length found in the readability studies to be best for communicating with the middle
level of adult readers is about:
Correct Answer:
16 to 18 words.
Response Feedback: The average length is supported by the readability
studies.
s
Question 4
From these expressions from business messages, mark the one that best avoids a "rubber stamp"
wording.
Correct Answer:
Response
Feedback:
Yes, you may use the equipment . . . .
Only this one is a natural expression. See examples in the
chapter.
Question 5
A paragraph arranged in the most widely used plan:
Correct Answer:
begins with its topic sentence.
Response Feedback: The topic-sentence-first arrangement is the most commonly used one.
Question 6
Mark the wording that is not a rubber stamp.
Correct Answer:
Please answer this request soon . . . .
Response Feedback: Only this one is natural, conversational wording that is not stereotyped.
Question 7
Mark the sentence that does the best job of telling bad news.
Correct
Answer:
Although your current position requires that we sell to you on a cash basis, we can
offer you special cash discounts.
Response
Feedback:
Only this sentence uses no negative words (cannot, does not justify, poor credit
record, reject).
Question 8
Long sentences of about 30 words or more may:
Correct Answer:
be used sparingly to subordinate the less important information.
Response Feedback: This usage is appropriate and logical.
Question 9
Which of these sentences contains the most positive wording?
Correct
Answer:
You will understand, I feel sure, why we must limit credit to those whose assets-toliabilities ratio exceeds the two-to-one minimum.
Response Feedback: Only this one is written without negative words (limit, refuse, cannot, regret.)
Question 10
Mark the sentence that best meets the requirements of good business writing.
Correct Answer:
The administration is correcting the parking problem.
Response Feedback: Only this sentence is active, without cluttering phrases, and concise.
Question 11
Evaluate this comment: Its hard to argue against courtesy, but businesspeople dont have time to spend
extra effort on it. Anyway, they want their documents to go straight to the point without wasting words and
without sugar coating. What position would you take regarding this comment. Defend your perspective.
Answer
Selected
Answer:
People have differing ideas on how business documents should be comprised. However one
of the basic requirements of business communication is courtesy. As stated in textbook,
Business Communication: Making Connections in a Digital World, A major contributor to
goodwill in business documents is courtesy. (Lesikar, Flatley, and Rentz, 2008) It is
important to realize just as in nearly every situation, etiquette and language are very
important. One must also consider the different cultures a company deals with as well. As
our textbook points out, people do not want to be bossed or talked down to. (Lesikar,
Flatley, and Rentz, 2008)
Likewise, and individual must be considerate of the rubber stamps made within any form of
communication. These can leave a person feeling like that area number instead of a client
that you are concerned about.
In my personal opinion, there is never any reason not to be courteous. Generally, people do
not see the physical person, what they get are voices on the phone, emails or a letter in the
mail. It is because of this, that it is vitally important to take the extra effort to do something
more than the client expected. This shows a person that you care about the issue that is
brought to you and that you are concerned about how that issue has affected the individual
and what you can do to rectify any problem which may exist.
In most cases, when a client feels that their needs are met and that they are important, they
will continue use to the products or services of your company. This will also form a bond of
customer loyalty and is a good form of free marketing, as people who are happy about the
service they received will tell others.
Reference:
Lesikar, R. V., Flatley, M. E., & Rentz, K. (2008). Business communication: Making
connections in a digital
world (11th ed.). Chicago, IL: McGraw-Hill.
Response
Feedback:
Your essay question response was outstanding and demonstrated the following:
* Covered all aspects of the essay question
* Used good focused and relevant analysis in discussing each aspect of the question with
organizational communications as the focus.
* Used good original thought.
* Used good breadth and depth of discussion.
* Used good focused support from the theoretical concepts as outlined in our assigned readings for this
week.
* Used good focused quotes from the text readings on this weeks topics in order to support answer.
For the question, Words carry the message. They would carry the same meanings with or without
paragraphing. Therefore, paragraphing has no effect on communication, read Care in paragraph
design found on pg 60 64. Read the key points from these readings and relate how theses
points contribute to your view point and to the example provided to support your viewpoint.
Question 12
Words carry the message. They would carry the same meanings with or without paragraphing.
Therefore, paragraphing has no effect on communication. Discuss your view of this statement and
provide an example which supports your analysis.
Answer
Selected
Answer:
The idea that paragraphs do not have any effect on communication is absolutely
ridiculous! People expect any written letter or documentation to be in a specific
structure. As noted in our textbook, Paragraphs show the reader where topics begin
and end, thus helping to organize information in the readers mind. (Lesikar, Flatley, and
Rentz, 2008) For the sake of this response we will you a letter as the form of
communication. If a letter is written to an individual and all the words are typed on the
page with no paragraphs which provide a clear, and concise explanation, they mean
nothing! As it states in our textbook, The first and last sentences of a message, the first
and last sentences of a paragraph and the first and last words of a sentence all carry
more emphasis that the middle parts. (Lesikar, Flatley, and Rentz, 2008) This plainly
shows that people scan or gloss over the majority of the information given.
It is important that your information flow well. It should be clear, concise, logical,
coherent and structured. The use of paragraphs helps to organize the information and
keep the readers attention. It will also allow the writer to clearly indicate what is
important. If everything was one long page of information, nothing would stand out. It
would all blur together.
Reference:
Lesikar, R. V., Flatley, M. E., & Rentz, K. (2008). Business communication: Making
connections in a digital
world (11th ed.). Chicago, IL: McGraw-Hill.
Response
Feedback:
Your essay question response was good and demonstrated an understanding of the weeks
topic. Your essay response covered the standard response requirements in the following manner:
* Covered some aspects of the essay question.
* Could have used more focused and relevant analysis in covering each aspect of the question
with organizational communications as the focus.
* Used good original thought.
* Used good breadth and depth of discussion.
* Could have used a little more focused support from the theoretical concepts as outlined in our
assigned readings for this week.
* Used focused quotes from the text readings on this weeks topics in order to support answer.
Additional focused theoretical concept support and text reading quotes can be found by reading
the following pages from our textbooks.
For the question, Evaluate this comment: Its hard to argue against courtesy, but business
people dont have time to spend extra effort on it. Anyway , they want their documents to go
straight to the point without wasting words and without sugar coating, read You-Viewpoint found
on pg 72 - 74, Accent of Positive Language found on pg 74 76, and Courtesy found on pg 76 80. Read the key points from these readings and relate how these points support your position
and defend your perspective.