Communications - Chapter 5

Question 1

What are the two organizational patterns for business messages?

Answer 1

Direct pattern and indirect pattern

Question 2

What’s the difference between direct and indirect patterns?

Answer 2

Direct pattern has the main idea comes first, followed by details, explanation, and evidence. Indirect pattern, the main idea follows the details, explanation, and evidence

Question 3

When to use direct pattern?

Answer 3

The audience response determines pattern. If audience is pleased, if mildly interested, or if neutral, use direct pattern.

Question 4

When to use indirect pattern?

Answer 4

If unwilling or uninterested, if displeased or disappointed, or if hostile use indirect pattern

Question 5

What are 3 advantages of direct pattern?

Answer 5

saves reader’s time, sets a proper frame of mind, and reduces frustration

Question 6

What 3 advantages of indirect pattern?

Answer 6

respects the feelings of the audience, facilitates a fair hearing, minimizes a negative reaction

Question 7

How are clauses different from phrases?

Answer 7

Clauses have subjects and verbs, phrases do not

Question 8

How are independent clauses different from dependent clauses?

Answer 8

Independent clauses are grammatically complete. Dependent clauses depend their meaning on dependent clauses.

Question 9

What are 3 common sentence faults?

Answer 9

fragments, run on sentences, and comma splice sentences

Question 10

Sentences should average how many words?

Answer 10

20 words. To communicate clearly you should strive for shorter sentences.

Question 11

What 5 techniques can be used to emphasize important ideas?

Answer 11

1. use vivid words 2. label the main idea. 3. place the important idea first or last in the sentence. 4. place the important idea in a simple sentence or in an independent clause 5. Make sure the important idea is the sentence subject.

Question 12

What is the active voice?

Answer 12

In sentences with active-voice verbs, the subject is the doer of the action.

Question 13

What is the passive voice?

Answer 13

In passive-voice sentences, the subject is acted upon.

Question 14

When to use active voice?

Answer 14

Use active voice for directness, vigor, and clarity

Question 15

Business writing should use active voice but in what 3 instances can passive voice be used?

Answer 15

1. To emphasize an action or the recipient of the action. 2. To de-emphasize negative news. 3. To conceal the doer of an action.