Chapter 3

Question 1

What is a working title and how is it used?

Answer 1

temporary title: clarify what trying to accomplish, keep focused, 5W2H. after written text, make sure what is written matches the working title

Question 2

What are the major differences between informative and persuasive messages?

Answer 2

informative has a direct approach. badnews/persuasion has an indirect approach.

Question 3

What is the difference between the direct and indirect apprach to writing a message

Answer 3

direct: main idea at beginning, indirect: main point unil end, omit the agenda

Question 4

What do the letters OABC represent? how is OABC used in writing

Answer 4

Opening, agenda, body, closing; introduce a paper, give an agenda, and follow it

Question 5

What are the four types of agendas? should an agenda be included in all written messages? why?

Answer 5

a. quantify: following three section…(number), b. ID: explain hire and policy, c. Organize: in order of significance, d. symbolize: a metaphor/simile

Question 6

What are the major benefits of agendas in written messages?

Answer 6

gives you a clear preview: where going, easy to follow, serve as transition

Question 7

What is the difference between findings, conclusions, and recommendations?

Answer 7

findings: research, conclusion: summary, Recommendations: what to do

Question 8

List five common fallacies found in people’s reasoning

Answer 8

bandwagon, appeal to authority, appeal by association, slippery slope, either or, false casuality: ever since we hired joe, retail is dropping, hasty generalization: all cats are brown, lack of evidence to the contrary: b/c there’s no research it’s bad, it’s great, recency: better cuz newer
Tradition: always done it, and will always do it, ad hominem: attack the person “this department is dumb”, straw man: attack in distorted way: putting words in another’s mouth; attacking a false straw man instead of the real person, red herring: divert argument from central issue.

Question 9

Explain the paragraph attributes represented in the acryonym CLOUD.

Answer 9

Coherence: flows logically, length: avoid too long/6-7 lines paragraphs or 9-10 reports, Organization: agenda, Unity: sentences refer to same content, Development: give adequate research/support

Question 10

List three different ways to develop the main point in a business message

Answer 10

explanation:explain, illustration:visual, evaluation:evaluate, application:apply, illustration:written