Deck 6: You-Attitude

Question 1

Among other things, you-attitude protects the writer's ego.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

You-attitude shows empathy, rather than sympathy, for your audience.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Often, a writer can create you-attitude simply by changing words.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

You-attitude is primarily a matter of content, not style.

Question 5

Some you-attitude revisions make the original sentence longer.

Question 6

Any sentence that focuses on the writer's work or generosity lacks you-attitude, even if the word "you"is included in the sentence.

Question 7

A statement like "We will allow you to charge $1500"has good you-attitude because it tells the reader what he or she can do.

Question 8

Avoiding "you"in negative situations is a strategy to create you-attitude.

Question 9

In internal memos, always avoid commenting that a project has been gratifying or frustrating, as this will be perceived as poor you-attitude.

Question 10

It's OK to use some "I"statements in you-attitude, provided the text overall is designed to meet the reader's needs.

Question 11

Business professionals rarely let their egos get in the way, so it's OK to assign blame to someone who has made a mistake.

Question 12

Using passive voice is a good strategy for creating you-attitude in positive situations.

Question 13

Being complete is a way to create you-attitude in business messages.

Question 14

You-attitude basically means using the word "you"in sentences.

Question 15

Using you-attitude guarantees your message will work.

Question 16

By adding words to increase you-attitude, you are likely to make a sentence wordy.

Question 17

Unlike internal memos, business letters, such as those in sales, should include comments about the writer's feelings because readers expect them.

Question 18

It's a good idea to edit paper documents to eliminate most I statements.

Question 19

"We"statements are OK if they include the reader.

Question 20

"This idea of yours is worth serious consideration"is an example of an impersonal construction.

Question 21

"We considered the best options for you"lacks you-attitude because it criticizes the reader.

Question 22

All business messages should use you-attitude.

Question 23

Research shows that strong you-attitude will overcome problems in your message, such as inaccurate information.

Question 24

Apply you-attitude by putting good news first and by avoiding jargon, in addition to making individual sentences you-attitude.

Question 25

In a job application letter, keep the word "you"to a minimum.

Question 26

Putting important information in a list can show good you-attitude because it makes finding the information easy for the reader.

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a principle for achieving you-attitude?

A) Talk about the reader, not about yourself.
B) Focus on what the reader receives or can do.
C) In positive situations, use we more often than you.
D) Don't presume that you know how the reader feels or will react.
E) None of the above.

Question 28

To create you-attitude with content,

A) Be complete.
B) Anticipate and answer questions the reader is likely to have.
C) Show why information you included but the reader didn't ask for is important.
D) Show readers how the subject of your message affects them.
E) All of the above.

Question 29

You write to a customer about a refund he or she is expecting. By opening the letter with a statement like "I'm pleased to announce that I've processed your refund,"you

A) Help ensure that the reader knows you're on his or her side.
B) Create poor you-attitude.
C) Probably will anger the reader, especially if the refund amount is negligible.
D) Have created an impersonal construction.
E) None of the above.

Question 30

You notice that one of your employees has forgotten to sign her vacation request. Thus, you send out an e-mail that informs all employees of the appropriate procedure, pointing out her mistake as an example. This strategy is

A) Good you-attitude because people like specific examples.
B) Good you-attitude because we can all learn from our mistakes.
C) Poor you-attitude because e-mail is an inappropriate channel to use.
D) Poor you-attitude because the message does not protect the employee's ego.
E) None of the above.

Question 31

"Employees must park in lots A and D until the other lots are resurfaced."Indicate the alternative that both correctly evaluates the sentence and correctly explains the reason for the evaluation.

A) Has good you-attitude because it uses an impersonal construction to express a limit on the reader's freedom.
B) Lacks you-attitude because it doesn't use the word you.
C) Has good you-attitude because it includes the reader in a group.
D) Lacks you-attitude because it expresses no feelings about the matter to the reader.
E) Both A and C

Question 32

When you have negatives, which of the following is BEST to use?

A) First-person because the writer is taking responsibility for communicating the negative.
B) Second-person because it includes the word you.
C) Third-person because it shows that everyone is being treated the same way.
D) All of the above.
E) Only A and C

Question 33

"We are happy to issue you a new all-in-one check card."Does this sentence have good you-attitude?

A) Yes, since it is positive.
B) Yes, since it contains a reader benefit.
C) No, since the sentence does not begin with "you."
D) No, since the reader doesn't care about the writer's emotions.
E) Both A and B

Question 34

You are sending a medical laboratory 2500 syringes that have been on back order. This lab buys from your supply house several times a month. In your letter that tells when the syringes will arrive, the BEST way to refer to the syringes would be

A) "Your order."
B) "Your syringes."
C) "Your order #202314."
D) "Your order dated August 23."
E) None of the above.

Question 35

"You'll be delighted to hear that you have received an additional $500 scholarship for spring semester."Does this sentence have good you-attitude?

A) Yes, because it provides a reader benefit.
B) Yes, as long as the reader was not expecting more than $500.
C) No, because $500 is a small amount considering all the costs of college.
D) No, because it is distancing for the writer to presume to know the reader's emotions.
E) Both C and D

Question 36

Define you-attitude.

Question 37

Explain why it is important to avoid talking about feelings in most business situations.

Question 38

What are impersonal constructions and passive verbs? Give an example of each.

Question 39

Explain why you-attitude is more than simply using the word you.

Question 40

You-attitude is a concrete way to show ________.

Question 41

Avoid you in __________ situations.

Question 42

__________ __________ omit people and talk only about things.

Question 43

________ constructions describe the action performed on something, without necessarily saying who did it.