Deck 10: Understanding and Planning Reports and Proposals

Question 1

Which of the following presents persuasive recommendations?

A)Indirect reports
B)Long reports
C)Proposals
D)Analytical reports
E)Informational reports

Answer 1

C
Explanation: C)Proposals present persuasive recommendations to internal or external audiences, often involving investments or purchases.

Question 2

Summarizing information,drawing conclusions and developing recommendations are steps in which aspect of supporting your message with reliable research?

A)Locating the data needed
B)Processing the data
C)Applying the findings
D)Managing the information
E)Planning the research

Answer 2

C
Explanation: C)You can apply your research findings in three ways: summarizing information, drawing conclusions, and developing recommendations.

Question 3

A graphical presentation of key performance parameters is called what?

A)Executive dashboard
B)Analytics matrix
C)Channel and medium
D)Intranet graphics
E)Wikis

Answer 3

A
Explanation: A)Executives in many corporations now expect to review many reports via their in-house intranets, sometimes in conjunction with an executive dashboard, a customized graphical presentation of key performance parameters.

Question 4

Every report should be viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of your audience's challenges and your ability to contribute to your organization's success.

Question 5

What is the first step in effective research?

A)Conduct a Google search to see what information is available.
B)Plan the research.
C)Manage information efficiently.
D)Locate the data and information needed.
E)Apply each finding to the report or proposal.

Question 6

Identify and discuss issues to consider when selecting the channel and medium for a report or proposal.

Question 7

The first step in planning research is what?

A)Accessing a knowledge information system
B)Generating questions that will constitute research areas
C)Conducting primary research
D)Developing a problem statement
E)Identifying information needed

Question 8

If the audience is unsure about your credibility or is not ready to accept your main idea,which approach is the best choice?

A)Executive dashboard
B)Direct
C)Analytical
D)Indirect
E)Proposals

Question 9

Which of the following will most likely prevent an ethical lapse while researching?

A)Using only data that supports your purpose
B)Being vague about what you want to do with the end results
C)Only using data that can be found online
D)Quoting all sources
E)Respecting the intellectual property rights of the data

Question 10

A detailed list of tasks to be accomplished while writing a report is called what?

A)Opening statement
B)Statement of purpose
C)Analytics
D)Work plan
E)Executive dashboard

Question 11

Which approach would be most effective when writing an unsolicited proposal?

A)AIDA
B)Direct
C)Analytical
D)Indirect
E)Proposals

Question 12

When beginning the process of locating data,which of the following is frequently the best place to start?

A)Corporate websites
B)Secondary research
C)Knowledge management systems
D)Executive dashboards
E)Primary research

Question 13

When your audience will be receptive or open minded to the data in your report,which approach is most effective?

A)Persuasive
B)Direct
C)Analytical
D)Indirect
E)Proposals

Question 14

During the planning phase of the writing process,which of the following will help you prioritize informational needs and focus on the most important questions?

A)Statement of purpose and audience needs
B)Work timeline
C)Executive dashboard
D)Analytics matrix
E)Statement of purpose

Question 15

Which of the following offers data and other information in the report,without analysis or recommendation?

A)Indirect reports
B)Long reports
C)Proposals
D)Analytical reports
E)Informational reports

Question 16

Which of the following offers both information and analysis?

A)Indirect reports
B)Long reports
C)Proposals
D)Analytical reports
E)Informational reports

Question 17

The three-step writing process is easily adapted to reports and makes larger projects easier by using a methodical and efficient approach to planning,writing and completing.

Question 18

Which of the following is a source of primary research?

A)Interviews
B)Reports
C)Websites
D)Newspapers
E)Books

Question 19

Which of the following explains why you are preparing the report and what you plan to cover in the body of the report?

A)Opening statement
B)Statement of purpose
C)Infinitive phrase
D)Work plan
E)Executive dashboard

Question 20

The direct approach begins with a summary of your key findings,conclusions and recommendations.

Question 21

Which of the following is completed before using research results?

A)Identifying direct quotes
B)Verifying critical facts and figures
C)Paraphrasing research
D)Summarizing textual information
E)Drawing conclusions

Question 22

Discuss strategies to conduct effective research needed to support your message.

Question 23

Suggesting what to do about the information gathered is done through which of the following?

A)Summary
B)Data manipulation
C)Conclusion
D)Paraphrasing
E)Recommendation

Question 24

To research facts and statistical information regarding countries,politics or the labor force,what type of resource should be used?

A)Almanacs and other statistical resources
B)Business books
C)Government publications
D)Newspapers and periodicals
E)Online databases

Question 25

When research is presented as your own,what ethical issue is taking place?

A)Selective misquoting
B)Plagiarism
C)Data manipulation
D)Incomplete information
E)Inclusion of biased material

Question 26

Define plagiarism and discuss how to properly use information gathered from research.

Question 27

Primary research includes sources such as magazine,public websites,books and other reports.

Question 28

Research should begin by developing a problem statement that defines why you are conducting the research.

Question 29

To accurately interpret a source's point,what information do you need to know?

A)The source's reputation for reliability
B)What the purpose of the material is
C)Whether or not the material can be independently verified
D)If the author is credible
E)If the source is potentially biased

Question 30

What can be done when the writer wants to include the ideas of the research but leave out specific details and less important concepts of the research?

A)Use an executive dashboard
B)Use quotes
C)Paraphrase
D)Use a knowledge management system
E)Summarize the data

Question 31

Reproducing material exactly as you found it is called what?

A)Summarizing
B)Paraphrasing
C)Quoting
D)Secondary reporting
E)Primary reporting

Question 32

When seeking information in specific areas such as business,technology or law,which of the following would be the best resource?

A)The business librarian
B)Databases
C)Government publications
D)Almanacs and statistical resources
E)Directories

Question 33

Using too many quotes creates choppy writing that gives the impression that all you did was piece together the work of others.

Question 34

How can a writer apply research to a document while maintaining a consistent tone and making the data meaningful to the audience?

A)Use an executive dashboard
B)Use quotes
C)Paraphrase
D)Use a knowledge management system
E)Summarize the data

Question 35

A logical interpretation of facts and other information is called what?

A)Summary
B)Data manipulation
C)Conclusion
D)Paraphrasing
E)Recommendation

Question 36

Which of the following is least important when evaluating potential sources?

A)Is the information accurate?
B)Is the information objective?
C)Is the information unique?
D)Is the information current?
E)Is the information verifiable?

Question 37

Finding out how sources conduct fact checking will help ensure what?

A)The information is independently verified.
B)The material was designed to support the outcome.
C)The source used proper methods to collect its data.
D)The source has a reputation for honesty and reliability.
E)The author is credible.

Question 38

Which of the following is an example of secondary research?

A)Surveys
B)Interviews
C)Reports
D)Studies
E)Executive dashboards

Question 39

Websites such as Google and Bing use what technique to help boost rankings in results?

A)Human editors
B)Monitoring algorithms
C)Search engine optimization techniques
D)Hidden Internet
E)Metasearch engines

Question 40

Which of the following is the best way to maximize the impact of secondary material in your writing?

A)Summarizing
B)Paraphrasing
C)Quoting
D)Secondary reporting
E)Primary reporting

Question 41

Which of the following search tools allows the user to ask questions in everyday English?

A)Forms-based searches
B)Hashtags
C)Natural language searches
D)Boolean searches
E)Keyword searches

Question 42

Anything you take from someone else,including ideas and information you've re-expressed through paraphrasing or summarizing,must include a documented source.

Question 43

The ability to subscribe to newsfeeds from blogs,follow people on Twitter and set up alerts on search engines is accomplished using what?

A)Metasearch engines
B)Online monitoring tools
C)Hashtags
D)Keyword searches
E)Boolean searches

Question 44

Which of the following use human editors to categorize and evaluate websites,blogs and podcasts?

A)Metasearch engines
B)Deep Internet
C)Online databases
D)Web directories
E)Research librarians

Question 45

Which of the following search tools allow the user to search based on all key words entered?

A)Forms-based searches
B)Hashtags
C)Natural language searches
D)Boolean searches
E)Keyword searches

Question 46

Discuss the shortcomings of traditional search engines and identify and discuss alternatives.

Question 47

Which of the following allows the user to define a query with greater precision by using operators such as AND,OR or NOT?

A)Forms-based searches
B)Hashtags
C)Natural language searches
D)Boolean searches
E)Keyword searches

Question 48

There are two types of search tools available on the Internet,one that lets you actively search for existing information and one that lets you monitor selected sources of new information.

Question 49

Which of the following is an advantage of using a conventional search engine for research?

A)No human editors rank search results.
B)Each search engine uses a different search technique.
C)Users can access a web directory to evaluate websites.
D)Search engines are easy and powerful.
E)Search engines can identify all relevant data quickly.

Question 50

Which of the following offer access to newspapers,journals,digital copies of books and other sources often not available with standard search engines?

A)Online databases
B)Metasearch engines
C)Monitoring algorithms
D)Boolean searches
E)Enterprise search engines

Question 51

Which of the following is not a reason sources have to be documented?

A)Documenting sources adds interest for the reader.
B)Documenting sources is ethical.
C)Documenting sources gives credit to the person who created the original material.
D)Documenting sources shows the audience you have sufficient support for the message.
E)Documenting sources allows the reader to explore the topic in more detail, if they desire to do so.

Question 52

Which of the following does NOT need to be documented?

A)Ideas you have paraphrased
B)Common knowledge information
C)Information you have summarized
D)Material you have directly quoted
E)Song lyrics

Question 53

Which of the following will create the least effective search results?

A)Try variations of your terms.
B)Only consider the first page of results.
C)Think about the best way to search before you begin.
D)Use fewer search terms for more results, use more search terms for fewer results.
E)Review search and display options.

Question 54

Discuss ways to better define and improve search results.

Question 55

Publications that provide information on specific professions and industries are called trade journals.

Question 56

Which of the following primary research tracks the behavior of website visitors?

A)Surveys
B)Observations
C)Research and content managers
D)Interviews
E)Experiments

Question 57

Search engines that will search all the files on your personal computer are called what?

A)Social tagging search engines
B)Bookmarking search engines
C)Research and content manager search engines
D)Enterprise search engines
E)Desktop search engines

Question 58

Which of the following formats search terms for use on a broad range of search engines?

A)Monitoring algorithms
B)Online databases
C)Boolean searches
D)Enterprise search engines
E)Metasearch engines

Question 59

Search engines that will search all computers on a company's network are called what?

A)Social tagging search engines
B)Bookmarking search engines
C)Research and content manager search engines
D)Enterprise search engines
E)Desktop search engines

Question 60

Metasearch engine directories use human editors to categorize and evaluate websites.

Question 61

What is the most effective way to get a yes or no response in an interview?

A)Leading questions
B)Closed questions
C)Sampling
D)Surveys
E)Open-ended questions

Question 62

What type of report would report on experiences while at a business conference?

A)Personal activity report
B)Operating report
C)Policies and procedures report
D)Compliance report
E)Progress report

Question 63

Plans establish expectations and guidelines to direct future action.

Question 64

Open-ended questions are used to elicit a specific answer,such as yes or no.

Question 65

When trying to understand why a person feels the way they do about a particular subject,what type of primary research technique should be used?

A)Leading questions
B)Closed questions
C)Sampling
D)Surveys
E)Open-ended questions

Question 66

Which of the following provide information that employees and managers use to take action and respond to changes?

A)Informational reports
B)Due diligence reports
C)Planning proposals
D)Feasibility reports
E)Analytical reports

Question 67

Websites often act as what type of report?

A)Analytical
B)Informational
C)Due diligence
D)Interactive
E)Planning

Question 68

When developing information for a website,which of the following is an important consideration?

A)Web reading is quicker than reading from paper.
B)Web readers will click through several website links for the information they want.
C)Web readers don't start the reading process at the beginning of the message.
D)Web readers have limited access to multiple communication functions while on the website.
E)Websites have very targeted audiences.

Question 69

Getting in-depth information straight from an expert,customer,or other interested party can be a great method for collecting primary information.

Question 70

When writing a report to inform a supervisor on the progress of a project,what type of report is being created?

A)Personal activity report
B)Operating report
C)Policies and procedures report
D)Compliance report
E)Progress report

Question 71

Which method of topical organizations organizes information based on a chain of events,from oldest to newest?

A)Comparison
B)Importance
C)Sequence
D)Chronology
E)Categorically

Question 72

Discuss ways to ensure a survey is reliable and valid.

Question 73

A survey is reliable when it measures what it was designed to measure.

Question 74

Which of the following is needed to ensure accurate responses that reflect the feelings of the entire population?

A)Sampling bias
B)Leading questions
C)Validity
D)Representative samples
E)Online surveys

Question 75

When formatting information for an audience who will access the data on mobile devices,a mobile-first approach should be used.

Question 76

Discussing the advantages and disadvantages between items uses what type of organizational format?

A)Category
B)Chronology
C)Comparison
D)Importance
E)Sequence

Question 77

Most informational reports use the indirect format.

Question 78

Which of the following is an example of an analytical report?

A)Reports to assess opportunities
B)Reports to monitor and control operations
C)Reports to implement policies and procedures
D)Reports to demonstrate compliance
E)Reports to document progress

Question 79

Capturing the opinions of only those who visit specific websites is an example of what?

A)Sampling bias
B)Leading questions
C)Validity
D)Representative samples
E)In-depth interviews

Question 80

To ensure a survey is reliable and valid,which of the following should be avoided?

A)Clear instructions
B)Short answers
C)Leading questions
D)Numbers and facts
E)Short surveys