Question 1

Which part of the report provides the basic identifying information about the who, what, when, where, and how of an incident?
A) The face page
B) The appendix
C) The affidavit
D) The narrative

Accepted Answer

The face page typically includes the basic identifying information about the incident such as the date, time, location, involved parties, and a brief summary of what happened.

Question 2

What is the first step in writing the narrative report?
A) Making sure that you have the correct form
B) Getting approval from your supervisor
C) Reviewing the notes that have been taken
D) Finding an example report to write your report

Accepted Answer

The first step in writing a narrative report is to review the notes that have been taken. This allows the writer to refresh their memory on the details of the event or situation they are reporting on, and helps ensure accuracy in the report.

Question 3

Miller and Whitehead recommend using your shopping list to _________ similar ideas or facts or information that logically fits together.
A) delete
B) group
C) disaggregate
D) select

Accepted Answer

Miller and Whitehead suggest grouping similar ideas or information from your shopping list in order to organize them logically.

Question 4

What is the last step of the planning phase of writing the narrative report?
A) Submitting your report to the district attorney's office
B) Getting your supervisor to approve the report
C) Creating a shopping list to organize the report
D) Placing the labeled groups in a logical order

Accepted Answer

Placing the labeled groups in a logical order is the last step of the planning phase of writing the narrative report. This means you have already organized and labeled the information and now need to arrange it in a clear and cohesive manner. Submitting the report and getting approval from a supervisor may come later in the process. Creating a shopping list may be helpful in the planning phase, but it is not the last step.

Question 5

It is recommended that you read your report twice:
A) Once for content and once for spelling and punctuation errors
B) Once for organization and once for inconsistent statements
C) Once for margins and taps and once for line spacing
D) Once for headings and subheadings and once for mechanical errors

Accepted Answer

Reading the report once for content ensures that the information is accurate and complete, while reading it again for spelling and punctuation errors helps to catch any mistakes that could affect the report's professionalism and clarity.

Question 6

Avoid writing reports that are full of __________.
A) verbs and adverbs
B) legalese and conjecture
C) jargon and abbreviations
D) facts and figures

Accepted Answer

Reports should be written in clear and concise language that can be easily understood by the reader. Using jargon and abbreviations can make the report difficult for others to comprehend.

Question 7

When can you use slang in a report?
A) Never
B) Only when told to do so by a supervisor
C) Only when giving an exact or necessary quote
D) Only when citing someone else's report

Accepted Answer

Slang can be used in a report when giving an exact or necessary quote, such as in an interview or survey response. However, it should be used sparingly and appropriately for the intended audience and purpose of the report.

Question 8

What are the three major tenses used in criminal justice reporting?
A) Past, past participle, and present
B) Present perfect, past perfect, and simple present
C) Simple past, future, and future perfect
D) Past, present, and future

Accepted Answer

The three major tenses used in criminal justice reporting are past, present, and future. Past tense is used to report events that have already happened, present tense is used to report ongoing events or current conditions, and future tense is used to report events that will happen in the future. For example, a news article might use past tense to report on a crime that occurred yesterday, present tense to report on a trial that is currently taking place, and future tense to report on a scheduled sentencing hearing.

Question 9

What tense is used to write most reports?
A) Past
B) Present
C) Future
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Most reports are written in the past tense because they describe work that has been completed or events that have already occurred.

Question 10

Identify the tense being used in the following sentence: I notified my sergeant that I wrecked my cruiser.
A) Present
B) Future
C) Past
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The sentence is in the past tense because the verb "notified" is in the past tense and refers to a completed action in the past. Additionally, "wrecked" is also in the past tense.

Question 11

Reports are best written in the __________ voice because such sentences are clear and normally require fewer words.
A) Inactive
B) Active
C) Reactive
D) Proactive

Accepted Answer

Reports are best written in the active voice because it is clear and concise. The active voice also emphasizes the doer of the action, making the report more engaging and informative.

Question 12

In the active voice, the subject is acted upon.

Accepted Answer

In the active voice, the subject performs the action, while in the passive voice, the subject receives the action.

Question 13

A major problem in reports is the failure of the pronouns to agree with the subject.

Accepted Answer

Pronoun-antecedent agreement is an important aspect of grammar and incorrect agreement can lead to confusion in a written report. Therefore, it is true that failure of pronouns to agree with the subject is a major problem in reports.

Question 14

The use of pronouns can confuse the reader.

Accepted Answer

Pronouns refer back to a previously mentioned noun and if not used correctly, can create ambiguity and confusion for the reader.

Question 15

The authors of this text recommend that criminal justice personnel use third person.

Accepted Answer

The text does not specifically recommend that criminal justice personnel use third person; the recommendation or advice on writing perspective would depend on the context and guidelines of specific documents or communication strategies within the criminal justice field.

Question 16

"He" is the preferred pronoun for report writing.

Accepted Answer

Using "he" as a preferred pronoun for report writing excludes gender-neutral language and can come across as gender biased. It is recommended to use gender-neutral language or alternate between he and she to be inclusive.

Question 17

Avoid the use of legalese in an attempt to sound professional.

Accepted Answer

Legalese can often be confusing and difficult to understand for those outside of the legal profession. Using plain language can improve communication and prevent misunderstandings.

Question 18

Be sure to use extremely long and/or run-on sentences in reports.

Accepted Answer

Reports should use clear and concise language to effectively communicate information. Long and/or run-on sentences can lead to confusion and decrease the readability of the report.

Question 19

Reports must be completed in a timely manner.

Accepted Answer

Reports need to be completed in a timely manner in order to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information contained within them. Delaying the completion of a report can result in outdated or inaccurate data, which can be detrimental to decision-making processes.

Question 20

Describe what information is contained in a face page.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe what information is contained in a...

Quiz 2: Starting to Write

Which part of the report provides the basic identifying information about the who, what, when, where, and how of an incident?

What is the first step in writing the narrative report?

Miller and Whitehead recommend using your shopping list to _________ similar ideas or facts or information that logically fits together.

What is the last step of the planning phase of writing the narrative report?

It is recommended that you read your report twice:

Avoid writing reports that are full of __________.

When can you use slang in a report?

What are the three major tenses used in criminal justice reporting?

What tense is used to write most reports?

Identify the tense being used in the following sentence: I notified my sergeant that I wrecked my cruiser.

Reports are best written in the __________ voice because such sentences are clear and normally require fewer words.