5.7 End of Chapter Activities
5a. Thinking About the Content
What are your key takeaways from this chapter? What is something you have learned or something you would like to add from your experience?
5b. Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
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Select a news article from a news Web site, newspaper, or magazine. Find as many facts in the article as you can that could require fact-checking. Then check as many of these facts as you can, using sources available to you on the Internet. Did you find any errors in the article?
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Which of the following sentences are examples of good business writing in standard English? For the sentences needing improvement, make revisions as you see fit and explain what was wrong with the original sentence. Discuss your results with your classmates.
- Caitlin likes gardening, golfing, hiking, and to swim.
- At any given point in time, well, there is a possibility that we could, like, be called upon for help.
- The evaluation of writing can be done through the examination and modification of each sentence.
- While in the meeting, the fire alarm rang.
- Children benefit from getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and outdoor playtime.
- Yee has asked us to maximize the department’s ka-ching by enhancing the bling-bling of our merchandise; if we fail to do this the darn president may put the kibosh on our project.
- Ortega’s memo stated in no uncertain terms that all employees need to arrive for work on time every day.
- Although there are many challenges in today’s market and stock values have dropped considerably since last year, but we can hope to benefit from strategic thinking and careful decision making.
- If you are unable to attend the meeting, please let Steve or I know as soon as possible.
- One of the shipping containers are open.
- Find an example of a good example of effective business writing, review it, and share it with your classmates.
- Find an example of a bad example of effective business writing, review it, and share it with your classmates.
5c. Applying chapter concepts to a situation
Submit or revise?
The University of Vancouver posted a job for a Communications Associate in its Marketing and Communications Department. Mohammed, a final year student, pursuing a BA in Professional Communications, applied for the job. He is excited as he is permitted to work full-time on campus as an international student, and he needs the extra money. He was successful in the interview, which was stage one of the recruitment process and advanced to stage two.
Stage two included writing a blurb for an event that would be posted on the university’s Facebook page. The Human Resources Manager emailed the details of the assignment to Mohammed, but he did not see the email until an hour before the deadline. He quickly completes the task but is not pleased as he has no time left to proofread and edit the finished product carefully.
From the interview, Mohammed felt the Human Resources Manager and Director of Communications were both very approachable. Additionally, the salary and benefits are more than Mohammed expected. Mohammed fears that he will miss a great opportunity if he does not submit his best work.
Should Mohammed ask for an extra day to revise his work or submit it as is before the deadline?
5d. Writing Activity
Watch this video from TEDxIdahoFalls The Magic Of Revision. Summarize the video. What are some ideas can you apply to revising your business writing?
