Q&A Hero

Q: What functions should a speaker accomplish in the introduction phase of a presentation? Why is it important to accomplish each of these?

Q: The transmittal letter or memo that accompanies a formal business report is usually directly organized and written less formally than the report itself. a. True b. False

Q: Select two organizational patterns for informative speeches and two organizational patterns for persuasive speeches. Identify the key elements of each pattern. Provide an example of a topic that would lend itself well to each pattern.

Q: Formal proposals differ from informal proposals only in length. a. True b. False

Q: What basic organizational pattern do most effective workplace presentations in Euro-American cultures follow? Describe the basic elements of this pattern. Why is it important to be aware of this format as you prepare a speech?

Q: Whether you're using the Modern Language Association (MLA) or the American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style, you should list all sources chronologically in the order you consulted them. a. True b. False

Q: Your text identifies four organizational problems that many presentations suffer from. Describe these problems, and explain why they detract from a presentation. For each, provide a suggestion you could use to prevent that problem from occurring in your speech.

Q: Most proposals are external. a. True b. False

Q: The funds obtained through a grant proposal, whether they are public or private, must be repaid within a specified timeframe. a. True b. False

Q: Why is it important to organize a presentation? How does organization assist the speaker? How does it assist the listeners?

Q: Explain the relationship between a specific goal and a thesis statement. Can they be the same? Why or why not? Write an example of a specific goal. Now, write a corresponding thesis statement (use different wording for the two).

Q: Funder and grant seeker are interchangeable terms. a. True b. False

Q: Informal proposals should close with a reminder of key benefits as well as a request for approval. a. True b. False

Q: What are the three general purposes of speeches? Discuss the differences between a general purpose and a specific goal. Can a specific goal ever be the same as a general purpose? Why or why not?

Q: An effective opening for an informal proposal might be We are pleased to submit this proposal describing how our ethics training program can help your employees make the best decisions when faced with ethical dilemmas on the job. a. True b. False

Q: When you're preparing a presentation, what aspects of self-analysis should you consider? Write two or three specific examples that illustrate how a strong self-analysis could impact the way you prepare and present your speech.

Q: Executive summary and abstract are interchangeable terms for the summary in the front matter of a proposal. a. True b. False

Q: Choose five key aspects of audience assessment. For each, explain what to look for and why this knowledge is important.

Q: Executive summaries of formal reports should be limited to one page. a. True b. False

Q: Explain why it's important to analyze the audience, yourself, and the occasion before you develop your presentation.

Q: Transitions should be so obvious that they call attention to themselves.

Q: Many investors look carefully at the experience of the management team because they consider this the most important factor in assessing business potential. a. True b. False

Q: Use transitions to highlight the important ideas of your speech.

Q: It is common in business reports to promise specific deliverablestangible items your project will produce for the customer. a. True b. False

Q: Transitions are important because they help make the organization of a presentation clear to the audience.

Q: Proposals are written offers to solve problems, provide services, or sell equipment. a. True b. False

Q: Transitions are more appropriate when they are embedded within the introduction of a presentation rather than in the body of a presentation.

Q: Functional headings, such as Analysis of Findings or Discussion, are useful for sensitive topics that may upset the reader. a. True b. False

Q: Avoid using an "appeal to action" in the conclusion of your speech because such a straightforward approach usually turns the audience off.

Q: The same information may be included in the letter of transmittal, executive summary, and introduction of a formal business report. a. True b. False

Q: The conclusion of your presentation should contain a restatement of your thesis.

Q: You should not begin writing a report until after you have collected all the data and drawn the primary conclusions. a. True b. False

Q: Redesign the website to improve reader engagement and navigation shows effective wording for a formal report recommendation. a. True b. False

Q: Telling a joke is always a good way to begin a speech, even if the joke doesn't relate to your thesis.

Q: It is acceptable to omit a list of figures in a proposal as long as the proposal contains only a few tables or figures. a. True b. False

Q: It is considered inappropriate to address the audience with the word "you" during an introduction.

Q: Most proposals are unsolicited. a. True b. False

Q: It is usually unwise to begin a presentation with a question, because the audience might think you don't know your topic.

Q: If you are writing a solicited proposal, your goal in the background section is to convince the reader that a problem exists. a. True b. False

Q: After the attention getter, you should state your thesis and briefly preview the main points of your speech.

Q: To give an organization more time to consider your proposal, you should avoid specifying a time limit for acceptance in the letter of transmittal. a. True b. False

Q: If the audience isn't already aware of your qualifications, it's helpful to establish your competency early in the speech.

Q: The Conclusions and Recommendations sections of a report serve the same function. a. True b. False

Q: The introduction to the speech is the same thing as the attention getter.

Q: The conclusions should always be placed in a separate section following the body of a formal business report. a. True b. False

Q: Whenever possible, state your main points in parallel construction.

Q: In determining which business plans to fund, investors search for a concept with promising growth potential rather than the most unique product or service. a. True b. False

Q: To avoid confusing your listeners, limit each main point of your presentation to one single idea.

Q: A copy of the RFP (request for proposal) should be included in the front matter of a formal proposal. a. True b. False

Q: When you choose the main points for your presentation, use all the points from your brainstorming list, no matter how many there are.

Q: Formal business reports generally aim to study problems and recommend solutions. a. True b. False

Q: Regardless of its length, a presentation should contain no more than five main points.

Q: Indicate whether the statement is true or false.Most proposals begin by briefly explaining the reasons for the proposal and by highlighting the writer's qualifications.a. Trueb. False

Q: It is best to express all your main points in single words instead of in complete sentences.

Q: When drawing conclusions to include in a report, examining your own motives is unimportant. a. True b. False

Q: It's best to use the motivated sequence only when the problem and solution you propose are easy to visualize.

Q: A report comparing four resort facilities being considered for a firms annual retreat would be most effective if organized by criteria. a. True b. False

Q: The motivated sequence is a five-step scheme designed to boost your audience's involvement with your topic.

Q: Another word for mode is average. a. True b. False

Q: A comparative-advantages organizational plan presents several alternative plans at the same time and then shows why yours is best.

Q: Rafael wants to compare male and female responses to a survey about perceived effectiveness of new campus safety efforts. To do so, he should cross-tabulate the data. a. True b. False

Q: A comparative-advantages strategy is especially useful when the audience is considering an idea that competes with the one you are advocating.

Q: Reese attended a professional conference and must submit a report to her boss. She should arrange her conference report chronologically and include details about every aspect of the conference. a. True b. False

Q: Imagine you are trying to sell a new copy machine. If you get your audience excited about several nifty features of copy machines and then explain how your product will give them those features, you are using a criteria satisfaction pattern of organization.

Q: Enrico must recommend to his reluctant boss that the company allow employees to work a compressed work week. Enricos justification/recommendation report should be organized directly. a. True b. False

Q: If you are you are explaining steps in a process, the cause-effect organizational pattern is probably your best choice.

Q: The median of the numbers 46, 20, 20, 50, and 24 is 24. a. True b. False

Q: A topical pattern is sometimes called a "catch-all" approach.

Q: Technology Today magazine is sharing the insights of technology experts on future business uses of social media. This information will be easiest to comprehend if presented in a pie chart. a. True b. False

Q: A spatial pattern is appropriate for almost any topic you might talk about.

Q: Conclusions and recommendations serve the same purpose. a. True b. False

Q: Analytical reports should follow an indirect organizational pattern if you expect readers to accept your ideas readily. a. True b. False

Q: Spatial and chronological organizational patterns are identical.

Q: A common example of the chronological organizational pattern is giving instructions.

Q: The headings Implementing Security Measures, Communicating With Employees, and Organizing Teams are grammatically balanced. a. True b. False

Q: Use a chronological pattern if you are explaining what will occur as a result of certain circumstances.

Q: Agendas, minutes of meetings, progress reports, and procedures are usually organized by importance. a. True b. False

Q: If you gather material about your topic before you have completed the supporting points of your outline, you will be wasting your time because you might not use all of the information you find.

Q: The conclusions and recommendations sections of a report are the most widely read parts of a business report. a. True b. False

Q: The standard format for a presentation to a business audience in the U.S. or Europe is: introduction - body - conclusion.