Deck 13: E-Mail Messages and Web Writing

Question 1

Technology continues to evolve and change how we communicate in the workplace.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Learning to adapt to new technologies is vital in the workplace today.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Chances are that the technology you are using today in business will be fundamentally the same in five years.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

E-mail is less important today than paper messages, so most employees will give you time to learn the ins and outs of using it.

Question 5

When you start a new job, it's unlikely that you will have a grace period before writing paper messages.

Question 6

E-mail feels less formal than paper messages, but it is as private as a conversation.

Question 7

Most employers expect you to be ready to use e-mail.

Question 8

E-mail is more private than other messages

Question 9

Proofreading e-mail messages is a waste of valuable time; use that time instead to write more messages.

Question 10

E-mail messages to people who report directly to you are easier than other e-mail messages.

Question 11

After years of evolution, e-mail formats have finally settled to a specific type.

Question 12

Some writers treat e-mail like memos even though they may be viewed more formally by readers.

Question 13

Most e-mail programs allow attachments, such as documents or PowerPoint slides.

Question 14

If you prepare your e-mail message first in a word processor, use one-inch margins to keep line breaks neat.

Question 15

Subject lines in e-mail are even more important than those in other messages.

Question 16

In good news e-mail messages, put that news in the subject line.

Question 17

Long subject lines are preferred.

Question 18

It's OK to fire someone using e-mail.

Question 19

"Re: Re: Re: Re: Question"is an acceptable subject line in a series of e-mail exchanges.

Question 20

When angry, write important e-mail messages because that's when you have the most passion.

Question 21

Managing e-mail has little effect on overall time management.

Question 22

Highlighting key words helps make Web pages more accessible.

Question 23

When writing for Web pages, avoid using "marketese,"or language that is subjective and boastful.

Question 24

Blogging is fine for personal reasons, but it should be avoided on the job.

Question 25

It's possible to be disciplined for blogging negative information about the company you work for.

Question 26

Businessblog.com is a common search engine for finding blogs.

Question 27

Positive emphasis is unnecessary in e-mail messages.

Question 28

Chances are that readers will be more forgiving of grammatical mistakes in e-mail than in paper messages.

Question 29

Eudora is the best e-mail system available to business.

Question 30

Because you do not actually sign an e-mail message, a signature line in one is pointless.

Question 31

ASAP means "as soon as possible."

Question 32

TMOT means "trust me on this."

Question 33

It's common for people to deal with 500 or more e-mail messages a day on the job.

Question 34

To help manage your time, set short-term priorities.

Question 35

Never ask for help in the workplace; doing so shows weakness and makes you vulnerable.

Question 36

If you must send an angry e-mail message, be sure to copy it to someone else.

Question 37

To be safe, include the entire original message when responding to e-mail, even parts that aren't relevant to your answer.

Question 38

You can get a computer virus through an e-mail message.

Question 39

It is impossible to stop a computer virus.

Question 40

Spyware is the same thing as a virus.

Question 41

Fax and phone services are now available through the Internet, but the cost is too expensive to make the services practical.

Question 42

Which of the following is NOT a guideline when writing e-mail messages?

A) Don't be indiscreet in e-mail.
B) Use all of the principles of good business writing.
C) Re-read and proofread your message before sending it out.
D) E-mail messages must interest the reader in the subject line and first paragraph.
E) All of the above are guidelines.

Question 43

Subject lines in e-mails messages are

A) Even more important than those in letters and memos because it's so easy for the reader to hit the delete key.
B) Even more important than those in letters and memos because anti-virus software may screen the messages out.
C) Less important than those in letters and memos because people will look to the address of the sender to decide whether to read the message.
D) Less important than those in letters and memos because few people pay attention to subject lines because they are so busy.
E) None of the above.

Question 44

Insulting or swearing at someone through e-mail is called

A) Screaming
B) Toasting
C) Zapping
D) Flaming
E) None of the above.

Question 45

In which of the following negative situations would it NOT be appropriate to send an e-mail message to one of your colleagues?

A) You have to tell her that you will be late to the meeting she's called for tomorrow because of a doctor appointment.
B) You are extremely angry because of a message she has just sent you and you want to tell her how wrong she is.
C) You have found you made an error when you gave her some sales figures this morning.
D) You have just found out that the firm has lost a client for whom you have both been preparing materials.
E) All of the above are appropriate.

Question 46

Which of the following is the BEST subject line for a persuasive e-mail message?

A) A request
B) Some pointers for the meeting
C) Call for volunteers
D) New hires
E) None of the above.

Question 47

"Lurking"means

A) Reading e-mail messages without writing anything yourself.
B) Exploring the Web.
C) Using e-mail to express your ideas in secret.
D) Posting e-mail messages on listservs anonymously.
E) None of the above.

Question 48

You were hired a few weeks ago and already are involved with an important project for your company. You write an e-mail message to a finance officer in a commercial bank concerning funding for the project. However, you haven't heard back from him, even though it's been two days. You haven't received an undeliverable message, either. Which of the MOST following is the likely reason he has not responded?

A) You typed in the wrong address.
B) You used "Money?" as the subject line.
C) The employee is on vacation and chose not to create an automatic message to that effect.
D) The employee read your e-mail and is simply reluctant to inform you that the project has been turned down for funding.
E) A letter was a more appropriate way of communicating with the bank than an e-mail message, and so your message is being ignored.

Question 49

Which of the following business writing principles is important in e-mail messages?

A) Positive emphasis.
B) You-attitude.
C) Reader benefits, when appropriate.
D) All of the above.
E) Only A and B

Question 50

An employee you supervise copies you on a message to her multi-department committee, urging it to finally green light a project. You respond that she has your full support, but you also note that the sole committee member who dissents is obviously wrong and give reasons why. That committee member supervises another department. Later, you receive his terse e-mail stating you should be professional and talk directly to him about your concerns since he is a peer. What MOST likely happened?

A) Your employee blind-copied him on the e-mail, so he received your reply, too.
B) Your employee printed out the e-mail but didn't retrieve it from the shared printer before someone else saw it.
C) You may have hinted at your attitude toward the other supervisor in a department head meeting.
D) The other supervisor is fishing to see what you are saying behind his back.
E) You hit accidentally "reply all" to the message.

Question 51

When you ask for something big or something that is not a regular part of a person's duties, the first paragraph of the e-mail message must not only specify the request but also

A) Give reader benefits
B) Make the reader view the request positively
C) Include significant details about any problems that might be encountered
D) Flatter the reader into accepting your idea
E) None of the above.

Question 52

You receive an e-mail from a supervisor who refers to you as the "token"member of a hiring committee. She may intend the term as a joke, but you find it so offensive and irritating, you cancel your lunch plans because you've lost your appetite. Should you respond to the e-mail immediately?

A) Yes, because she needs to understand how serious the comment is.
B) Yes because the Equal Opportunity laws state that waiting will only harm your chances of having a complaint taken seriously.
C) No, because you should calm down before composing the message.
D) No, because it's better to wait for a future opportunity to get even.
E) None of the above.

Question 53

Sending e-mail attachments makes the most sense when you send

A) A long text document.
B) A text document with limited formatting.
C) A non-text file.
D) All of the above.
E) Only A and C

Question 54

Explain how the subject line for an informative or positive e-mail message differs from that of a persuasive e-mail message

Question 55

List the methods for creating "scannable text."

Question 56

Although e-mail feels ___________ it is not private, as a conversation might be.

Question 57

___________ and ___________ your message before sending it out.

Question 58

___________ ___________ in email are even more important than those in letters and memos.

Question 59

When drafting for the Web, think about how readers will ________ ________ ________.

Question 60

In many organizations, the people who provide ________ ________ are different than the people who actually design the pages
.