Deck 10: Informative and Positive Messages

Question 1

A positive or good news message asks the reader to take immediate action.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Informative messages not only give information but usually also try to build positive attitudes toward that information.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

We categorize messages both by the author's purposes and by the initial response we expect from the reader.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Informative and positive messages include changes that are to the reader's disadvantage.

Question 5

Primary purposes of informative messages include deemphasizing any negative elements.

Question 6

Changes that are to the reader's disadvantage are informative or positive messages.

Question 7

Secondary purposes of positive messages include cementing a good relationship between the writer and his or her organization.

Question 8

It's okay to make subject lines for positive and informative messages long because readers are likely to tolerate them when the news is good.

Question 9

Informative and positive messages can be a page or more in length.

Question 10

Reader benefits need not be included in every type of informative message.

Question 11

Stressing benefits when they make the reader sound selfish is a bad idea.

Question 12

You don't need reader benefits when the reader's attitude toward the information doesn't really matter.

Question 13

A summary is a form of informative message.

Question 14

Computers can personalize the salutation of a letter easily.

Question 15

If a message contains any negative elements at all, it cannot be classified as an informative or positive message.

Question 16

Any negative elements should be eliminated from an informative message to ensure that the reader will react positively.

Question 17

"Good News"is an acceptable subject line for a positive message because it gives the basic point.

Question 18

Specific subject lines are a bad idea in good news messages because they detract from the impact of actually reading the message.

Question 19

If you have to choose between being concise or being specific with a subject line, it's better to be concise.

Question 20

When you explain good news, you should just give the basics; there's no reason to give details about the news.

Question 21

Informative and positive memos use a different pattern of organization than informative and positive letters.

Question 22

Each element in the pattern of organization for positive messages must be in a separate paragraph.

Question 23

In some informative or positive messages, you can end the message after an explanation.

Question 24

Goodwill endings should be used only in interoffice memos; they are too informal for letters.

Question 25

Reader benefits are more important for negative messages than positive ones.

Question 26

A letter of transmittal can provide either good or persuasive information.

Question 27

Sending a thank-you note is passé in this age of e-mails and texting; some readers will find them charming, but most will simply be annoyed.

Question 28

Goodwill endings focus on the personal relationship you have with the reader, which is why they often express gratitude.

Question 29

In general, do the same thing in your informative or positive message subject line that you would do

A) In the first paragraph.
B) In the last paragraph.
C) In a negative message subject line.
D) In a persuasive message subject line.
E) None of the above.

Question 30

Which of the following statements gives the BEST advice for how the standard pattern for informative and positive messages should be applied?

A) Always use all five parts of the basic pattern, and present them in the order they are given in the pattern.
B) Present each element in a separate paragraph of its own.
C) Never go over one page when using this pattern, whether writing a memo or a letter.
D) Understand the rationale behind the pattern so you can modify it when needed.
E) None of these are good advice.

Question 31

Which of the following would NOT be an informative or positive message?

A) Credit acceptance.
B) Announcement of a new policy.
C) Thank-you letter.
D) Congratulations.
E) All of the above are informative or positive messages.

Question 32

Which of the following is the BEST subject line for a message announcing a reduction in the cost of employee benefits?

A) Employee benefits announcement.
B) Good news!
C) About your employee benefits.
D) Cost of employee benefits to decrease May 1
E) Lower costs.

Question 33

When giving good news, which of the following elements should come before any negatives?

A) Reader benefits.
B) Details.
C) The good news.
D) All of the above.
E) Only B and C

Question 34

Your message about the procedures for using the new photocopier is simple and to-the-point. Do you need reader benefits?

A) Yes, because every informative or positive message requires them.
B) Yes, because readers tend to ignore messages without benefits for them.
C) No, because messages that only present factual information don't need them.
D) No, because not everyone will use the copier so not everyone will benefit.
E) None of the above.

Question 35

You compose a message to inform employees that next month they will need to park behind rather in front of your building because the main company lot is being resurfaced. Normally, the resurfacing occurs in July, when many employees are taking vacations, but by doing it now, the company will save several thousand dollars. Before you send the message, you should

A) Add reader benefits because employees may not see the benefit to them.
B) Add reader benefits because the message is basically bad news.
C) Leave out reader benefits because there's nothing the employees can do about the situation anyway.
D) Leave out reader benefits because no matter what you say, nothing can compensate for the trouble of parking elsewhere.
E) None of the above.

Question 36

State University's Research Office wants to announce new research funding opportunities for faculty research projects. Which of the following would be the BEST subject line?

A) New Opportunities for Faculty Research Funding.
B) Funding New Research.
C) Funding.
D) Faculty Research Funding.
E) Hey, Free Money.

Question 37

In which of the following situations is it LEAST necessary to include reader benefits in an informative message?

A) When you are presenting policies
B) When you want to shape the reader's attitudes toward the information or toward your organization
C) When stressing benefits may make the reader sound selfish
D) When some of the benefits may not be obvious to the reader
E) None of the above.

Question 38

List the reasons when you don't need reader benefits.

Question 39

Explain why reader benefits are important in some informative and positive messages. Give examples.

Question 40

The reader's basic reaction to an informative message will be __________; the reader's reaction to a good news message will be __________.

Question 41

Informative and positive messages should use a __________ ending.

Question 42

The patterns of organization described in Module 10 will work for ___% to ___% of the writing situations in business, government, and nonprofit arenas.