Question 1

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

Accepted Answer

E)When communicating negative messages using the indirect approach, try to use a conditional (if or when)statement to imply that the audience could have received, or might someday receive, a favorable answer. Such a statement could motivate the audience.

Question 2

A good buffer ________.

Accepted Answer

B)Depending on the circumstances, a good buffer can express your appreciation for being considered, assure the reader of your attention to the request, indicate your understanding of the reader's needs, introduce the general subject matter, or simply establish common ground with your readers. A good buffer also needs to be relevant and sincere.

Question 3

When using the indirect approach to organize negative news message,the opening statement should be ________.

Accepted Answer

E)Messages using the indirect approach open with a buffer, a neutral, noncontroversial statement that is closely related to the point of the message but doesn't convey the bad news.

Question 4

Dana,the HR manager at a small company,must communicate to an employee that his request for a raise cannot be fulfilled,considering his productivity rates.Which of the following lines would best serve as a buffer for this message?

Accepted Answer

E)A poorly written buffer might trivialize the reader's concerns, divert attention from the problem with insincere flattery or irrelevant material, or mislead the reader into thinking your message actually contains good news. A good buffer, on the other hand, can express your appreciation for being considered (if you're responding to a request), indicate your understanding of the reader's needs, or assure your reader of your attention to the request-as this line does.

Question 5

When providing reasons for bad news in a negative news message that uses the indirect approach,you should ________.

Accepted Answer

B)An effective way to do this is to start with positive or neutral points and move through progressively negative points. Provide enough detail for the audience to understand your reasons but be concise.

Question 6

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

Accepted Answer

B)When communicating negative messages using the indirect approach, try to deemphasize the news by embedding the bad news in the middle of a paragraph or by using parenthetical expressions.

Question 7

As General Manager of a company,Julian needs to write a message turning down a request for additional funds for a promotion drive planned by the company's marketing department.Which of the following lines would best serve as a buffer statement when using the indirect approach in organizing this message?

Accepted Answer

B)A poorly written buffer might trivialize the reader's concerns, divert attention from the problem with insincere flattery or irrelevant material, or mislead the reader into thinking your message actually contains good news. A good buffer, on the other hand, can express your appreciation for being considered (if you're responding to a request), assure your reader of your attention to the request, or indicate your understanding of the reader's needs-as this line does.

Question 8

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

Accepted Answer

A)When communicating negative messages using the indirect approach, try to deemphasize the news by subordinating the bad news within a complex or compound sentence.

Question 9

Ethan is developing a message to communicate to a job applicant that he is not being offered the job since he lacks the appropriate experience.Which of the following lines reflects the most effective way of making a clear statement of the bad news if Ethan chooses to organize the message using the indirect method?

Accepted Answer

A)When communicating negative messages using the indirect approach, emphasize what you can do or have done rather than what you cannot do. Also, by implying the bad news, you may not need to actually state it, thereby making the bad news less personal.

Question 10

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

Accepted Answer

D)When communicating negative messages using the indirect approach, try to deemphasize the news by embedding the bad news in the middle of a paragraph or by using parenthetical expressions.

Question 11

Tim is developing a message to inform a customer that though volume 1 of a set of two books he ordered is being mailed right away,volume 2 can be mailed out only after a week.Which of the following lines reflects the most effective way of making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing the message using the indirect method?

Accepted Answer

C)When communicating negative messages using the indirect approach, emphasize what you can do or have done rather than what you cannot do. Also, by implying the bad news, you may not need to actually state it, thereby making the bad news less personal.

Question 12

In a negative message that uses the indirect approach,an ideal explanation section should ________.

Accepted Answer

D)An ideal explanation section leads readers to your conclusion before you come right out and say it. The reader has followed your line of reasoning and is ready for the answer.

Question 13

In a negative message using the indirect approach,the buffer in the opening is immediately followed by a(n)________.

Accepted Answer

B)An effective buffer serves as a transition to the next part of your message, in which you build up the explanations and information that will culminate in your negative news. An ideal explanation section leads readers to your conclusion before you come right out and say it.

Question 14

When providing reasons for bad news in a negative news message that uses the indirect approach,you should ________.

Accepted Answer

A)In a negative message using the indirect approach, avoid hiding behind company policy to cushion your bad news, whenever possible. Skilled and sympathetic communicators explain company policy without referring to it as "policy" so that the audience can try to meet the requirements at a later time.

Question 15

In a negative message using the indirect approach,well-written reasons are NOT ________.

Accepted Answer

C)In a negative message using the indirect approach, well-written reasons are detailed, tactful, individualized, unapologetic, and as positive as possible.

Question 16

Which of the following is a guideline for providing reasons for bad news in a negative news message that uses the indirect approach?

Accepted Answer

D)An ideal explanation section leads readers to your conclusion before you come right out and say it. The reader has followed your line of reasoning and is ready for the answer. By giving your reasons effectively, you help maintain focus on the issues at hand and defuse the emotions that always accompany significantly bad news. An effective way to do this is to start with positive or neutral points and move through progressively negative points. Provide enough detail for the audience to understand your reasons but be concise.

Question 17

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

Accepted Answer

E)When communicating negative messages using the indirect approach, try to deemphasize the news by embedding the bad news in the middle of a paragraph or by using parenthetical expressions, subordinating it in a complex or compound sentence, and by minimizing the time and space devoted to it.

Question 18

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

Accepted Answer

C)When communicating negative messages using the indirect approach, try to deemphasize the news by minimizing the space or time devoted to the bad news.

Question 19

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

Accepted Answer

C)When communicating negative messages using the indirect approach, emphasize what you can do or have done rather than what you cannot do. Also, by implying the bad news, you may not need to actually state it, thereby making the bad news less personal.

Question 20

The purpose of using the indirect approach to organize a negative message is to ________.

Accepted Answer

B)The purpose of the indirect approach to communicating negative messages is to ease the blow and help readers accept the news. It is not meant to obscure bad news, delay it, or limit your responsibility.

Quiz 8: Writing Negative Messages

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

A good buffer ________.

When using the indirect approach to organize negative news message,the opening statement should be ________.

Dana,the HR manager at a small company,must communicate to an employee that his request for a raise cannot be fulfilled,considering his productivity rates.Which of the following lines would best serve as a buffer for this message?

When providing reasons for bad news in a negative news message that uses the indirect approach,you should ________.

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

In a negative message that uses the indirect approach,an ideal explanation section should ________.

In a negative message using the indirect approach,the buffer in the opening is immediately followed by a(n) ________.

When providing reasons for bad news in a negative news message that uses the indirect approach,you should ________.

In a negative message using the indirect approach,well-written reasons are NOT ________.

Which of the following is a guideline for providing reasons for bad news in a negative news message that uses the indirect approach?

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

Which of the following is a guideline for making a clear statement of the bad news when organizing a negative message using the indirect method?

The purpose of using the indirect approach to organize a negative message is to ________.