Question 1

Which of the following is the most concise sentence?

Accepted Answer

C

Question 2

Which of the following sentences is an example of ambiguity?

Accepted Answer

C) is ambiguous because it can be interpreted in two ways: either Lincoln wrote the entire speech on the back of an envelope, or he wrote it during the journey, possibly on different pieces of paper or in his head. The sentence structure allows for both interpretations.

Question 3

A good writer will try to understand the needs of their readers.Which of the following is NOT an example of a question a good writer would reflect on in order to understand audience needs?

Accepted Answer

While formatting is important for publishing and distribution, it is not directly related to understanding audience needs. The other four questions are directly related to ensuring the writing is tailored to the audience.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT an element of the readership model put forth by Janice Redish?

Accepted Answer

Janice Redish's readership model includes all of the other options listed, but does not specifically mention that readers expect a wide variety of writing techniques to be used by competent writers.

Question 5

Which of the following sentences contain tautologies?

Accepted Answer

A tautology is a statement that is true by necessity or by virtue of its logical form. Sentence B contains a tautology because saying an address was "limited to only one controversial topic" and then stating "the discussion that subsequently followed was based on mutual agreement" implies a redundancy. The nature of being "limited to only one controversial topic" inherently suggests a focused discussion, which is then redundantly confirmed by stating it led to "mutual agreement."

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true concerning De Bono's ideas on thinking?

Accepted Answer

According to De Bono's Six Thinking Hats approach, red hat thinking is about intuition and feeling. Green hat thinking is about creativity and generating new ideas, yellow hat thinking is about positivity and exploring benefits, blue hat thinking is about organization and control, and white hat thinking is about facts and information. None of the options correlate with De Bono's ideas on thinking except for option C.

Question 7

Which of the following is generally true about emphasis?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is generally true...

Question 8

By clear writing, we mean:

Accepted Answer

Clear writing should be simple, easy to understand, and familiar to the reader. It should also be accessible or 'visible' to a broad audience. This does not necessarily mean that the writing should lack complexity or sophistication, but rather that it should be free of jargon or overly technical terms that the average reader may not understand.

Question 9

Once you have a written draft, editing techniques can be applied to improve the composition.Put the 	following nine editing tasks in the order recommended by the textbook:
A) Add visual impact.
B) Check references.
C) Analyse the introduction.
D) Do a full review of spelling, grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, and word usage.
E) Review the conclusion. 
F) Work through the body of the paper. 
G) Review the format and appearance. 
H) Do a last and final review, reading the paper aloud or allowing someone else to have a look. 
I) Make a point-form outline of the draft.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Once you have a written draft, editing...

Question 10

When you write as part of a team, which of the following writing techniques contribute to an effective outcome?

Accepted Answer

Standardising the format to produce the appearance of single authorship is important in creating a cohesive, unified piece of writing when working as a team. It allows for a consistent voice and style throughout the document.

Question 11

Readers interpret documents in light of their own knowledge.Which of the following is an example 	of this?

Accepted Answer

David's previous knowledge about railway systems will influence how he interprets the documents he reads.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT one of the 4P's for writing?

Accepted Answer

The 4P's for writing are Problem, Present situation, Possible solutions, and Proposal. Place is not one of the 4P's.

Question 13

Which of the following is true about editing and reviewing written work?

Accepted Answer

It is difficult to edit your own work because you might miss errors or be biased towards your own writing. It can be easier to see flaws in another's writing because you are approaching it from a fresh perspective.

Question 14

Which of the following sentences is NOT ambiguous?

Accepted Answer

C) The conference will be held later this year at a time to be determined. This sentence is clear and specific about the event's timing, without any ambiguity regarding its meaning or interpretation.

Question 15

Which of the following is the main reason that a writer would use a thesaurus?

Accepted Answer

The main reason a writer would use a thesaurus is to find an exact word that best describes an idea. A thesaurus provides synonyms and antonyms, allowing the writer to choose the most appropriate word for their intended meaning.

Question 16

Which of the following are the 5W's?

Accepted Answer

The 5W's are Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Option A contains all five of them, making it the correct answer.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a task in the review of someone else's written work?

Accepted Answer

Forcing the writer to accept your suggestions is not a task in the review of someone else's written work. The reviewer's role is to provide feedback and suggestions, but it is the writer's decision whether to accept or reject them. It is important to approach the review process with a collaborative mindset rather than an authoritarian one.

Question 18

What is the main purpose of punctuation?

Accepted Answer

The main purpose of punctuation is to present ideas clearly. Punctuation marks clarify meaning and help readers understand the intended tone and emphasis of the text.

Question 19

Match each of the following definitions to the correct Six Thinking Hats.
A) Information thinking is represented by the _____ hat.
B) Intuition and feeling is represented by the _____ hat.
C) Caution and the logical negative is represented by the _____ hat.
D) Enthusiasm and the logical positive is represented by the _____ hat.
E) Creative effort and creative thinking is represented by the _____ hat.
F) Control of the thinking process itself is represented by the _____ hat.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Match each of the following definitions to...

Question 20

What is good writing?

Accepted Answer

Good writing is ultimately about communication. Writing that effectively conveys a message or idea to the reader is considered good writing. It is not just about following rules and conforming to structure, but also about connecting with the audience and conveying meaning in a clear and concise manner.

Answer: C
 Good writing should be easily understood by a wide range of readers. The use of slang and jargon can hinder communication and make writing difficult to understand for those who are not familiar with the terminology. Writing that avoids these language barriers is considered good writing.

Quiz 11: Writing Professionally: Process and Style