Question 1

Nearly all reports, especially those that are more than a few pages long, contain a bibliography at the beginning.

Accepted Answer

Nearly all reports, especially those that are more than a few pages long, contain an executive summary at the beginning.

Question 2

Preview statements allow readers to create a mental map of your key takeaway messages in a report.

Accepted Answer

Reports are often lengthy and dense, so preview statements can help decision makers follow the direction of your text. Also, preview statements frame the message, allowing readers to create a mental map of your key takeaway messages.

Question 3

You can raise the credibility of your report by providing supporting details for your conclusions.

Accepted Answer

You can raise the credibility of your report by (a) supplying the facts with precision; (b) providing supporting details for your conclusions; (c) carefully dealing with predictions and cause-effect statements and (d) responsibly citing your research sources.

Question 4

You should project objectivity more than positivity in business reports.

Accepted Answer

More so than positivity, you should project objectivity-the sense that you are providing information, analysis, and advice that is sound, reliable, and unbiased.

Question 5

When too much of the report is in bullet points, it can create a choppy, staccato-like effect.

Accepted Answer

When too much of the report is in bullet points, it can create a choppy, staccato-like effect.

Question 6

In the context of business reports, projecting positivity is more important than projecting objectivity.

Accepted Answer

In many business reports, projecting positivity is also important. However, more so than positivity, you should project objectivity-the sense that you are providing information, analysis, and advice that is sound, reliable, and unbiased.

Question 7

Documenting your sources for secondary research helps decision makers judge the quality of your data.

Accepted Answer

By documenting your sources, you allow decision makers to judge the quality of your data.

Question 8

The purpose of tables and charts is first and foremost to fit into the story line you have established for your report.

Accepted Answer

The purpose of tables and charts is first and foremost to fit into the story line you have established for your report.

Question 9

While creating a business report, projecting objectivity involves providing information, analysis, and advice that is sound, reliable, and unbiased.

Accepted Answer

While creating business reports, project objectivity-the sense that you are providing information, analysis, and advice that is sound, reliable, and unbiased.

Question 10

Reports without a problem statement at the beginning are perceived as unimportant and lacking direction.

Accepted Answer

Placing a clear statement of the central business problem or challenge at the beginning helps establish the purpose and value of the report. Without such a statement, reports lack direction and may be perceived as unimportant.

Question 11

Generally, the formal reports that are submitted to external decision makers do not include a cover page.

Accepted Answer

Regardless of length, formal reports-especially those submitted to external decision makers (i.e., loan officers, venture capitalists, stockholders)-always include a cover page.

Question 12

Achieving a positive, can-do tone in your communications is appropriate in nearly all business situations.

Accepted Answer

Achieving a positive, can-do tone in your communications is appropriate in nearly all business situations.

Question 13

The table of contents in a report must contain only second-level headings.

Accepted Answer

The table of contents contains all first-level headings and sometimes all second-level headings.

Question 14

Generally, an executive summary should be about one page long for every 10 to 20 pages in the report.

Accepted Answer

Generally, an executive summary should be about one page long for every 10 to 20 pages in the report.

Question 15

The cover page is generally the least emphasized aspect of the design of a report document.

Accepted Answer

The cover page is generally the most emphasized aspect of the design of a report document.

Question 16

The best way to avoid plagiarism on a documentwide level is to base your report on just one or two sources.

Accepted Answer

If the majority of ideas in your report are based on just one or two sources, your report is essentially plagiarized.

Question 17

In a business report, the foundation for facts, conclusions, and recommendations must be a well-stated business problem or challenge.

Accepted Answer

The foundation for facts, conclusions, and recommendations must be a well-stated business problem or challenge.

Question 18

You need not give credit to the original speaker or writer for an idea that is paraphrased.

Accepted Answer

When you paraphrase, you significantly alter the original words and sentence structure, but you still need to give credit to the original speaker or writer for the idea.

Question 19

In most situations, you should use direct quotations rather than paraphrase.

Accepted Answer

In most situations, you should paraphrase rather than use direct quotations.

Question 20

Problem statements in business reports are most effective when they conceal the urgency of the problems.

Accepted Answer

Problem statements are most effective when they provide the unique context of the problem for the organization and reflect an appropriate sense of urgency.

Quiz 13: Completing Business Proposals and Business Reports

Nearly all reports, especially those that are more than a few pages long, contain a bibliography at the beginning.

Preview statements allow readers to create a mental map of your key takeaway messages in a report.

You can raise the credibility of your report by providing supporting details for your conclusions.

You should project objectivity more than positivity in business reports.

When too much of the report is in bullet points, it can create a choppy, staccato-like effect.

In the context of business reports, projecting positivity is more important than projecting objectivity.

Documenting your sources for secondary research helps decision makers judge the quality of your data.

The purpose of tables and charts is first and foremost to fit into the story line you have established for your report.

While creating a business report, projecting objectivity involves providing information, analysis, and advice that is sound, reliable, and unbiased.

Reports without a problem statement at the beginning are perceived as unimportant and lacking direction.

Generally, the formal reports that are submitted to external decision makers do not include a cover page.

Achieving a positive, can-do tone in your communications is appropriate in nearly all business situations.

The table of contents in a report must contain only second-level headings.

Generally, an executive summary should be about one page long for every 10 to 20 pages in the report.

The cover page is generally the least emphasized aspect of the design of a report document.

The best way to avoid plagiarism on a documentwide level is to base your report on just one or two sources.

In a business report, the foundation for facts, conclusions, and recommendations must be a well-stated business problem or challenge.

You need not give credit to the original speaker or writer for an idea that is paraphrased.

In most situations, you should use direct quotations rather than paraphrase.

Problem statements in business reports are most effective when they conceal the urgency of the problems.