Critical thinking

11. Has digital transmission changed the nature of communication?

This technology drastically affected the communication industry by reducing the high cost of
production and improved the speed of communication. The cost reduction was also passed to
the consumers and now within mille seconds information is being available to be transferred
to anyone around the world at any given time. This flexibility has brought out globalization.
This has led to some explicit advantages in the modern days, communication tools have
expanded from telephone calls, texting, emails, social media, video conferencing,etc.

Therefore, this change in data transmission has drastically changed the nature of
communication during the information era.

12. Why do you think employers prefer messages that are not written like high school and
college essays?

I think the main reason employers don't want to see a message in essay form either high
school or college  is that they don't need all the add nformation to the message.  No need for
big words and thoughts on how you feel about the matter. They want you to get to the point
and not go on and on about the subject. Also they usually only have  few seconds to glance
over your e-mail if it's  in an essay form the message will end up lost on them,they will either
junk it or have to take time out of there busy schedule and  try and figure out what it is you
you are trying to say in the e-mail to them.

13. Why should business writers strive to use short, familiar, simple words? Does this
“dumb down” business messages?

Business writers must consider their audience when writing, and the writer is responsible for
conveying a message to their audience. Educated, non-educated, white, brown, english
speakers, people learning the language, could all be readers. Writing to be clearly understood
is an art form, not an exercise in 'dumbing down' a document. It is the reader who must be
made to understand your message.

If what you write is unclear, it is your fault. Even the most flowery prose can distract, even
devalue your writing if it does not clearly convey your message. That's smart writing, not
'dumbing down' to use easy to understand words. 

14. A wise observer once said that bad writing makes smart people look dumb. Do you agree
or disagree, and why?

I agree with the following statement. Our written documents are a representation of who we
are and what we can and do say. If you write poorly, through spelling or grammatical errors,
the author looks bad. If your writing does not flow with a start, middle and end, your readers
lose interest and you look bad.

Your writing is a representation of you, and may be the only measure one may have of you and
who you are. If you don't write well, that may be the only thing available to measure you, and
you could look dumb if your writing does not present you well.

15. In a letter to the editor, a teacher criticized an article in USA Today on autism because it
used the term autistic child rather than child with autism. She championed people-first
terminology, which avoids defining individuals by their ability or disability.6

For example, instead of identifying someone as a disabled person, one would say, she has a
disability. What does people-first language mean? Can language change perceptions? (Obj. 5)

Audience Benefits and the “You” View

Revise the following sentences to emphasize the perspective of the audience and the “you”
view.

16. We have prepared the enclosed form that may be used by victims to report identity theft
to creditors.

You may use the enclosed form to report identity theft to your creditors.

17. To help us process your order with our new database software, we need you to go to our
website and fill out the customer information required.

 To have your orders processed more quickly and efficiently, please fill out your
customer information on our website.

18. We are now offering RapidAssist, a software program we have developed to provide
immediate technical support through our website to your employees and customers.

 You can now provide your employees and customers with instant technical support
through the RapidAssist website

19. We find it necessary to restrict parking in the new company lot to those employee
vehicles with “A” permits.

 All employees with “A” permits may park in the new company lot.

20. To avoid suffering the kinds of customer monetary losses experienced in the past, our
credit union now prohibits the cashing of double-endorsed checks presented by our
customers.
 To prevent you from losing money in double-endorsed check transactions, our credit
union now cashes only single-endorsed checks.

21. Our warranty goes into effect only when we have received the product’s registration card
from the purchaser.

 Your warranty begins working for you as soon as you return your product's
registration card.

22. Unfortunately, you will not be able to use our computer and telephone systems on
Thursday afternoon because of upgrades to both systems.

 To offer you better computer and telephone service, those systems will be down on
Thursday afternoon while upgrades are being installed.

23. As part of our company effort to be friendly to the environment, we are asking all
employees to reduce paper consumption by communicating by e-mail and avoiding printing.

 You can be friendly to the environment by communicating by e-mail and avoiding

printing.

Conversational but Professional

Revise the following to make the tone conversational yet professional.

24. Per your recent e-mail, the undersigned takes pride in informing you that we are pleased
to be able to participate in the Toys for Tots drive.

 We're pleased that we will be able to participate in the Toys for Tots drive. 

25. Pursuant to your message of the 15th, please be advised that your shipment was sent
August 14.

 Your shipment was sent August 14.

26. Yo, Jeff! Look, dude, I need you to sweet talk Ramona so we can drop this budget thingy
in her lap.

 Hi, Jeff: Please persuade Ramona to take over the budget preparation.

27. BTW, Danika was totally ticked off when the manager accused her of ripping off office
supplies. She may split.

 By the way, Danika was upset when the manager accused her of stealing office
supplies. She may quit.

28. He didn’t have the guts to badmouth her 2 her face.

 He didn't have the nerve to criticize her to her face.

29. The undersigned respectfully reminds affected individuals that employees desirous of
changing their health plans must do so before November 1

 Employees changing their health plans must do so before November 1.

Positive and Courteous Expression

Revise the following statements to make them more positive.

30. Employees are not allowed to use instant messaging until a company policy is established

 Employees may use instant messaging as soon as a company policy is established.

31. We must withhold authorizing payment of your consultant’s fees because our CPA claims
that your work is incomplete.you

 When our CPA confirms that your work is complete, we will authorize payment of
your consultant's fees.

32. Plans for the new health center cannot move forward without full community support.

 Plans for the new health center will move forward as soon as the community gives
full support.

33. This is the last time I’m writing to try to get you to record my October 3 payment of
$359.50 to my account! Anyone who can read can see from the attached documents that I’ve
tried to explain this to you before.

 Please record my October 3 payment of $359.50 to my account. I've attached my

previous letters describing the problem.

34. Although you apparently failed to read the operator’s manual, we are sending you a
replacement blade for your food processor. Next time read page 18 carefully so that you will
know how to attach this blade.

 We are sending you a replacement blade for your food processor. Please read page
18 of your operator's manual to learn how to attach this blade to give you effective
performance.

35. Everyone in this department must begin using new passwords as of midnight, June 15.
Because of flagrant password misuse, we find it necessary to impose this new rule so that we
can protect your personal information and company records.

 Please begin using new passwords as of midnight, June 15, to protect your
personal information and company records.
Bias-Free Language
Revise the following sentences to reduce gender, racial, ethnic, age, and disability bias.

36. Every employee must wear his photo identification on the job.

 Every employee must wear a photo identification on the job.

37. The conference will offer special excursions for the wives of executives.

The conference will offer special excursions for the guests of executives.

38. Does each salesman have his own smartphone loaded with his special sales information?

 Do all salespeople have their own smartphones loaded with their special sales
information?

39. A little old lady returned this item.

 A woman returned this item.

40. Serving on the panel are a lady veterinarian, an Indian CPA, two businessmen, and a
female doctor.

 Serving on the panel are a veterinarian, a CPA, two business people, and a doctor.

41. Each nurse is responsible for her patient’s medications.

 All nurses are responsible for their patients' medications.

Plain Language and Familiar Words

Revise the following sentences to use plain language and familiar words.

42. The salary we are offering is commensurate with remuneration for other managers.

 The salary we are offering is equal to the salary of other managers.

43. To expedite ratification of this agreement, we urge you to vote in the affirmative.

 To speed approval of this agreement, we urge you to vote yes.

44. In a dialogue with the manager, I learned that you plan to terminate our contract.

 In talking with the manager, I learned that you plan to end our contract.
45. Did your car’s braking problem materialize subsequent to our recall effort?

 Did your car's braking problem appear after our recall effort?

46. Pursuant to your invitation, we will interrogate our agent

 As you requested, we will question our agent.

Precise, Vigorous Words

From the choices in parentheses, select the most precise, vigorous words.

47. Government economists (say, hypothesize, predict) that employment will (stabilize, stay
the same, even out) next year.

48. The growing number of (people, consumers, buyers) with (devices, gadgets, smartphones)
provides an (idea, indicator, picture) of economic growth.

49. Although international trade can (get, offer, generate) new profits and (affect, lower)
costs, it also introduces a (different, higher, new) level of risk and complexity.

50. The World Bank sees international trade as a (good, fine, vital) tool for (decreasing,
changing, addressing) poverty