Chapter 2 Responses

 1) Define communication. When is it successful?

Communication is the transmission of information and meaning from a sender to a receiver. It is successful only when the receiver understands an idea as the sender intended it.

2) Describe the five steps in the process of communication. What can disrupt this process?

1. The sender has an idea, 2. the sender encodes the idea, 3. the sender selects channel and transmits message, 4. the receiver decodes the message, 5. feedback returns to the sender.

Noise is defined as anything that disrupts the transmission of a message in the communication process.

3) In what ways is business writing different from school essays and private messages?

Instead of worrying about conveying your feelings or expressing yourself in your business writing you should be: Purposeful, Economical, and Audience Centered.

4) Describe the components in each stage of the 3-x-3 writing process. Approximately how much time is spent on each stage?

Prewriting: Analyze, anticipate, and adapt to your audience. About 25% of your time is spent here.

Drafting: Research. organize, and draft your writing. About 25% of time is spent here.

Revising: Edit, proofread, and evaluate your message. About 50% of time is spent here.

5) What eight factors should writers consider in selecting an appropriate channel to deliver a message? What is the difference between a rich and a lean channel?

Writers should consider:

- Available technology

- Importance of the message

- Amount and speed of feedback and interactivity required

- Necessity of a permanent record

- Cost of the channel

- Degree of formality desired

- Confidentiality and sensitivity of the message

- Receiver's preference and level of technical expertise

6) How does anticipating and identifying the audience help a business communicator prepare a message?

It helps the communicator determine what the audience may desire and put together a message that will entice and correlate to the intended audience.

7) What is the "you" view? When can the use of you backfire?

The "you" view is using words like you and yours opposed to I and we. This does a better job being persuasive to your audience. However it can backfire if it seems to your audience that you are trying to manipulate them.

8) What three techniques for developing a warm, friendly, and conversational tone can communicators use in business messages"?

Focus on audience benefits, cultivate the "you" view, and sound conversational but professional.

9) What are three ways to avoid biased language? Give an original example of each?

Avoid gender-biased language by using plural nouns and pronouns, avoid age-biased language by only specifying age if its relevant, to avoid disability-biased language don't refer to the disability unless its relevant.

10) Name five gender-biased words and their improved versions.

Cleaning lady- > cleaner

Waiter/Waitress - > server

Mankind - > humanity

Foreman - > lead worker

Businessman - > businessperson