Anggun Cahyanti Simanjuntak
Accounting Department
2211031077
1. Explain how to compose the first draft of a message using a variety of sentence types and avoiding sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and comma splices.
When writing a first draft, the most important task is to get ideas onto the page in a clear, readable form without worrying too much about perfection. A strong draft combines different types of sentences, simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex, to keep the writing lively and easy to follow. Simple sentences are clear and straightforward, while compound and complex structures allow you to show relationships between ideas. And also need to remember to avoid sentence that will confuse reader.
2. Explain how to improve your writing techniques by emphasizing important ideas, employing the active and passive voice effectively, using parallelism, and preventing dangling and misplaced modifiers.
Improving writing means going beyond sentence correctness to ensure that ideas are delivered forcefully and clearly. One way to do this is by emphasizing important ideas. Emphasis can be achieved mechanically by using headings, lists, or boldface, but more often it is achieved stylistically by carefully placing the most important words at the beginning or end of a sentence and by avoiding unnecessary competing ideas. Another aspect is the choice between active and passive voice. Active voice is usually preferred because it makes writing direct and shows clearly who is responsible for the action—for example, “The manager approved the budget.”
3. Explain how to Draft well-organized paragraphs using (a) the direct plan to define,classify, illustrate, or describe; (b) the pivoting plan to compare and contrast; or (c) the indirect plan to explain and persuade. Paragraphs should include (a) topic sentences, (b) support sentences, and (c) transitional expressions to build coherence.
Paragraphs are the building blocks of business writing, and the way they are structured shapes how easily a reader can follow your ideas. The book explains three common plans for organizing paragraphs. The direct plan begins with the main idea in a topic sentence, followed by supporting details and evidence. This method is especially effective when you need to define, classify, describe, or illustrate, since readers can immediately grasp the point and then examine the details. The pivoting plan works differently: it starts with a limiting or contrasting idea and then pivots to the main point, often signaled by words such as “however” or “but.” This is useful when comparing or contrasting alternatives. The indirect plan reverses the direct approach by presenting supporting details first and saving the main idea for the end.
4. Explain how to polish business messages by revising for conciseness, which includes eliminating flabby expressions, long lead-ins, there is/are and it is/was fillers, redundancies, and empty words, as well as condensing for microblogging.
Conciseness is one of the hallmarks of effective business writing because it shows respect for the reader’s time and enhances clarity. Many business messages suffer from unnecessary wordiness that distracts from the main idea. The book recommends several strategies to achieve concise writing. First, eliminate flabby expressions such as “due to the fact that,” which can be replaced with “because.” Second, avoid long and unnecessary lead-ins, such as “This is to inform you that,” which add nothing to the message and can simply be dropped. Writers should also reduce filler expressions like “there are” or “it is,” which often add no real meaning.
5. Explain how to improve clarity in business messages by keeping the ideas simple, slashing trite business phrases, dropping clichés scrapping slang and buzzwords, rescuing buried verbs, and restraining exuberance.
Clarity means that the reader can immediately understand the writer’s ideas without needing to reread or guess at the meaning. The book suggests beginning with simplicity: messages should follow the “KISS” principle—Keep It Short and Simple. Writers should also avoid outdated business phrases that no longer sound natural, such as “as per your request.” Similarly, clichés like “thinking outside the box” or “at the end of the day” weaken a message and should be replaced with fresh, direct wording. Slang and buzzwords may be common in casual conversation, but they reduce professionalism in business writing and can alienate readers unfamiliar with them. Another problem that hurts clarity is the use of buried verbs, where a verb is turned into a noun phrase, such as “make a decision” instead of simply “decide.” By using strong verbs, writers make their sentences clearer and more dynamic. Finally, writers should restrain the overuse of intensifiers like “very,” “really,” or “totally,” which add little meaning and can make writing sound exaggerated.
6. Explain how to recognize proofreading problem areas, and apply effective techniques to catch mistakes in both routine and complex documents.
Proofreading is the final safeguard before sending a message, ensuring that errors do not damage credibility. Even the best content can lose its impact if it contains mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, or formatting. Routine documents, such as emails or short memos, should be proofread line by line immediately after drafting. For longer or more complex documents, it is wise to take a break before proofreading so the writer can see the text with fresh eyes. The book recommends proofreading several times, with each round focusing on a different aspect: once for content and meaning, once for grammar and mechanics, and once for layout and formatting. Names, numbers, and dates are particularly prone to errors and must be checked carefully. In addition, proofreading on both screen and paper can be effective because each medium reveals different errors. By developing systematic proofreading habits, writers can significantly reduce the risk of mistakes slipping into their final documents.
7. Expalin how to evaluate a message to judge its effectiveness.
Evaluation goes beyond proofreading to determine whether a message truly achieved its purpose. A message can be grammatically correct but still ineffective if it fails to inform, persuade, or build goodwill in the way the writer intended. To evaluate effectiveness, writers must ask whether the audience understood the message easily, whether the tone was appropriate, and whether the message met its intended goal. The book emphasizes considering clarity, conciseness, correctness, and courtesy as measures of success. Feedback from peers, instructors, or colleagues is also valuable, since an outside reader can spot weaknesses the writer may miss. Over time, learning to evaluate messages objectively helps writers build stronger habits and continually improve their communication skills. Evaluation is thus the final step in ensuring that business communication is not only error-free but also impactful and professional.
Accounting Department
2211031077
1. Explain how to compose the first draft of a message using a variety of sentence types and avoiding sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and comma splices.
When writing a first draft, the most important task is to get ideas onto the page in a clear, readable form without worrying too much about perfection. A strong draft combines different types of sentences, simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex, to keep the writing lively and easy to follow. Simple sentences are clear and straightforward, while compound and complex structures allow you to show relationships between ideas. And also need to remember to avoid sentence that will confuse reader.
2. Explain how to improve your writing techniques by emphasizing important ideas, employing the active and passive voice effectively, using parallelism, and preventing dangling and misplaced modifiers.
Improving writing means going beyond sentence correctness to ensure that ideas are delivered forcefully and clearly. One way to do this is by emphasizing important ideas. Emphasis can be achieved mechanically by using headings, lists, or boldface, but more often it is achieved stylistically by carefully placing the most important words at the beginning or end of a sentence and by avoiding unnecessary competing ideas. Another aspect is the choice between active and passive voice. Active voice is usually preferred because it makes writing direct and shows clearly who is responsible for the action—for example, “The manager approved the budget.”
3. Explain how to Draft well-organized paragraphs using (a) the direct plan to define,classify, illustrate, or describe; (b) the pivoting plan to compare and contrast; or (c) the indirect plan to explain and persuade. Paragraphs should include (a) topic sentences, (b) support sentences, and (c) transitional expressions to build coherence.
Paragraphs are the building blocks of business writing, and the way they are structured shapes how easily a reader can follow your ideas. The book explains three common plans for organizing paragraphs. The direct plan begins with the main idea in a topic sentence, followed by supporting details and evidence. This method is especially effective when you need to define, classify, describe, or illustrate, since readers can immediately grasp the point and then examine the details. The pivoting plan works differently: it starts with a limiting or contrasting idea and then pivots to the main point, often signaled by words such as “however” or “but.” This is useful when comparing or contrasting alternatives. The indirect plan reverses the direct approach by presenting supporting details first and saving the main idea for the end.
4. Explain how to polish business messages by revising for conciseness, which includes eliminating flabby expressions, long lead-ins, there is/are and it is/was fillers, redundancies, and empty words, as well as condensing for microblogging.
Conciseness is one of the hallmarks of effective business writing because it shows respect for the reader’s time and enhances clarity. Many business messages suffer from unnecessary wordiness that distracts from the main idea. The book recommends several strategies to achieve concise writing. First, eliminate flabby expressions such as “due to the fact that,” which can be replaced with “because.” Second, avoid long and unnecessary lead-ins, such as “This is to inform you that,” which add nothing to the message and can simply be dropped. Writers should also reduce filler expressions like “there are” or “it is,” which often add no real meaning.
5. Explain how to improve clarity in business messages by keeping the ideas simple, slashing trite business phrases, dropping clichés scrapping slang and buzzwords, rescuing buried verbs, and restraining exuberance.
Clarity means that the reader can immediately understand the writer’s ideas without needing to reread or guess at the meaning. The book suggests beginning with simplicity: messages should follow the “KISS” principle—Keep It Short and Simple. Writers should also avoid outdated business phrases that no longer sound natural, such as “as per your request.” Similarly, clichés like “thinking outside the box” or “at the end of the day” weaken a message and should be replaced with fresh, direct wording. Slang and buzzwords may be common in casual conversation, but they reduce professionalism in business writing and can alienate readers unfamiliar with them. Another problem that hurts clarity is the use of buried verbs, where a verb is turned into a noun phrase, such as “make a decision” instead of simply “decide.” By using strong verbs, writers make their sentences clearer and more dynamic. Finally, writers should restrain the overuse of intensifiers like “very,” “really,” or “totally,” which add little meaning and can make writing sound exaggerated.
6. Explain how to recognize proofreading problem areas, and apply effective techniques to catch mistakes in both routine and complex documents.
Proofreading is the final safeguard before sending a message, ensuring that errors do not damage credibility. Even the best content can lose its impact if it contains mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, or formatting. Routine documents, such as emails or short memos, should be proofread line by line immediately after drafting. For longer or more complex documents, it is wise to take a break before proofreading so the writer can see the text with fresh eyes. The book recommends proofreading several times, with each round focusing on a different aspect: once for content and meaning, once for grammar and mechanics, and once for layout and formatting. Names, numbers, and dates are particularly prone to errors and must be checked carefully. In addition, proofreading on both screen and paper can be effective because each medium reveals different errors. By developing systematic proofreading habits, writers can significantly reduce the risk of mistakes slipping into their final documents.
7. Expalin how to evaluate a message to judge its effectiveness.
Evaluation goes beyond proofreading to determine whether a message truly achieved its purpose. A message can be grammatically correct but still ineffective if it fails to inform, persuade, or build goodwill in the way the writer intended. To evaluate effectiveness, writers must ask whether the audience understood the message easily, whether the tone was appropriate, and whether the message met its intended goal. The book emphasizes considering clarity, conciseness, correctness, and courtesy as measures of success. Feedback from peers, instructors, or colleagues is also valuable, since an outside reader can spot weaknesses the writer may miss. Over time, learning to evaluate messages objectively helps writers build stronger habits and continually improve their communication skills. Evaluation is thus the final step in ensuring that business communication is not only error-free but also impactful and professional.