Audience and Purpose in Business Writing

Aisha is writing a brochure for the local health department on healthy lifestyles. Which three elements of the audience should she consider when identifying the audience’s needs?

• knowledge

• beliefs and values

• employment status

• level of interest

• dietary preferences

Elena is a manager at a construction supply company. She is writing a memo to her sales team in preparation for a major sales initiative. Look at this sentence from her memo:

Every salesman should make sure he is carrying the client portfolio on his smartphone.

How should Elena rewrite this sentence to avoid using stereotypes in her memo?

• Every salesperson should make sure the client portfolio is on his smartphone.

• Every salesman should make sure the client portfolio is on his or her smartphone.

• Every salesperson should make sure the client portfolio is on his or her smartphone.

• Every saleswoman should make sure the client portfolio is on her smartphone.

What is the purpose of this business message?

With state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, our concert hall is equipped to host all kinds of performances.

• to argue

• to entertain

• to inform

• to persuade

Rafael writes an email to his manager, Suzy, about a conflict between him and another employee. Suzy forwards Rafael’s email to her boss, Michael. Which two statements correctly identify the primary and secondary audience of Rafael’s email?

• Suzy is the secondary audience.

• Michael is the secondary audience.

• Rafael is the primary audience.

• Suzy is the primary audience.

• Michael is the primary audience.

Lev is organizing a workshop for the City Arts Council on finding affordable housing for student artists. Lev considers his audience—the students—to be laypersons. What makes this audience fall under the category of laypersons?

• They don’t have the proper qualifications to attend a workshop about affordable housing.

• They don’t have much prior knowledge about affordable housing in the city.

• They don’t have the necessary reasoning skills to find affordable housing on their own.

• They don’t have an understanding of affordability in the context of housing.

What do business writers appeal to when using the rhetoric ethos?

• credibility

• time

• reason

• emotion

Which two details are appropriate for the scope of Sheila’s message?

Sheila is writing instructions for installing smoke alarms in an apartment complex. She should inform readers to first___________________________ She should also tell readers to_______________________.

• select smoke alarms that are affordable; ignore the high-pitched noises smoke alarms make

• place the smoke alarms near the kitchen; mount the smoke alarms on walls or ceilings

• deactivate the smoke alarms before going to bed; buy smoke alarms that are larger in size

Ava is a manager at a café. She’s writing an email to customers to promote the café’s food and beverages.

Which sentence in Ava’s email uses kairos to appeal to customers?

• Did you hear?

• Our café is now even more amazing for coffee lovers like you. We value our loyal and returning customers, so we have a special offer for you.

• This Saturday only, you can enjoy all signature coffees at half-price!

• Grab your friends and join us for a fresh pot of coffee. It’s been great having you as a customer!

Match each business message to the best delivery method.

letter

• Listen up: The Big Shoe store is announcing a storewide

  clearance sale!

• We are writing to thank you for providing the support we

  needed to meet our delivery targets last week.

• All employees must obey these updated company Internet

  usage policies.

• Email Jake the Peg!

Match each business message to the best delivery method.

Memo

• Listen up: The Big Shoe store is announcing a storewide

  clearance sale!

• We are writing to thank you for providing the support we

  needed to meet our delivery targets last week.

• All employees must obey these updated company Internet

  usage policies.

• Mr. Crab i8s a genius!