Applying the 3-x-3 Writing Process to Business Messages

Writing in a business environment differs from other types of writing. In professional settings, written messages and oral presentations should be purposeful, economical, and audience oriented.

Identify which writing characteristic of business messages is being used in the following description.

Present your ideas in a clear and concise manner.

• Persuasive
• Economical
• Audience oriented
• Purposeful

Identify which of the objectives of business writing is not being met in the following message.

I see that there appears to be an absolutely unfamiliar potential client requesting to converse with you in the upcoming afternoon interval. Would you prefer that I reject their request because you are already experiencing an overload of professional work demands?

• Purposeful
• Economical
• Persuasive

True or False: Conciseness and clarity are what count in business.

• True
• False

Using a systematic process and practicing writing can help a business writer become better at which writing skills? Check all that apply.

• Being entertaining
• Focusing on the writer's thought process
• Focusing on the concerns of the audience
• Being purposeful

Following a systematic plan for the preparation of an email, memo, letter, or oral presentation will make the composition process easier and will help you create more effective business messages. The writing process for business messages includes prewriting, drafting, and revising.

Which of these are steps involved in the prewriting phase of the writing process? Check all that apply.

• Analyzing
• Anticipating
• Editing
• Researching
• Adapting
• Drafting

The first phase of the writing process is prewriting.

Identify the step in the prewriting process that corresponds with the following description.

You are writing a memo to staff members outlining the solution to a lingering problem. You consider the appropriate tone and word choice to win approval for your solution.

• Analyzing
• Anticipating
• Adapting

Using the 3-x-3 writing process will help you create a message that is more meaningful to your audience.

Choose the appropriate step in the 3-x-3 writing process to complete the sentence.

You gather data on standard hiring practices for a report needed by the HR department. You notice similarities and trends that you would like to highlight. You sit down at your computer and consider how you will order and present the data most persuasively. This is the  of the writing process.

Revising is the third stage of the writing process.

You read through your message and decide whether it achieves your purpose.

• Evaluating
• Proofreading
• Editing

Spending the appropriate amount of time on the writing process is important.

Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentence about the writing process.

Experts suggest that of your time should be spent on the revising phase.