Purpose
Name the core purposes of writing.
persuade, inform, or entertain.
What does tone describe in writing?
Tone describes the writer’s attitude toward the subject or audience.
What appeal focuses on emotion?
Pathos
What document is used to persuade an employer to interview you?
resume
What parts must every complete sentence have?
Subject + Verb + Complete Thought (independent clause)
Which purpose of writing focuses on facts and information?
Inform
Which audience analysis looks at age, job, or background?
Demographic analysis
What are the three parts of the rhetorical triangle?
Ethos, pathos, logos
What should resume bullet points usually start with?
Action verbs
What is a sentence called that lacks a complete thought?
fragment
A resume and a cover letter primarily serve which purpose of writing?
Persuade — resumes and cover letters aim to convince an employer to interview or hire you.
You’re emailing a principal — which tone is most appropriate and why?
A professional, respectful tone is most appropriate because you are communicating with someone in authority.
An emotional story about a struggling customer appeals to which rhetorical strategy?
Pathos
Why do employers prefer resumes with headings and bullet points?
Because employers scan quickly, headings and bullet points help key information stand out.
What is the grammatical problem with this message and why: “Because the system crashed.”
It is a fragment and unclear because it does not state a complete idea (dependent clause).
Explain why reading level matters in workplace writing and what happens if it’s ignored.
Reading level matters because writing must be understandable to its audience. If it’s too complex, the message may be misunderstood, ignored, or misinterpreted.
An audience is tired and scanning — what should the writer prioritize and why?
Writers should prioritize clear structure, short paragraphs, and direct wording because tired or scanning readers look for key information quickly.
Which appeal is strongest when presenting data in a report, and why?
Logos
What should not be included in a cover letter, and why does it hurt credibility?
Friend gossip or irrelevant personal details — they reduce professionalism and damage credibility.
Revise this sentence for clarity and accountability: “The deadline was missed by the team.”
The team missed the deadline.
According to an often-cited Carnegie Foundation study, approximately what percentage of long-term workplace success is attributed to communication and interpersonal skills compared to technical skills?
A. 25%
B. 50%
C. 65%
D. 85%
85%
A parent is upset about a missing assignment. Explain the best tone for your response and why.
The best tone is calm, professional, and empathetic to de-escalate the situation and maintain trust.
Compare ethos and logos: when would one be more effective than the other?
Ethos is more effective when credibility or trust matters, while logos is stronger when data, reasoning, or evidence is needed to convince the audience
A cover letter sounds generic. What key mistake caused this, and how do you fix it?
The letter sounds generic because it lacks company-specific research. Fix it by referencing the company’s mission, values, or role requirements.
Explain why pronoun ambiguity is dangerous in professional writing.
Pronoun ambiguity is dangerous because it causes confusion about who did what.