Effective Business Writing Online

Pre-course Questionnaire

Please answer the questions below. When you are finished, click on the Submit Button to email the questionnaire to me. 

Name: 

e-mail Address:

The following questions are designed to aid us in preparing materials and activities for the business writing workshop.  Please answer each question as frankly as you can and offer explanations where they may be necessary. 

1. When I complete a writing task I am satisfied with my work  (its clarity, presentation, and correctness). 

Yes
No 

2. When I must do some writing, 

I get started right away.
I think about it for a while before I start.
I put it off until the last minute.
None of these apply. Here's what I do.

3. When I am stuck on a writing problem (check all that apply). 

I take a walk and think about it. 
I change my mind about what I want to say. 
I think about/do something else. 
I ask a colleague what he or she would do. 
I try to rewrite it several ways until I find one that works. 
I become very frustrated and drop the whole thing. 
I never get stuck. 
(or write your own answer below).

 

4. When I have written a draft, 

I put it aside until I can review it more objectively. 
I review it immediately and then have it typed. 
I ask a colleague to look it over. 
I give it to my secretary to correct the punctuation and grammar. 

5. When my written work is discussed at a meeting, 

I feel very confident about it.
I am moderately confident about it. 
I have no particular feelings about it. 
I dread it. 

6. When I read something that a colleague has written, I notice errors in spelling, punctuation, and usage. 

Always. 
Sometimes. 
Never. 

7. When I write a memo or report, I 

can visualize someone reading it. 
don't know who will read it. 
don't think it matters if someone reads it. 

8. When I read something I have written, 

it reminds me of myself when I speak. 
it sounds better than when I speak. 
it sounds like someone I've never met. 
it makes me unhappy. 

9. When I write a memo or report, I 

know just what I want to say before I get started. 
find out what I want to say as I write. 
am never quite sure of what I want to say. 

10. In my job, I write 

frequently.
occasionally.
seldom. 

11. Most of the writing I do 

is initiated by myself.
is initiated by someone else. 

12. Most of the writing I do 

is an individual effort.
is part of a team effort. 

13. Most of the writing I do 

is read by one person. 
is read by people in my department. 
is read by people throughout the organization. 
is read by  people outside the organization. 

14. Describe your strengths and weaknesses as a writer: 

15. In two or three sentences comment on what you would like to accomplish in this writing workshop: 

Please click below to send this to Gloria.