Assignment 11

Confirming pages

Module 5 Designing Documents, Slides, and Screens 85

Evaluate the following drafts of PowerPoint slides.

• Is the background appropriate for the topic? • Do the slides use words or phrases rather than complete

sentences?

• Is the font big enough to read from a distance? • Is the art relevant and appropriate? • Is each slide free from errors?

5.13 Evaluating PowerPoint Slides (LO 5-2)

a.

1 2

3 4

b.

1 2

3 4

loc03261_ch05_073-088.indd 85loc03261_ch05_073-088.indd 85 19/12/12 5:08 PM19/12/12 5:08 PM

Confirming pages

86 Unit One Building Blocks for Effective Messages

c.

1 2

3 4

Compare three web pages in the same category (for exam- ple, nonprofit organizations, car companies, university departments, sports information). Which page(s) are most effective? Why? What weaknesses do the pages have?

As Your Instructor Directs,

a. Discuss the pages with a small group of classmates. b. Write a memo to your instructor evaluating the pages.

Include URLs of the pages in your memo.

c. In an oral presentation to the class, explain what makes one page good and another one weak. If possible, put the pages on screen so that classmates can see the pages as you evaluate them.

d. Post your evaluation of the pages in an e-mail message to the class. Include hot links to the pages you evaluate.

5.14 Evaluating Web Pages (LO 5-3)

Verbs have “voice”: active and passive voice. Business communica- tion generally prefers active voice because it is shorter and clearer.

A verb is active if the grammatical subject acts. Passive voice occurs when the subject is acted upon by someone or something else.

Active: The man bought grapes at the store. Passive: The grapes were bought by the man at the store.

In the active voice, the subject— the man —is doing the action— bought. In the passive version, the grapes is the subject, yet it is the man, not the grapes, that is actually doing the action. It is harder for the reader to follow who or what did the action. In addition, it takes more words to convey the same idea.

To change a passive voice construction into the active voice, start by identifying who or what is doing the action. If no agent (“by _____ ”) is present in the sentence, you will need to supply it. A passive verb is usually accompanied by a helping verb, such as is, are, or were. Rewrite the sentence by putting the actor in the role of subject and dropping the helping verb:

Passive: The plan was approved by our clients. Active: Our clients approved the plan. Passive: PowerPoint slides have been created. Active: Susan created the PowerPoint slides. Passive: It is desired that you back up your work daily. Active: Back up your work daily.

Active and Passive Voice

Polishing Your Prose

loc03261_ch05_073-088.indd 86loc03261_ch05_073-088.indd 86 19/12/12 5:08 PM19/12/12 5:08 PM