The major differences between the direct and indirect strategies are whether you start with a buffer and a. whether you apologize b. whether you address the reader by name c. whether you accept blame for the bad news d. how early you explain the reasons for the negative news

I would say that the major differences between the direct and indirect strategies are whether you start with a buffer and how early you explain the reasons for the negative news. The correct answer is d.

Explanation:

I choose d because the difference in making a direct or indirect strategy is how soon you tell the bad news. In an indirect method, you approach the negative news with a positive buffer statement before. This buffer statement is supposed to cushion the bad news. It is a kind way of telling someone something you know is going to hurt him/her. This method is expected to cushion the impact or even reduce the severity of the message.

d. how early you explain the reasons for the negative news

Explanation:

"The primary difference between the two strategies is where the main idea is placed. In the direct strategy, the main idea comes first. In the ndirect strategy, the main idea follows the details, explanation and evidence. The strategy you select is determined by how you extect the audience to react to the message."

Reference: Guffey, M. E., & Loewy, D. (2010). Business communication: Process and product. Cengage Learning. p. 156

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