COURSE DESCRIPTION
Meet the challenge of writing business correspondence! Business Writing program gives you the skills you need to write and edit all types of documents. In today’s business climate, organizations are facing fluctuating economic trends…reductions in staff…budget cuts. The result? There’s more work to do in less time, money and people to get the job done. Your boss needs you to shoulder more responsibility…to actually compose business documents. Business Writing for Administrative Professionals is designed for this purpose. Does your boss feel comfortable turning to you with writing assignments? And, once the project is yours, how do you get started? How do you gain the confidence to stare down the blank page? Is your grammar up to snuff? What’s the right tone for your business correspondence?
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs)
On completion of this course, participants are expected to be able to:
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- Master the principles of good grammar and punctuation
- Organize and write memos, minutes and procedures
- Confidently write using appropriate style and tone
- Learn how to write effective emails
- Understand the entire writing process
- Write effective letters for all occasions
- Write ethical, reliable, and informative research papers and be able to evaluate and analyze the work of others in an unbiased manner.
Course Outline:
Why Write?
Many people feel that writing is a burden or something they should be able to delegate. This session will help participants identify the value of writing.
The Four C’s
During the morning of Day One, you will discuss four of the C’s of writing with participants: clear, concise, complete, and correct. Participants will practice each C through writing exercises.
Word Agreement
During this session, participants will explore word agreement through a brief lecturette and a writing exercise.
Active and Passive Voice
Most people prefer to read writing that is in the active voice. We will discuss and practice both voices during this session.
Sentences and Sentence Types
This session will discuss the structure of sentences and paragraphs. Then, participants will apply this knowledge to a writing exercise.
Grammar and Writing Mechanics
This session will outline seven easy ways to help participants simplify their writing and ensure their grammar is correct. Participants will also take a close look at the proper length of paragraphs, what a paragraph should contain, and how to order paragraphs.
Readability Index
The Gunning Fog Index, also called the readability index, determines the difficulty level of a written piece. Participants will apply the index to a sample and to their own work.
The Fifth C
Courtesy is an important principle of good business writing. During this session, participants will examine and rank several business letters, helping them explore their own style and preference.
Practical Language
It is important to use words that best reflect what you are trying to say. In this session, we will examine some common dilemmas (such as fewer vs. less) and suggested solutions.
Inclusive Language
Another key part of writing is political correctness. Participants will have an opportunity to re-write some exclusive terms to make them inclusive.
Sentence Construction
The two basic rules for constructing sentences are: use construction that makes meaning clear and keep construction parallel. Participants will re-write sentences that don’t follow these rules.
Punctuation
During this session, participants will work in teams to develop a series of test questions for other teams. We have included some key points that you can use to debrief the test.
Writing Business Letters
This session begins with three lecturettes on the steps for writing a business letter, types of letters, and the parts of a business letter. Participants will then examine samples of business letters to determine the type and the parts of the letter.
Reports
Many people find writing business reports very difficult. This session will look at business reports in-depth using a lecture and a small group exercise.
Spelling and Proofreading
Proofreading carelessly can spoil a writer’s best efforts. This session will help participants identify common spelling errors and practice their proofreading skills.
Writing Memos
Memos are another challenge that many writers face. We will examine memos through a brief lecture and a fun exercise.
E-mail Etiquette
These days, e-mail has become a universal method of communication. However, there are many questions of etiquette and few answers. This session will discuss some common dilemmas and our recommended answers.
Writing Challenges
To wrap up the workshop, participants will work in small groups to identify their biggest challenges and some possible solutions.
Textbook:
Business English: Writing in the Workplace, 4th Edition
Blanche Ettinger, Educational Director, Bronx Community College of CUNY
Edda L. Perfetto, Educational Director, Educational Consultant
Link: https://www.pearson.com/us/higher-education/program/Ettinger-Business-English-Writing-in-the-Workplace-4th-Edition/PGM13278.html
Feedback Given to Participants in Response to Assessed Work
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- Individual written feedback on coursework
- Feedback discussed as part of a tutorial
- Individual feedback on request
- Model answers
Developmental Feedback Generated Through Teaching Activities
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- Feedback is given at presentations and during tutorial sessions
- Dialogue between participants and staff in tutorials and lectures
GRADING AND SCORING
The course grade will be based on a final project presented by the participant and graded by the instructor. Participants much achieve a passing grade of 70% or more to be awarded a certificate of completion of the course.
