Brilliant Business Writing and Communication

Brilliant Business Writing and Communication

Full Description

What does a business letter say about your company? What does a memo say about you? Countless business professionals are not trained writers, yet they’re expected to write every day, producing letters, proposals, and e-mail messages that communicate a great deal about themselves and their employers. Many don’t feel comfortable writing, and worry that the impression they’re making on clients and coworkers is anything but positive. It’s time to change all that. Designed explicitly for people in the business world, this course guides students through the principles and practices of effective communication. Students learn about writing approaches, grammar, clarity, precision, style, and more, while also understanding the relationship between writing, spoken communications, and overall business relations. Practical lessons draw from real-world business situations that professionals face every day, and a special section on e-mail communication addresses the challenges of using this new medium. The course is written in a lively, down-to-earth style that’s focused explicitly on the most common issues and questions that business professionals face in the workplace. Examples, exercises, and quizzes all help students master their new knowledge, and getting instructor help is only an e-mail away!

Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: A. Understand the principles of communication and writing. B. Identify the objective of a piece of writing and choose an appropriate writing structure and style. B. Differentiate a complete sentence from a fragment. C. Identify direct and indirect objects. D. Determine which case to use in a given situation (“I” or “me,” “who” or “whom”). E. Identify and correct misplaced modifiers. F. Choose proper punctuation. G. Differentiate between the plural and the possessive. H. Choose correct words and express themselves more accurately. I. Organize their writing logically. J. Understand the benefits and potential dangers of using a unique writing style. K. Avoid and solve problems resulting from e-mail miscommunication.

Assessment:

1. After each lesson, students will produce a project or take a multiple-choice quiz. 2. After the final lesson, students will take a multiple-choice exam. 3. If desired, students may submit a piece of writing for feedback.

Week 1 Week One: The principles of writing and communication
Our goal of the first week is to take a step back from the practice of writing and look at its purpose instead. We’ll learn how to approach writing, understanding its role in the larger arena of business communication. Week 2 Week Two: Grammar, part one
Grammar uncertainty plagues many business professionals -- let’s end it now! Lesson two teaches important grammatical rules, focusing on problems that regularly occur in the business world, such as incomplete sentences and pronoun confusion (“I” vs. “me,” “who” vs. “whom”). Week 3 Week Three: Grammar, part two
We’ll continue where we left off, focusing on punctuation mistakes and distinguishing between the plural and the possessive. Week 4 Week Four: Clarity and precision
In week four, we’ll learn some techniques for ensuring clear writing, discussing sentence structure and word choices. Week 5 Week Five: Style and logic
Week five is about the finer points of writing. Students will learn how to organize their writing logically to ensure the greatest clarity and impact. We’ll also discuss individual writing styles: when they are appropriate, and how to use them to enhance an otherwise dull piece of writing. Week 6 Week Six: E-mail
Though writing effective e-mail requires knowledge of grammar and clarity just like any other piece of writing does, e-mail is unlike any other medium. We’ll discuss the challenges of e-mail communication, learning how to avoid misunderstandings and clear them up when they happen.

Contact Hours: 2