Brilliant Business Writing and Communication

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. Students will produce a pre-course assignment for personal instructor feedback. 2. During each lesson, students will evaluate their writing through practice exercises. 3. Throughout the course, students may submit their on-the-job correspondence for instructor feedback. 4. After the final lesson, students will take a final exam. Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 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 will learn how to approach writing, understanding its role in the larger arena of business communication. 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"). Grammar, part two We will continue where we left off, focusing on punctuation mistakes and distinguishing between the plural and the possessive. Clarity and precision In week four, we will learn some techniques for ensuring clear writing, discussing sentence structure and word choices. 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 will also discuss individual writing styles: when they are appropriate, and how to use them to enhance an otherwise dull piece of writing. 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 will discuss the challenges of e-mail communication, learning how to avoid misunderstandings and clear them up when they happen. Contact Hours: 24