This course gives you all you need to know when writing for business purposes. Below you’ll see in detail the different topics to be studied.
Lesson 1:
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION:
· Format and layout of business documents. Dates, salutation, body of the letter, complimentary close. Abbreviations, times and numbers, memos
· Brief introduction to levels of formality - tone
· Writing emails
· Written exercises (to be prepared from home). Exercises always include exercises relating to the topic of the lesson and grammar
Lesson 2:
PLANNING BUSINESS MESSAGES
· Understanding the three-step writing process
· Analyzing the situation (defining your purpose/developing an audience profile)
· Gathering information (uncovering audience needs)
· Organizing your information
· Exercises (to be prepared from home)
Lesson 3:
WRITING BUSINESS MESSAGES
· Adapting to your audience: Being sensitive to audience needs
· Adapting to your audience: Building strong relationships by establishing your credibility. Projecting your company’s image
· Adapting to your audience: Controlling your style and tone
· Composing your message: Choosing powerful words
· Composing your message: Creating effective sentences
· Composing your message: Crafting unified coherent paragraphs
· Using technology to compose and shape your messages
· Exercises (to be prepared from home)
Lesson 4:
COMPLETING BUSINESS MESSAGES
· Revising your message: Evaluating the first draft
· Revising to improve readability
· Editing for clarity and conciseness
· Producing your message
· Distributing your message
· Exercises (to be prepared from home)
Lesson 5:
WRITING ROUTINE AND POSITIVE MESSAGES
· Strategy for routine requests
· Common examples of routine requests
· Strategy for routine and positive messages
· Common examples of routine and positive messages
· Exercises (to be prepared from home)
Lesson 6:
WRITING NEGATIVE MESSAGES
· Using the three-step writing process for negative message:
Step 1: Planning a negative message
Step 2: Writing a negative message
Step 3: Completing a negative message
· Using the direct approach for negative messages
· Using the indirect approach for negative messages
· Maintaining high standards of ethics and etiquette
· Sending negative messages on routine business matters
Making negative announcements on routine business matters
Rejecting suggestions and proposals
Refusing routine requests
Handling bad news about transactions
· Sending negative employment messages
Refusing requests for employee references and recommendation letters
Refusing social networking recommendation requests
Rejecting job applications
Giving negative performance reviews
Terminating employment
· Exercises (to be prepared from home)
Lesson 7:
WRITING PERSUASIVE MESSAGES
· Using the three-step writing process for persuasive messages
· Developing persuasive business messages
Strategies for persuasive business messages
Avoiding common mistakes in persuasive communication
Common examples of persuasive business messages
· How language can be used to persuade
· Developing marketing and sales messages
· Exercises (to be prepared from home
Lesson 8:
PLANNING REPORTS AND PROPOSALS
· Applying the three-step writing process to reports and proposals
Analyzing the situation
Gathering information
Selecting the right medium
Organizing your information
· Supporting your messages with reliable information
· Planning informational reports
· Planning analytical reports
· Planning proposals
· Exercises (to be prepared from home)
Lesson 9:
WRITING REPORTS AND PROPOSALS
· Composing reports and proposals
· Completing reports and proposals
· Producing formal reports
· Exercises (to be prepared from home)
Lesson 10:
MEETINGS – CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
· Notice and agenda
· Minutes of a meeting
· How to write an executive summary
· Short introduction to cross-cultural communication
· Exercises (to be prepared from home)
We will also take a look at some of the differences between British and American English.