Business Writing Techniques

Course details

Course Description:

A simple email or letter can resolve a complex situation. This advanced business writing course emphasizes how a clear and concise message is the key to delivering a powerful message in today's business world.

In this course, we start by outlining good practices in business writing. We then experiment with writing to address complex business scenarios and to deal with difficult people. We explore the particularities and risks associated with business writing for social media platforms. Finally, we describe the interplay between the technical, emotional and political elements of a message.

Course Methodology:
This course leverages a variety of learning tools, including writing activities, story-boarding, controlled experiments and videos. The course also provides the participants with complex situations which require a written intervention.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Write effective emails, memos and letters 
• Apply rules for organizing content in a clear and concise manner 
• Match writing complexity to the modern business environment 
• Apply advanced structuring techniques in writing that yield a desirable response 
• Identify and talk to their reader's interests 
• Write professional business documents that enhance the organizations ;
• Plan, target and structure correspondence for the right ;

Target Competencies:

• Written communication 
• Business writing etiquette 
• Structured thinking 
• Assertiveness 
• Ability to address complex situations 
• Reading between the lines 

Main Topics to Be Covered:
Module 1: Introduction to Business Correspondence

• Needs analysis
• Reasons for writing in your business 
• Your priorities for improvement 
• Types of business writing-an overview

Module 2: Correspondence Types and Samples

• Overview 
• Acceptance Letters 
• Acknowledgment Letters 
• Adjustment Letters 
• Application Letters 
• Complaint Letters 
• Correspondence 
• Electronic Mail 
• Inquiry Letters and Responses 
• International Correspondence 
• Memorandums 
• Refusal Letters 
• Transmittal Letters 

Module 3: Advanced techniques for effective writing

• Defining effective writing 
• Characteristics of effective writers 
• Understanding the hallmarks of effective communicators 
• Elements of written communication 
• Writing in a business context 
• Understanding your audience 
• Setting a purpose for your writing 
• Understanding sources of miscommunication 
• Tips for business writing 

Module 4: Organizing content

• The 3 forms of communication 
• Using simple and specific language to avoid confusion 
• Using positive language 
• Applying rules for bullet points 
• Maintaining an impersonal style 
• Avoiding repetitions 
• Using active verbs to promote a response 

Module 5: Writing style

• Adding a personal touch to business writing 
• Organizing paragraphs effectively 
• Using varied sentences 
• The 6 Cs of effective writing 
• Recognizing clichés and jargon 
• Applying the gunning fox index for writing complexity 
• Using visual aids to support text 
• Going the last inch: proof reading your work 

Module 6: Logical sequencing of ideas

• Building your key message 
• Organizing the introduction, body and ending 
• Structuring ideas from the bottom up 
• Refining the flow from the top down 
• Drawing impeccable conclusions 
• Summarizing ideas effectively 

Module 7: Practice writing

• Analysis of model format; analysis of model short report; 
• Standard phrases used in a report; a gap-fill task 
• Controlled practice of standard phrases for use in a report 
• Drafting and redrafting  
• Analyzing the layout and language of own draft report 

Module 8: Appendixes

• Forms of Address  
• Glossary of Business Correspondence Expressions  
• Punctuation  
• Irregular Verbs 
• Abbreviations  
• Commonly Confused Words 
• Commonly Misspelled Words 

Module 9: Responding to complex situations through writing

• Building rapport with your audience
• Managing expectations: responding to bad news
• Managing expectations: saying no
• Effectively handing difficult individuals
• Hostile: responding assertively 
• Pessimist: sticking to facts 
• Nagger: setting the rules 
• Mr. Know-it-all: staying focused 
• Egoist: getting descriptive 
• Manipulator: taking the initiative

Updated on 11 December, 2023