Effective communication requires the ability to express your thoughts verbally and in writing. Verbal communication can be more informal and allows for you to correct yourself as you talk. Written communication requires some planning, thought and review prior to sending the message.

Business writing is different from creative writing. It requires a diligent attention to rules of grammar, punctuation and spelling. It also requires the ability to analyze the issue and synthesize it into clear and concise words.

Course Content

In this course, we will learn how to write business documents. First, we will review the basics of good writing and how to avoid common mistakes::

• Rules of Grammar, punctuation, spelling and word choice
• Avoiding the passive voice, wordiness and redundancy
• Editing for maximum impact
• Avoiding jargon, cliches, euphemisms, slang, and sexist language

Secondly, we will review how to write an effective business document.

• Four Steps for Creating a Business Document
• Persuasive Writing
• Guidelines for Customer Correspondence
• E-Mail Rules

Audience:

All employees could benefit from this module, particularly those that are writing customer correspondence and other documentation. The major objective is to refresh participants on the rules of correct writing, and to learn techniques for constructing documents, letters, and reports that are clear and concise.

Timing:

This module can be presented with a minimum of four hours.

Exercises:

• Self Assessment: Writing Skills
• Exercise: Identify parts of speech
• Exercise: Simplify sentence structure.
• Team Exercise: Insert punctuation
• Exercise: Commonly misspelled and misused words
• Editing Exercise
• Outlining a Document
• Organizing your thoughts
• Preparing persuasive letters
• Application exercise: Use format to create business document
• Summary and action items