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Effective Business Writing
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| Price: |
$99.00 |
| Business Focus: |
Writing & Publishing |
| Instructor: |
Ann Linquist |
| Course Code: |
ebw |
| Delivery Method: |
Instructor-led Online Course |
| Frequently Asked Questions |
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| Course Overview: |
| Do you have a nagging suspicion that a small improvement in your writing skills might also improve your career prospects? Don't let small gaps in your business writing skills prevent you from reaching your full potential! It doesn't matter whether you're a clerical worker, an engineer, or an executive. If you communicate with others in writing, you need this course to help you identify and eliminate problem areas. By the end of this course, you'll know the secret to developing powerful written documents that immediately draw readers in and keep them motivated to continue until your very last, well-chosen word. |
| Instructor Biography: |
| Ann Linquist is a popular continuing education instructor on college campuses, at corporations, and with non-profit organizations. She has helped hundreds of adults learn to tackle their writing tasks with enthusiasm. Having written everything from novels to newsletters, articles to ad copy, and poetry to proposals, Linquist is able to address the writing needs of each individual. The breadth of her background ensures a powerful, involving learning experience that builds on the strengths of each participant. |
| Course Syllabus: |
| Lesson 1 Syllabus |
In this first lesson, you値l learn a brainstorming technique that will help make writing easier and more fun for you right away. You値l learn how to disentangle the efforts of your creative and critical sides, and you'll come to understand why both sides are important components of good writing. You値l also learn why writing is one of the best problem-solving tools around. |
| Lesson 2 Syllabus |
Here痴 where you値l learn a helpful system for organizing your writing. You値l start by picking out a document you have to write anyway so you can begin to put your knew writing knowledge to use right away. You may as well get some work done while you池e learning, right? Next, you'll nail down why you池e writing this particular document and who your reader is. A second brainstorming technique will help you have fun thinking through these two questions. |
| Lesson 2 Objective |
Be able to brainstorm solutions to a work problem by using the technique of clustering. |
| Lesson 3 Syllabus |
In this lesson, you値l learn to make your readers do what you want. Your readers will be happy, too, since they値l get what they want in this win/win system. You値l learn the seven basic benefits you can offer your reader and how to write the crucial first sentence of your document. You'll learn one more brainstorming technique that will help you capture good ideas, words, and phrases. |
| Lesson 3 Objective |
Be able to use a brainstorming technique called dialoguing to determine what your reader cares about. |
| Lesson 4 Syllabus |
Master seven strategies for putting your ideas in order and learn how poor sequencing can sabotage your efforts. Finally, you値l discover the very best way to end any document. It痴 an idea that may surprise you! |
| Lesson 4 Objective |
Be able to use the brainstorming technique of freewriting to determine what first sentence will motivate your reader to read all you've written. |
| Lesson 5 Syllabus |
Revising, formatting, editing, and proofreading may all sound similar, but they池e four distinct activities. In this lesson, you値l learn how revision is a process of exploration and discovery. You値l learn formatting strategies that will invite your reader in. You値l also learn to be a ruthless editor and professional proofreader. |
| Lesson 5 Objective |
Be able to put a document in an effective sequence and end it by telling your reader what to do next. |
| Lesson 6 Syllabus |
In this lesson, you値l learn how to write clearly and concisely. You値l explore three mistaken notions that lead business writers to use lots of convoluted phrasing and long words. You値l examine the pitfalls of using business clich駸, jammed modifiers, trendy words, jargon, foreign words, redundancies, and hedging adjectives. |
| Lesson 6 Objective |
Be able to revise, format, edit, and proofread your document. |
| Lesson 7 Syllabus |
In the last lesson you learned what words to remove from your document. In this lesson, you'll learn what words you should include to make your business writing more compelling. You値l learn the four parts of the written communication process. You値l find out why the verbs and nouns you choose make a major difference. You値l also learn more ways to make the task of writing more enjoyable for you. |
| Lesson 7 Objective |
Be able to eliminate words that create barriers to communication. |
| Lesson 8 Syllabus |
Today, we'll look at strategies for good spelling and punctuation: Everyone needs this review! To keep it fun, you値l get to deal with the topics of spelling and punctuation by taking some easy quizzes. It痴 a chance to learn by doing. See how good your spelling and punctuation skills really are. You値l learn that punctuation is not a tyranny of rules, but an evolving protocol to help you communicate. Finally, you値l capture your weak areas on a Tips Card. |
| Lesson 8 Objective |
Be able to choose words that help your writing communicate. |
| Lesson 9 Syllabus |
Why do you have to bother with grammar? You値l find out why in this lesson. Take the Grammar Blitz Quiz to discover your grammar strengths and weaknesses. It will help you fill in the gaps that remain after years of boring grammar classes. You値l learn why using the active instead of the passive voice can be a demonstration of your integrity. You値l also explore the traps pronouns set for those of us sensitive to gender issues. |
| Lesson 9 Objective |
Construct a long-term strategy for improving your spelling and punctuation. |
| Lesson 10 Syllabus |
Getting the tone right in business writing can be tricky. In this lesson, you値l get to tackle your worst moods in one more brainstorming technique. You値l learn how to defuse any negative emotions that might get in the way of your problem solving. You値l also learn how your attitude toward your reader, your topic, and your own needs determines your tone. As you go through the lesson, you値l learn two easy ways to eliminate unintentional tone mistakes. |
| Lesson 10 Objective |
Construct a long-term strategy for improving your grammar. |
| Lesson 11 Syllabus |
In today's lesson, you値l learn why being able to say no with grace is a crucial business skill. A five-part format will give you a solid strategy for writing a letter that says no while retaining the goodwill of your reader. You値l learn how to keep bad news letters positive and helpful. |
| Lesson 11 Objective |
Be able to detect errors in tone and correct them. |
| Lesson 12 Syllabus |
All about e-mail: Here痴 an up-to-date review of all the ways e-mail is different from other kinds of business writing. You値l learn tips on how to write e-mail that gets the job done. You値l find out some of pitfalls of using e-mail, including its legal status in court. You値l also discover how to manage the tone of your e-mail so that it doesn稚 accidentally offend your reader. |
| Lesson 12 Objective |
Be able to write a positive letter that says no. |
