LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• The value of good written communication
• How to write and proofread your work so it is clear, concise, complete, and correct
• How to apply these skills in real world situations
• The proper format for memos, letters, and e-mails
• Produce documents which are clear, effective and professional

COURSE OVERVIEW & CONTENT:

“Good writing is clear thinking made visible.” – William Wheeler

We all know what good writing is. It’s the novel we can’t put down, the poem we never forgot, and the speech that changes the way we look at the world. Good writing is the memo that gets action and the letter that says what a phone call can’t.

In business writing, the language is concrete, the point of view is clear, and the points are well expressed. Good writing is hard work, and even the best writers get discouraged. However, with practice you can feel more confident about your own writing. This two-day workshop will give participants the tools to become better writers.

This workshop will give you a refresher on basic writing concepts (such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and cover the most common business documents.

Why Write?

• The Value of Writing

The Four C’s

• Writing Clearly
• The C’s Of Writing:
  • Clear
    • Writing Clearly
    • Individual Exercise
  • Concise
    • Be Concise
    • Writing Concisely
    • Rewriting Exercises
  • Complete
    • Be Complete
    • Making Your Writing Complete
    • Interview Exercise
  • Correct
    • Individual Exercise
• Practice Each C Through Writing

Word Agreement

• Making Words Agree
• Rewriting Exercises

Active and Passive Voice

• Writing that is in the Active Voice

Sentences and Sentence Types

• The Structure of Sentences and Paragraphs
• Individual Exercise

Readability Index

• About the Index
• Using the Index

Manners and Courtesy

• Courtesy
• Examine and Rank Business Letters
• What’s My Style?

Practical Language

• The Importance of using Words that Best Reflect What you are Trying to Say
• Common Dilemmas (Such As Fewer Vs. Less)
• Suggested Solutions

Inclusive Language

• Key Part of Writing is Political Correctness
• Re-Write Exclusive Terms to Make Them Inclusive

Sentence Construction

• The Two Basic Rules For Constructing Sentences:
  • Use Construction That Makes Meaning Clear
  • Keep Construction Parallel
• Re-Write Sentences That Don’t Follow These Rules

Punctuation

• Introduction
• Test Preparation

Writing Business Letters

• Steps to Writing Business Letters
• Types of Letters
• Parts of a Business Letter
• Types of Letters
• Dissecting Letters
  • Determine the Type and the Parts of Each Letter

Writing Effective E-mails

• E-mail Basics
• Writing Effective E-Mails
• Managing E-Mail
• E-mail at Work

Spelling and Proofreading

• Common Spelling Errors
• Spelling Tips
• Proofreading Tips
• Practice Proofreading Skills

Reviewing Your Writing

• Checklist to Ensure Each Document is the Best That They Can Do

Writing Challenges

• The Ten Most Common Writing Challenges

COURSE DURATION: TWO DAYS