Business writing

A typical 1- or 2-page essay/paper may have 5 (4-6) paragraphs, and it may have the following structure:

Paragraph 1: introduction Paragraph 2: body 1 Paragraph 3: body 2 Paragraph 4: body 3 Paragraph 5: conclusion

A popular essay structure

Paragraph is the working unit of the writer. For the body of the essay/paper, writers

should develop only one main idea per paragraph.

Each main idea can be stated in a topic sentence.

In a business setting, the topic sentence should often be the first sentence of the paragraph.

Paragraph=main idea

After establishing the topic sentence, supporting materials that amplify and clarify the main idea are added to complete the paragraph.

These supporting materials can be examples, comparisons, logic, analogies, evidence, etc.

Inversed triangle.

Complete a paragraph

A short introduction may be appropriate when the essay is short (say, 1 page).

When you want to have a short introduction, the introduction should have 2 components: (1) some general statement(s) and perhaps background about the paper, and (2) a thesis sentence.

Introduction

On King p. 33, we have a short template:  (Truth be told,) _____ has generated a lot of

{interest, controversy, discussion} {lately, recently, in recent years, in recent time}. The major {topic(s), issue(s), point(s)} that I will address in this {essay, paper, article} {is, are}: __X__.

X is a list of topics that will be discussed in the body (e.g., body 1, body 2, and perhaps body 3).

An introduction template

Example: (Truth be told,) the popularity of studying business in the U.S. among Chinese students has generated a lot of discussion in recent years. The major points that I will address in this article are: the rise of Chinese economic power, strong demand of high-quality business managers in China, and the quality of business education in the U.S.

Question: Why do Chinese Students come to the U.S. to study business?

For this example, the 2nd sentence tells the reader what the arguments of the essay are; i.e., the thesis sentence.

The main idea in body 1 (2nd paragraph) is about the rise of Chinese economic power.

The main idea in body 2 (3rd paragraph) is about the demand of human capital in China.

The main idea in body 3 (4th paragraph) is about the quality of education in the U.S.

Structure

Now you see the difference between the typical Asian writing and the typical American writing.

In Asia you tend to write whatever comes to your mind. In the U.S. everything (all the main ideas) tend to be stated at the beginning.

Show me the money!

Difference in writing

Another possible short template is as follows.

  With __X__, it is imperative that ______.

The major {topic(s), issue(s), point(s)} that I will address in this {essay, paper, article} {is, are}: ____.

Here X is a phenomenon.

Another short introduction template

Example: With the globalization of the world economy, it is imperative that business students be sensitive to differences in intercultural communication. The major points that I will address in this paper are: aspects of cultural shock, translation problems, and global etiquette.

Question: Why do we need to study intercultural business communication?

Now you know that this introduction is followed by 3 paragraphs, each dealing with cultural shock, translation, and etiquette.

I obtained the 1st sentence of this template from the foreword of the IBC textbook.

Can you create your own template in a similar way?

Create your own template

Article: “How Boards Deal With Lazy Directors.”

Task: Write a summary/digest (about 1-2 pages, 4-5 paragraphs) for your company’s newsletter.

Here, let’s write the introduction.

Let’s do some writing

King p. 96. The main point {here, in X’s article/paper} is

that ___(main idea #1)___. In addition, I {wish, want} to {point out,

note} that ___(main idea #2)___. Furthermore, of particular interest is the

fact that ___(main idea #3)___. Also {of importance, noteworthy} is the fact

that ___(main idea #4)___. The final {fact, point, feature} that I would

note is that ___(main idea #5)___.

Another summary template

Riol (read it out loud) (p. 97, the 2nd paragraph): “The main point here is that…”

Personally, I do not like the first paragraph. I will write it as follows (source: Wikipedia).

The main point here is that there are some types of sex determination on the earth. It depends on the species. Most sexual organisms have two sexes. In many cases, sex determination is genetic. In other cases, sex is determined by environmental variables or social variables.

Example

When you write a longer essay that calls for a longer introduction, the introduction may have 3 components:

(1) some general statement(s) and perhaps background about the paper,

(2) a thesis sentence, and (3) a roadmap of where the paper is going.

A longer introduction

With __X__, it is imperative that ______. This {paper, essay, article} {addresses, examines, analyzes, details, focuses on} __Y__ aspects of _____. It {questions, examines, argues, addresses, challenges, suggests, points out, introduces} first _____. Then it {focuses on, points out, notes, questions, examines, argues, addresses, challenges, suggests, introduces, discusses} _____. It {contents, argues, examines, questions, challenges, suggests}, further, ____. It concludes {that, with some comments on, with some thoughts on,} _____.

A longer introduction template

Example: With the globalization of the world economy, it is imperative that business students be sensitive to differences in intercultural communication. This paper focuses on three aspects of intercultural business communication. It points out first why cultural shock occurs in a business setting. Then it introduces a variety of translation problems. It discusses, further, the complexity of global etiquette. It concludes with some thoughts on other aspects of intercultural business communication.

A longer introduction example

Templates are suited to introductions and conclusions because the function of each of these is clear and distinct.

In contrast, the body of the paper is quite dependent on the content of the paper.

Thus, universal templates for the body paragraphs cannot be easily established.

A good way to write the body paragraphs is to simply establish the main idea in the 1st sentence. Then supporting materials follow. See the example on King p. 97.

Body

Example: Culture shock is a common problem in intercultural business communication because understanding foreign culture is difficult. In a survey of 200 managers who has traveled or lived abroad, the greatest degree of cultural shock was reported in the lack of modern conveniences. Failing to adapt to another culture’s way of life is not only frustrating, but also costly. It is well known that cultural shock can be very costly to a firm because it often results in the premature return of U.S. businesspeople working overseas.

2nd paragraph (from IBC)

Article: “How Boards Deal With Lazy Directors.”

Task: Write a summary/digest (about 1-2 pages, 4-5 paragraphs) for your company’s newsletter.

Here, let’s write the body.

Let’s write some more

The conclusion paragraph can briefly restate the thesis, extend the thesis to other contexts, ask an interesting/provocative question, or discuss the limitations of your analyses and point the way for future writing on the subject.

Conclusion

To recapitulate, this {exposition, analysis, paper, summary, report} {discussed, examined, investigated} __Y__ aspects of __X___: _____, and _____ . of _____. Obviously, not every issue related to __X___ has been {discussed, examined, investigated, undertaken}. Of further interest in this regard is _____.

A conclusion template

Example: To recapitulate, this report discussed three aspects of intercultural business communication: aspects of cultural shock, translation problems, and global etiquette. Obviously, not every issue related to intercultural business communication has been examined. Of further interest in this regard is how attitudes toward time vary from culture to culture.

Question: Why do we need to study intercultural business communication?

Article: “How Boards Deal With Lazy Directors.”

Task: Write a summary/digest (about 1-2 pages, 4-5 paragraphs) for your company’s newsletter.

Here, let’s write the conclusion.

Let’s write some more