online business writing class

7/27/2019 Online Business Writing Class

1/25


2/25

I hear and I forget.

I see and I remember.I do and I understand.

-Confucius


3/25

Learning Objectives

The participant will be able to:

Plan an effective business document.

Organize business documents for maximum impact.

Describe common grammar errors and how to fix

them.

Identify tools to help edit and proofread documents.

Review the dos and donts of email writing.


4/25

The Business Writing Process

Planning Stage

Organizing Stage

Writing Stage

Re-writing Stage

Celebration Stage


5/25

Planning

Step One: Know your audience

Step Two: Know your subject


6/25

Organization

Organize your clutter

Mind map

Outline

Order of importance

Pro vs. Con

Cause and effect

Chronologically

Dont lose your organization when you write your

document.


7/25

Mind Mapping


8/25

Style

1. Clear language

Example in handout

2. Be Brief Example in handout

3. Sentence length

Example in PowerPoint


9/25

Sentence Length

Now if nature should intermit her course and leave altogether, thoughit were but for awhile, the observation of her own laws; if thoseprincipal and mother elements of the world, whereof all things in thislower world are made, should lose the qalities which now they have;if the frame of that heavenly arch erected over our heads should

loosen and dissolve itself; if celestial spheres should forget theirwonted motions, and by irregular volubility turn themselves any wayas it might happen; if the prince of the lights of heaven which now asa giant doth run his unwearied course, should, as it were through alanguishing faintness, begin to stand and to rest himself; if the moonshould wander from her beaten way, the times and seasons of theyear blend themselves by disordered and confused mixture, the winds

breathe out their last gasp, the clouds yield no rain, the earth bedefeated of heavenly influence, the fruits of the earth pine away aschildren at the withered breasts of their mother no longer able toyield them relief what would become of man himself, whom thesethings now do all serve?

from Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity; Thomas Hooker, father of American democracy and founder of Hartford,

Connecticut


10/25

Style

1. Clear language

Example in handout

2. Be Brief

Example in handout

3. Sentence length

Example in PowerPoint

4. Formatting Example in PowerPoint


11/25


12/25


13/25

Style Practice

Seek to improve:

Clarity

Brevity

Sentence Length


14/25

Grammar

Parallel Structure

Passive vs. Active voice

Examine your own writing for your common

grammar errors


15/25

Parallel structure

Definition: writing expressions similar in content andfunction in similar forms.

Not Parallel:

The article will discuss:

1. How to deal with corporate politics.

2. Coping with stressful situations.

3. What the role of the manager

should be in the community.

Parallel:

The article will tell managers how to:

1. Dealwith corporate politics.

2. Cope with stressful situation.

3. Function in the community.


16/25

Passive vs. Active Voice

Examples:

About a dozen people reviewed the report in draft form.

(subject) (verb) (object)

(actor) (action) (thing acted upon)

The report was reviewed in draft form by about a dozen people.(subject) (verb)

(thing acted (action) (actor)

upon)


17/25


Passive: Our research has been supported by the

previous data. (9)

Active: The previous data supports our research. (6)

Passive: The exam was failed by half of the

accounting majors in the room. (13)

Active: Half of the accounting majors in the room

failed the exam. (11)


18/25


The accident injured her

You will be replaced

Someone was following me

They could have been told


19/25

Editing

Using the rules of the English language

Use the Gregg manual, Strunk and White as resources

for grammar and style problems.

Find the errors you make most frequently and the

questions on this and page 11 in your handout to create

your own editing checklist

For content

Is the document what was requested?

Is the document logically organized?

Is there anything missing?

Is the document clear and concise?

Have all potential objections (by the reader) been

addressed?


20/25

Proofreading

To make sure things look right:

Backwards read

Against the original (form letter)

Forward- line by line

Trouble spots

Read aloud


21/25

Whats Wrong Here?


22/25


23/25


24/25


25/25

ClassesYouValue- Online Business Writing Class

Phone: 702-446-0285

Website:http://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.html
http://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.htmlhttp://www.classesyouvalue.com/Kymberly-Williams-Evans/Write-To-Be-Read.html

online business writing class

Documents