OTSBW001 BUSINESS WRITING Communication

Overview

Clarity is the most important characteristic of     good business writing and the key to ensure messages are understood, and     appropriate actions taken. In a     modern work environment, this largely includes emails, but could also     effective business writing in memoranda, faxes, letters, minutes,     procedures and reports. All have their own format, style and approach.

In this course, participants will develop a     sense of how purpose, audience, and content affects writers’ and readers’     perceptions of written documents.

Objectives

By the end of this course successful     participants will be able to:

· Plan, prepare and write business     documents with increased confidence

· Use tools and techniques for writing     success

· Select appropriate tone and style to     gain cooperation and appreciation

· Ensure documents are structured and     presented professionally

· Edit documents for the modern business     environment

Training     techniques

A variety of training techniques will be     used including:

· Experiential     learning

· Case     studies

· Group     learning and discussion

· Individual     challenges

· Collaborative     and competitive tasks

· Training     videos

· Role     plays and simulations

Resources

Participants will each receive the     following materials:

· Course     workbook

· Recommended     resources

Course content

Day 1

English     basics

· The parts of speech

· Tenses

· Punctuation

· Articles

· Writing numbers

· Commonly confused words

· US versus UK English

Business     writing principles

· The ABC of business writing

· The Fog index

· Calculating the Fog Index

· Applying the Fog Index

· Business writing rules

Day 2

Preparation     and planning

· Getting started checklist

· A structure to achieve action

· Phrases to avoid in business writing

· Sentences and paragraphs checklist

· Clearly defining the objectives of the     document

· Purpose, audience and content

· Gathering factual information to     assist in conveying your message

· Planning

· Organising thoughts/ material     logically

· Simple structuring and presenting     information in a logical sequence

The     recipient

· Focusing on the reader’s requirements

· Using the right approach and language     – responding to complaints, giving information, getting action, etc.

Types     of business writing

· Memoranda

· Faxes

· Emails

· Letters

· Reports

· Meeting agendas and minutes

· Writing procedures

Styles     of business writing

· Choosing your style

Day 3

Writing     formats

· Up-to-date business letter, memo and     email formatting styles

· Choosing your format and style

Developing     individual style of writing

· Writing in a clear, concise and     professional business manner

· Avoiding redundant phrases,     unnecessary jargon and clichés

· Identifying and correcting grammatical     errors

· Proof-reading     and editing

Action planning

· Committing to action through a written, goal-based plan     to transfer skills and knowledge to day-to-day work