Effective Business Writing
Group - One Day Course
Course Description
This course teaches the art of writing, with a focus on getting ideas accepted. The course does this by covering both conceptional matters and actual writing skills. The program has three main themes:
- Planning, so that the document meets its specific purpose;
- Structuring, for coherence and clarity of the material;
- Style, to give a readable, unambiguous and persuasive flow of words.
Who Will Benefit?
Anyone who needs to write important and effective documents. Each session is modified to fit the exact end-use requirements of the participants, balancing between letters, reports and submissions, and selecting the style required from handling enquiries or complaints, to sales submissions, written submissions of a technical nature, or putting complex matters into simple language.
Course Outline
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Planning a Document
The 2A + 3M formula and Meta-model of Language give a specific, recognisable objective, we then evolve a content theme which will realise that objective with the particular reader or audience involved.
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Structure
Using writing projects relevant to the group, we create document structures around a multi-purpose format model. The aims here are clarity, coherence and logical substantiation of assertions.
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Writing & Readability
The elements that allow a reader to understand material quickly: sentence and word length, unnecessary words, jargon, abbreviations, active/passive, negatives and layout.
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Writing & Strength
Structures, word types and specific words which have proven persuasive impact.
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Organisation
Formats for organising a critical path schedule for a writing project. We give lists of steps for writing, editing and obtaining approval of drafts.
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Practical Exercises
Brief practical exercises are undertaken at almost every section of the course; participants plan the writing of a specific project at the end of the program.
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Software
A review of the computer software which checks spelling, grammar, style and readability. Many people don't know about the assistance which MS Word can give a serious writer.
Course Arrangements
The optimum group size is 6 - 8 people.