Business Writing That Works (Short Course)

Good writing is the memo that gets action and the letter that says what a phone call can’t.

What to expect:

In business situations, most of us will have to write, whether this involves emails, proposals, memos, or letters. And in business writing, the language needs to be concrete, the point of view clear, and the points well expressed. With practice and coaching from this course, you can feel more confident about your own writing.

This course will give you the tools to become a better writer, with lessons that include: the value of well written communication; how to write and proofread your work; making your writing clear and concise; how to apply these writing skills in real world situations; paragraph structure, tone, and syntax specifics; formatting memos, letters, and emails for different professional settings.

You will be able to obtain a “certificate of completion” with your name and completion date on it.

Note: these short courses are self-guided online courses and are not to be confused with our tutor-supported online courses.

There are 21 Lessons in this course:

1. Course Overview

2. Why Write?

3. Be Clear

• • Writing Clearly
  • Making Connections

4. Be Concise

• • Writing Concisely
  • Rewriting Exercises

5. Be Complete

• • Making Your Writing Complete
  • Making Connections

6. Be Correct

7. Word Agreement

• • Making Words Agree
  • Rewriting Exercises

8. Active and Passive Voice

9. Sentences and Sentence Types

• • Sentences and Paragraphs
  • Making Connections

10. Readability Index

• • About the Index
  • Using the Index

11. Manners and Courtesy

• • Courtesy
  • What’s My Style?

12. Practical Language

13. Inclusive Language

14. Sentence Construction

15. Punctuation

• • The Comma
  • The Semi-Colon
  • The Colon
  • The Apostrophe

16. Writing Business Letters

• • Steps to Writing Business Letters
  • Parts of a Business Letter
  • Types of Letters
  • Dissecting Letters

17. Writing Effective E-mails

• • E-mail Basics
  • Managing E-Mail
  • E-mail at Work

18. Spelling and Proofreading

• • Spelling Tips
  • Proofreading Tips

19. Writing Memos

• • The Anatomy of a Memo
  • Acme Funfest

20. Reviewing Your Writing

21. Writing Challenges

• • Recommended Reading List
  • Post-Course Assessment