Introduction to Business Writing - DSU-118

Course Description: This six-week online course introduces students to tactics to create professional business correspondence. The course identifies principles of good writing, writing effective messages and other communications, as well as employment communications. Students will participate in practical exercises to demonstrate the core concepts and participate in discussions and critiques of effective and professional business writing. Plagiarism and the citing of sources is also addressed.

Prerequisite: None

Course Credit: 3 Credit Hours

Major Course Topics & Course Outcomes

As a result of the group and individual activities included in this course, the student will acquire the following knowledge and skills that can be applied to the workplace:

Characteristics of Professional Business Writing

• Explain the importance of writing ability
• Discuss how your communications are your trademark
• Explain the advantages of written communication
• Describe the total effect of your message on your reader
• Identify the six C’s of professional business writing

Choosing the Right Words

• Explain why your reader may interpret your words differently from your intended meaning
• Find resources to get help in choosing your words
• Choose simple, concise, appropriate, correct, specific and positive words

Writing Sentences and Paragraphs

• Describe what makes an effective sentence.
• Explain the general principles for constructing effective paragraphs
• Fit the paragraphs smoothly into unified messages.

Plagiarism

• Describe what plagiarism is.
• Identify tools to avoid plagiarism.

Building Goodwill in Your Messages

• Define goodwill
• Use positive language to build goodwill
• Project a “you” attitude
• Promote goodwill through a service attitude

Planning and Preparing Messages

• Choose among the direct, indirect or persuasive approaches for message writing.
• Develop a plan for your message.
• Write a rough draft of your letter or memo.

Composing, Editing and Proofreading

• Describe the advantages of different methods of composing messages
• Plan dictation
• Explain methods for improving your editing skills
• Explain methods for improving your proofreading skills.

Citing Sources

• Differentiate between the different styles and methods of citing sources.

Writing Memos, e-Mails and Other Routine Communications

• Identify routine forms of communication
• Write routine memos, e-mails and routine letters
• Compose routine messages such as: acknowledgements, referrals, transmittals, invitations and replies, follow-up correspondence, and meeting notices

Writing Inquiries and Requests

• Write appointment requests, reservation requests, buying inquiries, general requests and persuasive requests.

Writing Replies to Inquiries and Requests

• Answer yes to inquiries, requests and persuasive requests.
• Answer no to inquiries and requests.
• Write cover letters and form replies to inquiries.

Writing and Acknowledging Orders

• Organize and write order messages.
• Choose the correct forms for order acknowledgement
• Organize and write routine, special and refusal acknowledgements.

Writing Credit and Collection Messages

• Organize and write credit messages
• Organize and write collection messages

Writing Persuasive Messages

• Plan and write persuasive messages to customers
• Plan and write persuasive messages to dealers.

Writing Claim and Adjustment Messages

• Compose an effective message requesting an adjustment.
• Respond to a claim by granting an adjustment.
• Write a professional claim response that denies an adjustment.
• Respond to a claim by compromising on an adjustment.

Writing Goodwill Messages

• Know the appropriate situations for sending goodwill messages.
• Apply the principles of goodwill messages.
• Write messages to thank, announce, express get-well wishes and sympathy, congratulate, invite and welcome, and maintain or reactivate business.

Writing Public Officials and the Media

• Write a legislative letter to a lawmaker.
• Write a service letter to a lawmaker
• Write a news release
• Prepare a newsletter

Writing Meeting Reports

• Prepare a meeting notice and agenda.
• Understanding the difference between a formal and informal meeting.
• Write the minutes of a meeting.

Writing Memo Reports

• Identify the elements of reports.
• Write memo reports
• Write collaboratively

Writing Directions, Instructions and Abstracts

• Write directions
• Write instructions
• Write abstracts and executive summaries

Preparing Resumes and Employment Applications

• Determine what employment skills you have
• Identify three types of resumes
• Prepare a resume and a summary of qualifications
• Create an application form

Writing Application Letters and Other Employment Documents

• Identify two types of application letters
• Write an effective application letter
• Write a post-interview thank-you note
• Write a resignation letter
• Write other types of employment letters

 

 

Course Texts:

There are two textbooks required for this course. You can obtain them through your favorite bookstore.

Kerby and Satterwhite Professional Business Writing 7th Edition Glencoe McGraw Hill 2002
            ISBN: 978-0-07-821165-2

Harvey, Gordon Writing with Sources: A Guide for Students Hackett Publishing Company 1998
            ISBN: 0-87220-434-0

Additional reading materials will be provided in the classroom.

 

Please note that textbooks are subject to change. Please contact your advisor before purchasing the textbook for your class to confirm.