Six-part Business Writing
Course
As well as a standard version, there are also highly customized versions of this course for accountants,
engineers, lawyers and IT professionals. Programs for other specific groups may be created on request.
This program consists of six weekly sessions, each lasting two hours and each building on the previous
sessions.
Session 1 includes a self-assessment and discussion of the particular writing challenges participants face.
Session 6 includes a re-assessment of skills and evaluation of the course. All other sessions consist of two
parts—new subject matter and a group edit of two writing samples submitted by volunteer participants for this
purpose.
Course Content
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Session 1
• Introduction and preview of
course
• Self-assessment of writing
skills
• Purpose of business writing
• Writing for the reader
• Simple ways to improve
right now
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Session 2
• Paragraphs: focused, unified,
coherent
• Using structure to create
"flow"
• Group editing exercise |
Session 3
• More complex
paragraph
structures
• Power sentences
• Syntax: what it is and how
it affects meaning
• Group editing exercise |
Session 4
• Report writing the DESIGN
IT™ way
• Punctuation Without Tears
• The right word in the right
place
• Group editing exercise |
Session 5
• Recap power sentences
• Creating emphasis through
sentence structure
• Email: special writing
challenges
• Group editing exercise |
Session 6
• Satisfying different reader
styles
• How to create "skim value"
• Executive summary: when to
use it and how to write it
• Group editing exercise
• Assessment/evaluation
• Closing message |
Follow Up
- Series of email from Helen to each individual participant
- Every three months for one year after the workshop
- Each focuses on one learning point from the workshop
- Designed to help them incorporate the new learning into their everyday writing habits
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Group Size
- The group can be up to 25 people, although 15 - 20 is best
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Back to Workshops
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