The Six-part Business Writing Course

For those who want more in-depth content, with time for practice and implementation

This business writing course consists of six weekly 2-hour sessions, each building on the previous content. Assessments and self-monitoring instruments are included, and group editing of participants' own work forms a part of all sessions except the first. The business writing course also includes individual e-mail follow-up for twelve months after the last session.

Course content

Session 1

	Introduction and preview of course content
	Self-assessment of writing skill levels
	Purpose of business writing in participants' context
	Writing for the reader: includes "Helen's Jargon Challenge"
	Some simple ways to begin improving now: unscramble your sentences; cut out the fluff; use simple words

Session 2

	Paragraphs: how to make them focused, unified and coherent
	Flow: what is it? Using structure to create it
	Group editing exercise

Session 3

	More complex paragraph structures
	Sentence structure
	Syntax: what it is and how it affects meaning
	Group editing exercise

Session 4

	Report writing the DESIGN IT way
	Punctuation without Tears
	What's the difference? A review of often confused words
	Group editing exercise

Session 5

	Recap guidelines for power sentences
	Creating and changing emphasis through sentence structure
	E-mail: the special writing challenges
	Helen's edits of related materials, group discussion
	Group editing exercise

Session 6

	Satisfying the needs of different reader styles
	How to give the longer written piece "skim value"
	The executive summary: when to use it and how to write it
	Group editing exercise
	Assessment/valuation
	Closing statement