Business Writing from Coursera

Writing well is one of the most important skills you can develop to be successful in the business world. Over seventy companies and thirty thousand students--from professional writers to new employees to non-native English speakers to seasoned executives--have used the techniques in Business Writing to power their ability to communicate and launch their ideas. This course will teach you how to apply the top ten principles of good business writing to your work, how to deploy simple tools to dramatically improve your writing, and how to execute organization, structure, and revision to communicate more masterfully than ever. From the very first lesson, you'll be able to apply your new learning immediately to your work and improve your writing today. Your ideas are powerful. Learn how to deliver them with the clarity and impact they deserve.

"Thank you for giving me the knowledge I need in life. [Business Writing] was helpful, life changing, and has made a huge impact in my writing." -- Message from a Business Writing student

The principles you'll learn in this course enable you to become a great business writer. They also provide the foundation for moving into Graphic Design and Successful Presentation, so that you can unleash your best professional self whenever--and however--you present your ideas in the workplace.

This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Data Science (MS-DS) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The MS-DS is an interdisciplinary degree that brings together faculty from CU Boulder’s departments of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Science, and others. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the MS-DS is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience in computer science, information science, mathematics, and statistics. Learn more about the MS-DS program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/master-of-science-data-science-boulder.

What's inside

Syllabus

Building Great Business Writing

The first lesson in this module introduces the Effective Communication specialization, the capstone project, and the Business Writing course. You'll meet the writing instructor, Dr. Quentin McAndrew, and her counterparts Dave Underwood and Professor William Kuskin, who teach Graphic Design and Successful Presentation. Dave and William join Quentin to offer insights into how writing, design, and presentation relate to a process of continuous personal branding that we call Effective Communication. In this module, you'll discover the simple principles that inform all great business writing and that serve as the foundation of this course. These lessons set the stage for the deeper exploration and specific techniques that follow, not just in Business Writing, but in Graphic Design and Successful Presentation as well. Let's get started!

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for non-native English speakers who need to improve their communication skills for professional settings

Appropriate for professionals who want to refine their existing writing skills

May be beginner-friendly for learners with minimal writing experience

Emphasizes the importance of organizational structure, which is crucial for clarity in business writing

Provides practical techniques for crafting impactful written communication

Focuses on developing persuasive and clear written content

Reviews summary

Practical skills for business communication

According to learners, this course provides a clear and practical foundation for improving business writing skills. Many found the core principles, particularly the 'scaffold' organizational framework, to be highly useful and immediately applicable to their work, leading to increased confidence. The sections on common grammar errors were also noted as helpful. While a few reviewers felt the content was too basic for experienced writers, the majority, including beginners and non-native speakers, found it easy to understand and beneficial for crafting well-organized and effective professional documents.

Best suited for beginners to intermediate

"It might be a bit basic if you're already an experienced writer..."

"...for someone looking to build a strong foundation or polish existing skills, it's excellent."

"Found this course too simplistic. If you have any prior experience or training in writing, you'll likely find this redundant."

"I was expecting more advanced techniques... Disappointing for someone at an intermediate level."

Addresses common errors effectively

"The grammar section was a great reminder of common pitfalls."

"I particularly appreciated the bite-sized videos on grammar mistakes."

"I found the section on identifying and correcting common grammar errors to be particularly beneficial."

"The grammar tips were also very valuable."

Feel more confident writing professionally

"I've already started applying the principles at work, and I feel much more confident."

"I now feel much more comfortable and effective when writing emails and reports..."

"I learned how to organize my thoughts more effectively before writing... makes my communication much clearer."

"I reported a significant improvement in my confidence and ability..."

Explanations are easy to follow

"The explanations were clear and easy to follow."

"Solid principles for better business communication... content is foundational, it's presented in a clear and engaging way."

"The principles taught are simple yet powerful."

"The course is well-structured and easy to navigate."

Skills can be used in work right away

"I've already started applying the principles at work, and I feel much more confident."

"This course provides practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."

"My emails are now clearer and more concise, and my reports are better organized."

"I now feel much more comfortable and effective when writing emails and reports for my international team."

Framework helps structure business docs

"The scaffold framework is incredibly helpful for organizing thoughts and ensuring clarity in emails and reports."

"The organizational method (scaffold) has revolutionized how I approach writing documents."

"The 'scaffold' method alone is worth the course fee."

"I learned how to organize my thoughts more effectively before writing, which saves time and makes my communication much clearer."

Peer review process inconsistent

"The peer review system was also inconsistent; some feedback was helpful, others not so much."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Business Writing with these activities:

Create a folder for your notes, assignments, and other materials

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Organizes learning materials for easy access and review, improving retention.

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Create a new folder on your computer or in the cloud
Move all of your notes, assignments, and other materials into the folder

Read 'The Elements of Style' by Strunk and White

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Provides a concise and practical guide to the principles of good writing.

View The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition on Amazon

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Apply the principles to your writing
Read the book and take notes
Summarize the key principles of the book

Review basic grammar

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Refreshes basic grammar knowledge, making it easier to apply principles of good writing.

Browse courses on Grammar

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Review parts of speech and their functions
Practice identifying and using parts of speech in sentences
Review sentence structure and types of sentences

Five other activities

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Find online exercises on grammar and punctuation

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Helps learners reinforce their understanding of grammar and punctuation rules.

Browse courses on Grammar

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Search for online exercises
Select exercises that focus on areas where you need improvement
Complete the exercises and review your answers

Watch videos on effective sentence structure

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Helps learners understand the principles of creating clear and concise sentences.

Browse courses on Sentence Structure

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Find videos on sentence structure
Watch the videos and take notes on key principles
Practice applying the principles in your writing

Join a peer review group

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Provides opportunities for learners to receive and give feedback on their writing, fostering improvement.

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Find a peer review group or start one
Submit your writing for review
Provide feedback to other members of the group

Write a short story using the principles of good writing

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Provides hands-on practice in applying the principles of good writing to a creative task.

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Brainstorm ideas for a short story
Create an outline for the story
Write the first draft of the story
Revise and edit the story
Get feedback on the story

Develop a style guide for your writing

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Helps learners establish consistency and clarity in their writing style.

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Research style guides
Identify the elements you want to include in your style guide
Write your style guide
Review and revise your style guide

Career center

Learners who complete Business Writing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Public Relations Specialist

A Public Relations Specialist manages the public image of organizations and individuals. Key to the success of Public Relations Specialists is their ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences. This course can help build a foundation for effective written communication, refining the skills needed to excel in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Content Writer

A Content Writer creates and distributes digital content for a variety of platforms. This course can help build a foundation for writing effectively and persuasively, skills highly valued by Content Writers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Writer

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer focuses on explaining complex or technical concepts to a non-technical audience. This course helps build a foundation for clear communication and organization, crucial to the success of a Technical Writer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Copywriter

A Copywriter creates persuasive and engaging marketing materials. This course may be useful as it provides instruction on writing effective business documents and communications. Furthermore, the course's emphasis on clarity and conciseness is particularly relevant to Copywriters.

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Consultant

A Consultant provides expert advice and guidance to organizations on a variety of business issues. This course can help build a foundation for effective communication, allowing Consultants to clearly convey their findings and recommendations to clients.

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Grant Writer

A Grant Writer identifies and secures funding for nonprofit organizations. These professionals are masters in conveying ideas and persuading readers. The skills taught in this course can help build a foundation for persuasive writing, which is an essential skill for a successful Grant Writer.

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Market Research Analyst

A Market Research Analyst collects and analyzes market data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course can help build a foundation for effective communication, allowing Market Research Analysts to clearly convey their findings to clients and stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst helps organizations improve their performance by identifying and solving business problems. This course can help build a foundation for effective communication, allowing Business Analysts to clearly convey their findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

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Sales Manager

A Sales Manager leads and manages a team of sales professionals. This course may be useful as it provides instruction on writing effective business documents and communications. Furthermore, the course's emphasis on persuasion and clarity is particularly relevant to Sales Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager develops and executes marketing strategies to achieve business goals. This course may be useful as it provides instruction on writing effective business documents and communications. Furthermore, the course's emphasis on clarity and conciseness is particularly relevant to Marketing Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Operations Manager

An Operations Manager plans, organizes, and directs the operations of an organization. This course may be useful as it provides instruction on writing effective business documents and communications. Furthermore, the course's emphasis on organization and clarity is particularly relevant to Operations Managers.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager plans, organizes, and executes projects to achieve specific goals. This course may be useful as it provides instruction on writing effective business documents and communications. Furthermore, the course's emphasis on organization and clarity is particularly relevant to Project Managers.

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Social Media Manager

A Social Media Manager plans, develops, and executes social media strategies for businesses and organizations. This course may be useful as it provides instruction on writing effective business documents and communications, skills essential for Social Media Managers to engage with audiences and convey their message effectively.

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Communications Specialist

A Communications Specialist is tasked with creating and distributing promotional materials to internal audiences. They also help develop internal communications strategies. This course may be useful as it provides instruction on writing effective business documents and communications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Communications Specialist

User Experience (UX) Designer

A User Experience (UX) Designer focuses on improving the user experience of products and services. This course may be useful as it provides instruction on writing clearly and effectively, a skill essential for UX Designers to convey their ideas and feedback to stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience (UX) Designer