High-Impact Business Writing from Coursera

Effective writing is a powerful tool in the business environment. Learn how to articulate your thoughts in a clear and concise manner that will allow your ideas to be better understood by your readers. Improve your business writing skill by learning to select and use appropriate formats for your audience, use the correct medium and adjust your writing style accordingly, as well as identify your objective and communicate it clearly. You'll also learn to spot, correct and avoid the most common writing pitfalls, and gain valuable experience analyzing, writing and revising a wide spectrum of business documents. From a simple email to a complete report, learn how to put good business writing to work for you.

Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Write effective business communications, including bad news, good news, persuasive writing, presentations, emails, memos, business reports and press releases

2. Learn how to edit and proofread business documents

3. Learn how to write for a global market

What's inside

Syllabus

Business Writing, Channels and Message Formats

In this first Module of High-Impact Business Writing, you will learn the necessity and utility of understanding your audience for a business document. You will learn how to write with clarity and brevity as well as how to make appropriate language and word choices for that audience. This module also addresses the structure and important considerations for the most frequently used document types for business applications.

Spelling, Grammar, Sentence and Paragraphs

Module 2 is focused on the frequently mistaken or overlooked aspects of impactful writing. Common spelling errors, incorrect word usage, and judicious word selection that are important for business writing will be highlighted. Subject-verb and noun-pronoun agreement as well as verb tense and common rules of punctuation are reviewed. This module concludes with some rules of sentence structure and paragraph development to aid in the creation of universally understandable, cogent documents.

Strategies and Techniques for Common Message Types

In Module 3, we study some of the more common message types: positive messages, negative messages, and persuasive messages. Each type of message will be characterized and strategies for common forms of documents within each of these message types will be presented and practiced. This module also includes best practices for email use, including when email is the preferred choice, creating effective subject lines, and pertinent content choices.

Writing Reports, Virtual Communications, and Finalizing Your Work

The final module of this course begins with an overview of report preparation, including structure and content considerations. The three forms of review for a document: editing, revising, and proofreading are explained in detail and their purposes explained. This module also includes some best practices for writing in a virtual and shared virtual environment as well as recommendations regarding the visual appeal of documents, both on paper and online.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides practical knowledge of articulating ideas in writing for improved understanding

Covers various writing formats and styles to cater to different audiences and purposes

Enhances writing clarity, conciseness, and organization through grammar, sentence structure, and paragraph development

Develops knowledge of common writing pitfalls and strategies to avoid them

Provides experience in analyzing, writing, and revising a range of business documents

Offers guidance on cultural nuances and best practices for writing in a global market

Reviews summary

Effective business writing

learners say that High-Impact Business Writing is an engaging course that largely positive reviews for its practical and well-received instruction on business writing. Students note that course materials are informative and helpful for improving their writing skills, especially when it comes to emails, documents, and presentations. The course is well-received for its clear and concise lessons that cover a wide range of writing topics, including grammar, structure, and style. Students highly recommend this course for anyone looking to enhance their business writing skills.

Reviews commonly praise the engaging nature of the course's instruction.

"I really enjoyed this course. It taught me a lot."

"Very good course and guide to professional and business writing .The content is well researched and it stood out from the many courses out there ."

"I loved everything about this course. I got a chance to review and revise my old english literature notes with refreshing topics I had forgotten."

Learners appreciate the practical nature of the course and find the skills immediately useful.

"This course was very Insightful! I will go over my documentation, so I can apply everything I have learned here in my future project documents."

"I learned some useful concepts for improving my writing (e.g. clarity vs gravity, high-impact words, active voice, editing vs revising vs proofreading etc)."

"A simple to understand course on a topic that can be daunting to analytical thinkers. I have immediately tried a few lessons from this course and noticing some positive results."

The course receives praise for covering a wide range of topics related to business writing.

"This course is highly recommended. In an information-overloaded era, communication is way too important to be left to mere "business practices""

"This course is very thorough with it's content and provides insights that are profound and very helpful."

"The course was very informative and it was discussed in a way that it’s easy to understand."

Learners highlight this course's focus on practical business writing.

"It was very useful and effect for my career"

"Very compact, succinct and practical"

"Helpful course in business writing."

Students find the course content to be rich with information on effective business writing.

"The content of these classes was excellent, however the videos should be edited more thoroughly."

"Excellent delivery of course material. It truly was insightful, and helped fine-tune a few elements that I'd not prioritized earlier. Thank you."

"Very helpful. Learned how to write with clarity and brevity as well as how to make appropriate language and word choices for that audience."

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 High-Impact Business Writing with these activities:

Review Grammar and Usage Rules

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Sharpen your grammar and usage skills by reviewing the foundational rules of writing to improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.

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Identify areas of grammar and usage that you need to refresh.
Find online resources or textbooks to review the relevant rules.
Take practice exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Optional: Seek feedback on your writing from a peer or writing tutor.

Identify Common Writing Pitfalls

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Review online tutorials to identify common writing pitfalls that you should avoid to improve your writing quality.

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Search for tutorials on common writing pitfalls.
Watch and take notes on the key points.

Participate in Peer Review and Feedback

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Collaborate with peers to provide and receive feedback on written documents, enhancing your writing and critical thinking skills.

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Join or form a peer review group.
Exchange written work with your peers for review.
Provide constructive and specific feedback to others.
Incorporate feedback into your own writing.
Optional: Discuss your feedback and learning with your group.

Five other activities

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Apply Writing Techniques for Different Document Types

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Practice applying appropriate writing techniques to different document types, such as emails, reports, and presentations.

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Choose a document type to focus on.
Analyze the structure and key elements of that document type.
Draft a sample document using the appropriate techniques.
Review and revise your draft to improve clarity and effectiveness.
Optional: Share your revised draft with a peer for feedback.

Attend a Business Writing Masterclass

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Accelerate your writing skills by attending a masterclass led by experienced professionals to gain practical insights and guidance.

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Research and identify a reputable business writing masterclass.
Register and prepare for the workshop by reviewing the provided materials.
Attend the masterclass and actively engage with the講師 and participants.
Apply the techniques and strategies learned in your own writing.
Follow up with the講師 or other attendees to continue learning and networking.

Write a Comprehensive Business Report

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Compose a full-fledged business report that demonstrates your mastery of writing skills, research, and analysis.

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Identify a business problem or opportunity to address.
Conduct research to gather relevant data and information.
Develop an outline and structure for your report.
Write the report, ensuring clarity, conciseness, and persuasive language.
Proofread and revise your report thoroughly.

Contribute to an Open-Source Business Writing Platform

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Enhance your writing skills while contributing to the community by sharing your knowledge and expertise on open-source platforms.

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Identify an open-source platform for business writing.
Create an account and familiarize yourself with the platform.
Explore the existing content and identify areas where you can contribute.
Write and submit articles, tutorials, or other resources.
Collaborate with other contributors to improve the platform's content.

Participate in a Business Writing Competition

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Showcase your writing abilities by participating in a business writing competition to gain recognition and further develop your skills.

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Identify and research relevant business writing competitions.
Compose a high-quality submission that meets the competition's guidelines.
Practice delivering a presentation of your written work.
Attend the competition and present your work confidently.
Reflect on your performance and identify areas for improvement.

Career center

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

Content Writer

Content writers create written content for a variety of purposes, including marketing, advertising, and public relations. A course in high-impact business writing can help content writers to develop the skills they need to write engaging, informative, and persuasive content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Writer

Copywriter

Copywriters create written content for advertising and marketing campaigns. A course in high-impact business writing can help copywriters to develop the skills they need to write clear, concise, and persuasive copy that sells products and services.

See salaries and explore the career path for Copywriter

Business Analyst

A business analyst is a professional who helps businesses to improve their performance. Business analysts use their skills in data analysis, process improvement, and communication to identify and solve business problems. A course in high-impact business writing can help business analysts to develop the skills they need to communicate their findings and recommendations effectively to stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Communications Specialist

Communications specialists are responsible for developing and executing communications strategies. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including employees, customers, and the media. A course in high-impact business writing can help communications specialists to develop the skills they need to write clear, concise, and persuasive communications materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Communications Specialist

Editor

Editors are responsible for reviewing, editing, and proofreading written content. They work with a variety of written materials, including books, articles, and marketing materials. A course in high-impact business writing can help editors to develop the skills they need to edit and proofread written content effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editor

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing plans. They work with a variety of marketing channels, including traditional advertising, digital marketing, and public relations. A course in high-impact business writing can help marketing managers to develop the skills they need to write effective marketing materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Salesperson

Salespeople are responsible for selling products and services to customers. A course in high-impact business writing can help salespeople to develop the skills they need to write effective sales letters, proposals, and other sales materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Salesperson

Speechwriter

Speechwriters are responsible for writing speeches for public figures, such as politicians and business leaders. A course in high-impact business writing can help speechwriters to develop the skills they need to write clear, concise, and persuasive speeches.

See salaries and explore the career path for Speechwriter

Digital Marketing Specialist

Digital marketing specialists are responsible for planning and executing digital marketing campaigns. They work with a variety of digital marketing channels, including social media, email, and search engine optimization. A course in high-impact business writing can help digital marketing specialists to develop the skills they need to write effective digital marketing content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Specialist

Web Content Writer

Web content writers are responsible for writing content for websites. A course in high-impact business writing can help web content writers to develop the skills they need to write clear, concise, and informative web content.

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Journalist

Journalists are responsible for gathering, writing, and reporting the news. A course in high-impact business writing can help journalists to develop the skills they need to write clear, concise, and informative news articles.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists are responsible for managing the public image of an organization. They work with the media, customers, and other stakeholders to build and maintain a positive reputation for their organization. A course in high-impact business writing can help public relations specialists to develop the skills they need to write effective public relations materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Grant Writer

Grant writers are responsible for writing grant proposals to secure funding for non-profit organizations. A course in high-impact business writing can help grant writers to develop the skills they need to write clear, concise, and persuasive grant proposals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grant Writer

Technical Writer

Technical writers are responsible for writing technical documentation, such as user manuals, white papers, and specifications. A course in high-impact business writing can help technical writers to develop the skills they need to write clear, concise, and informative technical documentation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Writer

Writers create written content for a variety of purposes, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. A course in high-impact business writing may be useful to writers who want to develop the skills they need to write clear, concise, and persuasive written content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer