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Sue Robins, M.S. Ed.
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/ixyt46/high
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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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause 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
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Reviews summary
Practical skills for clear business writing
According to learners, this course is a highly effective program for improving professional communication. Students particularly appreciate the focus on practical strategies for writing clear and concise business documents like emails and reports. Many found it provided a solid foundation or a useful refresher, including a review of grammar and mechanics. While some experienced writers felt parts were too basic, it's widely seen as accessible and beneficial, especially for those seeking actionable skills. The course structure is generally found to be logical, though the peer review system receives mixed feedback regarding feedback quality.
Assignments rely on peer feedback for learning.
"The peer review assignments were helpful when others gave constructive feedback..."
"The quality of feedback in peer reviews varied greatly depending on the reviewer's effort."
"I found the peer review component both challenging and occasionally frustrating due to inconsistent or unhelpful feedback."
Provides a useful review of writing mechanics.
"A good refresher on grammar and punctuation basics, which I definitely needed..."
"The section on common errors was surprisingly useful, catching mistakes I often make."
"Parts felt like a basic grammar class, but it was still a decent review of fundamentals."
Course is well-organized and easy to follow.
"The course modules were logically structured, building from basics to more complex topics."
"The pace felt just right for learning the material and completing the assignments each week."
"I appreciated the clear progression of topics throughout the course, it made sense."
Accessible and beneficial for beginners and some intermediate learners.
"This course is perfect for someone just starting out in business writing..."
"I had minimal prior experience and found it very accessible and easy to follow along."
"Good for a solid foundation, maybe less so if you're already an expert business writer."
Helps write clearer and more concise messages.
"The focus on clarity and brevity was very helpful..."
"My writing is much more concise after taking this course and focusing on the main point."
"It really emphasized getting straight to the point in business messages, which saves time for my readers."
Offers immediately applicable business writing tips.
"I learned practical strategies I could immediately apply to my work..."
"The course provided great tips for writing emails and reports that I use daily."
"Gave me specific, actionable advice I could use right away to improve my professional writing."
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
Show steps
Sharpen your grammar and usage skills by reviewing the foundational rules of writing to improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.
Browse courses on
Sentence Structure
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Review online tutorials to identify common writing pitfalls that you should avoid to improve your writing quality.
Browse courses on
Writing Skills
Show steps
-
Search for tutorials on common writing pitfalls.
-
Watch and take notes on the key points.
Participate in Peer Review and Feedback
Show steps
Collaborate with peers to provide and receive feedback on written documents, enhancing your writing and critical thinking skills.
Browse courses on
Peer Review
Show steps
-
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
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Apply Writing Techniques for Different Document Types
Show steps
Practice applying appropriate writing techniques to different document types, such as emails, reports, and presentations.
Browse courses on
Writing Techniques
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Accelerate your writing skills by attending a masterclass led by experienced professionals to gain practical insights and guidance.
Browse courses on
Business Communication
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Compose a full-fledged business report that demonstrates your mastery of writing skills, research, and analysis.
Browse courses on
Report Writing
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Enhance your writing skills while contributing to the community by sharing your knowledge and expertise on open-source platforms.
Browse courses on
Open-Source
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Showcase your writing abilities by participating in a business writing competition to gain recognition and further develop your skills.
Show steps
-
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.
Review Grammar and Usage Rules
Show steps
Sharpen your grammar and usage skills by reviewing the foundational rules of writing to improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.
Browse courses on
Sentence Structure
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Review online tutorials to identify common writing pitfalls that you should avoid to improve your writing quality.
Browse courses on
Writing Skills
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Search for tutorials on common writing pitfalls.
- Watch and take notes on the key points.
Participate in Peer Review and Feedback
Show steps
Collaborate with peers to provide and receive feedback on written documents, enhancing your writing and critical thinking skills.
Browse courses on
Peer Review
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Apply Writing Techniques for Different Document Types
Show steps
Practice applying appropriate writing techniques to different document types, such as emails, reports, and presentations.
Browse courses on
Writing Techniques
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Accelerate your writing skills by attending a masterclass led by experienced professionals to gain practical insights and guidance.
Browse courses on
Business Communication
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Compose a full-fledged business report that demonstrates your mastery of writing skills, research, and analysis.
Browse courses on
Report Writing
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Enhance your writing skills while contributing to the community by sharing your knowledge and expertise on open-source platforms.
Browse courses on
Open-Source
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Showcase your writing abilities by participating in a business writing competition to gain recognition and further develop your skills.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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:
Business Analyst
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.
Communications Specialist
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.
Content Writer
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.
Copywriter
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.
Digital Marketing Specialist
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.
Editor
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.
Grant Writer
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.
Journalist
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.
Marketing Manager
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.
Public Relations Specialist
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.
Salesperson
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.
Speechwriter
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.
Technical 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.
Web Content Writer
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.
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.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/ixyt46/high
Reading list
We've selected 12 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
High-Impact Business Writing.
This handbook provides comprehensive coverage of the principles and practices of business writing. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their business writing skills.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of copywriting. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their copywriting skills.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of technical writing. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their technical writing skills.
Provides a framework for structuring written and oral communication. It can help you write clear, concise, and persuasive documents.
This classic guide to writing covers the fundamentals of grammar, punctuation, and style. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills.
Save
Provides insights into how people remember information. It can help you write more memorable and persuasive documents.
Provides a practical guide to writing clear, concise, and persuasive legal documents. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their legal writing skills.
Provides a practical guide to explaining complex ideas clearly and concisely. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their ability to explain complex topics.
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the research and theory on writing in second languages. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how people learn to write in a second language.
Provides a practical guide to writing in the social sciences. It can help you write clear, concise, and persuasive documents.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of business communication. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their business communication skills.
Save
Provides practical advice on how to write clearly, concisely, and effectively. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/ixyt46/high
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Effort
4-8 hours of videos, readings, and quizzes
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of California, Irvine
Instructor
Sue Robins, M.S. Ed.
Language
English
Transcripts
Español
Français
Português
Deutsch
Italiano
中文
العربية
한국어
日本語
हिंदी
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Polski
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magyar nyelv
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فارسی
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