Business Writing Skills

Excellent communication skills are a requirement today, regardless of job role. This course covers writing emails, client pitches, internal memoranda, credit reviews or presentations to senior management - all requiring clear and succinct writing skills that speak to the recipient in the correct professional tone.

06-Aug-2012 -- 06-Aug-2012New YorkUSD$1575
NY Institute of Finance - Midtown9:00am - 4:30pm Instructional Method:
Group-Live
Instructor(s): [ Laura Smith Dunaief; ] Mon Level: Basic

CPE CREDITS
7.0
No advance preparation required.
Students will be able to:
  • Identify their audience
  • Articulate the goal of a document
  • Organize information effectively
  • Use precise language
  • Avoid writing in passive voice
  • Alter sentence structure to add variety to documents
  • Identify and avoid common mistakes
  • Prepare a plan for improving their own writing capabilities
Participants must be able to speak and write English with native fluency. Participants will be required to provide writing samples for analysis two weeks in advance of the program start.
"Concise"
"The instructor was very thorough in her teaching"
"Since taking the class I make a conscious effort to be a bit less redundant and get to the point with little fluff."
"I have referred to the book several times and find it extremely useful."
"I thoroughly enjoyed the class and look forward to taking another one with you."
The Role of Writing in Business
  • Different forms of business writing
  • Goals and strategies for forms of business writing
  • Identifying your audience and voice
  • Hazards of writing in the wrong form or voice

Organizing Your Document

  • Including appropriate information
  • Organizing the information
  • Incorporating a benefit statement

Writing from Strength

  • Choosing an active voice
  • Varying sentence structure
  • Editing your work

Avoiding Pitfalls

  • Failing to make your point
  • Bureaucratic-speak or too casual a style
  • Negative voice
  • Complex sentences
  • Common grammatical and punctuation errors

Clients who register for this course will receive a complimentary 4-month subscription to FT.com. The Financial Times is the world's most respected financial newspaper, providing a broad assessment on finance, business and the industrial sector. The move to the electronic version follows an ongoing review of our environmental responsibilities as a global business and as part of the Pearson group. FT.com also has features that are not available in hard copy, such as: Special Reports, Alphaville, editor blogs, education sections and much more! Subscriptions will start within 6-8 weeks of the start of class and are limited to one subscription per client. (Please note: as of May 1, 2011, the electronic subscription replaces the hard-copy 3-month Financial Times subscription.)

Lunch is included for all students taking day classes.