The course is designed for those who are required to produce written documents as part of their role. It gives a solid grounding in the skills of producing effective and professional written communications and will also serve as a refresher for those who have been writing professionally for some time. A strong grasp of written English is required. Key aspects of grammar, spelling, and punctuation will be summarised.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, delegates will be better able to:
- Recognise and avoid the most commonly occurring mistakes in: grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, word usage and layout.
- Understand the different purposes of written communication and use the correct style and tone for each purpose.
- Structure written information logically, using an attractive layout in keeping with any preferred organisational style.
- Be aware of and use correct conventions for each type of business document.
- Use and construct standard paragraphs using an effective planning tool.
- Produce written communication content that is concise, clear, and effective.
- Understand and use customer care techniques in business communications.
COURSE CONTENT
- The basics of professional business writing overview: ensuring the mechanics of writing are sound.
- Commonly occurring mistakes and how to avoid them.
- The purposes, conventions and structure of different written formats.
- Deciding on an appropriate style and tone.
- Structuring complex information in an easily understood form.
- The importance of a three-stage process - plan, draft, refine
- The need for customer care in written documents.
TUITION METHODS
The course is highly participative, mostly at an individual level, combined with some awareness-raising small group exercises. Practical exercises accompany most topics, and delegates are encouraged to bring along examples of their work for individual discussion with the tutor.
