College Certificate - Fundamental Business Communication

Writing is necessary for good communication; hence, learning the writing techniques essential to successful written communication in a business environment is important. This course is designed to increase a student's ability to write for employment in an office environment, or improve their job performance and obtain greater career advancement possibilities. Students will improve their ability to explain, present and write effectively in a business office-structured computer accessible classroom while gaining hands-on, fundamental business writing skills. This course is effective for those in the business administration field, office administration, or accounting/bookkeeping, technology.

COURSE OBJECTIVES • Maintaining mutual understanding between sender and receiver in formal business communication • Create clear, concise written business communication that is positive and meaningful to obtain the desired result • Conveying visual and textual communication effectively • Write letters that are clear, precise and appropriate to your audience • Observing correct business etiquette in writing to ensure professionalism

COURSE TOPICS

Essential Grammar Techniques • Summarization • Reading Comprehension: Understanding what you read • Writing a Paragraph • Writing a letter • Using passive/active voice • Punctuation, sentence structure, spelling • Capitalization and tone • Salutations and Closings • Using persuasive language in writing • Writing with self-confidence • Writing formats • Getting ideas across effectively and assertively • Proofreading and editing

Constructing an Effective Business E-Mail: • Understanding business communication: formal and informal methods of communication • Developing good listening skills • Defining your purpose for writing • Content development techniques • Legal aspects of an email • Observing corporate culture and etiquette • Maintaining clarity and tone • Do’s and Don’ts of writing professionalism • Crafting an Internal Announcement • Responding to customers, co-workers, routine requests, complaints, etc. • Business Memos • The follow up email

The Business Letter • Standard letter formats • Letter writing conventions and courtesy titles • Parts of a business letter • Is it better to write a letter or send an E-Mail? • Elements of the business letter • Time sequence paragraphs • Compare and contrast paragraphs • Cause and effect paragraphs • Problem-solution paragraphs • Blueprint paragraphs • Organizational Model: Clarifying and reinforcing an idea, analysis, information in writing • Evaluating the effectiveness of a business letter • Responding, requesting information, routine requests, bad news messages, condolences, goodwill, congratulations • The Thank-You Letter • Follow Up

Internal Announcements, IM’s and Memos

• What is an internal announcement? • Writing an internal announcement • Communicating effectively: are you sending the right message • Determining the purpose of an internal announcement • Using passive/active voice to deliver an internal announcement • Formats and guidelines for creating an internal announcement • The memo format • Guidelines for writing an effective memo • The do’s and don’ts of the business IM

The Business Proposal

• Using persuasive language • Targeting your audience • Brainstorming: organization and techniques for generating ideas • Parts of an Effective Business Proposal • Rhetoric and argument • Development of proposal • The executive summary • Visuals: charts and graphs • Follow Up

The Business Report

• The necessity of a business report • The elements of a business report • Stating the purpose or reason for the report • Creating an outline • Organizing your information • Analyzing content • Conclusion and summary • The executive summary