Writing for Business Success (GK831181)

1. • Apply Best Practices for Business Writing
   
   • • Business style: practical, not “pretty” (simple words, short sentences, thin paragraphs, effective use of bullets/graphics
   • • Why business writing matters (time, clarity, accountability, impact of confusion
   • • Core best practices:
     
     • • Assess audience and purpose
     • • Plan by outlining
     • • Begin with the main point
     • • Keep the message clear and simple
     • • Be direct (“say what you mean”)
     • • Format for clarity; keep it short; get names/titles right
     • • Proofread, revise, proofread
   • • The “6 Cs” quality check (introduced and revisited later)
   • • Practice rewriting for clarity and brevity (guided example)
   • • Exercise: Apply best practices and the 6 Cs to a peer review scenario
2. • Assess the Audience
   
   • • Define purpose using an objective lens (action, benefits, achievable, measurable)
   • • Audience types and what to consider about them
   • • Stakeholders: pressures, performance measures, details vs. high-level needs, comfort with language
   • • Identifying stakeholder needs (and how unrelated needs still affect reception)
   • • Executive audiences: how they’re similar/different (scope, volume, time constraints)
   • • Exercise: Assess the audience (stakeholder scenario + audience analysis worksheet activity)
3. • Plan the Content
   
   • • The writing process (planning and structure before drafting
   • • Organizing information in a logical order
   • • Structuring a message to highlight purpose, link ideas, and clarify action
   • • Business case email structure: IOCBLAA
     
     • • State the problem/current state
     • • Present the solution
     • • Identify qualifications
     • • List benefits (tangible then qualitative)
     • • Address logistics (cost, timing, risks/mitigations, ownership)
     • • Determine next steps
     • • Add details via appendices; avoid info overload
4. • Correct Language Convention Problems
   
   • • Language conventions overview: grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling
   • • Grammar essentials:
     
     • • Subject–verb agreement
     • • Parallel structure
     • • Modifiers and misplaced modifier fixes
   • • Punctuation: key professional writing reminders
   • • Spelling: professionalism, spell-check strategy, homophones
   • • Capitalization rules (names, places, titles, publications, sentence starts)
   • • Practice corrections (sample sentences + solutions)
   • • Exercise: Correct language convention problems (worksheet-based activity)
5. • Build Effective Sentences and Paragraphs
   
   • • Fix fragments and run-on sentences
   • • Improve readability by placing verbs close to subjects
   • • Transitions: connecting sentences and paragraphs with purpose
   • • Word choice:
     
     • • Usage rules (that/which, myself/me, who’s/whose, less/fewer)
     • • Meaning & connotation and how words land with readers
     • • Avoiding jargon/buzzwords/acronyms when audience context is uncertain
   • • Active vs. passive voice (when each helps)
   • • Bullets vs. numbering (when order matters)
   • • Trim your writing (remove fluff; function first)
   • • Exercise: Edit/rewrite a scenario to strengthen sentences, paragraphs, and organization
6. • Write a Persuasive Business Case Email
   
   • • Persuasion framework: KUBA (Know, Understand, Believe, Act)
   • • Exercise: Write a short persuasive workplace email (2 paragraphs max) using KUBA
   • • Formatting for persuasion:
     
     • • Headings, inline emphasis, consistency patterns
7. • Select Appropriate Tone & Level of Formality
   
   • •  Formal vs. informal writing as a spectrum:
     
     • • Word choice, conventions, sentence structure
   • • Tone levers:
     
     • • Punctuation, sentence length, positioning (positive vs. negative), asking vs. telling
   • • Tone limitations in text vs. speech (context matters)
   • • Delivering bad news:
     
     • • Audience impact, questions, structure bad news up front, appropriate tone
     • • Examples contrasting executive vs. team messaging
   • • Exercise: Rewrite emails to match audience, tone, and formality expectations
8. •  Summary & Action Plan
   
   • • Recap of key concepts (including the 6 Cs revisit)
   • • Exercise: Revisit and rewrite the baseline email using course tools
   • • Final Action Planning: How to apply learning on the job; how to continue developing writing skills