Impact on the Organization
Writing documents that are clear, concise and error-free is essential for a business to prosper. Documents that are difficult to read will usually go unread! Your message may be lost because the messenger is unable to plainly disseminate the information. By giving employees the tools they need to improve the documents they write in the line of work, you increase the flow and understanding of information, which ultimately impacts the bottom line.
Learning Objectives
- Quickly plan writing tasks by analyzing readers and defining the document’s purpose, focus, and objective.
- Select information that enables the reader to respond to messages.
- Organize information for persuasive appeal.
- Format documents for quick reading and on-screen reading.
- Revise documents for clarity, conciseness, and proper tone.
- Edit documents for grammar and style consistency.
- Use e-mail efficiently to transact business.
Writing for Results covers strategies that help writers quickly plan, draft, and revise business documents that get results. Participants learn how to identify readers’ needs, define writing objectives, organize information, and format documents for quick reading. One-day and longer formats are available.
The workshop emphasizes both product (what is an effective document) and process (how do you create an effective document). It includes short lectures on writing topics and strategies. Participants will analyze document samples, evaluate each others’ writing, and perform a self-assessment of their writing progress.
Once the workshop is over, participants will receive a booklet that they can refer back to, reminding them of tools and techniques they learned over the course of the class.
Writing For Results Topics
Business Writing Basics
- Causes of poor writing
- Qualities of effective business writing
Five Criteria for Effective Messages
- Discussion and examples
The Writing Process in 3 Steps
- Overview: Planning, Drafting, and Revising
Audience Analysis
- Planning your message
The Quick Draft
- Drafting your message
Organizing Information
- Organizing through questions: Exercise
- Parallel structure
Peer Review
- Exercise
Using E-mail Effectively
- Uses and Abuses
Online Writing Basics
- How online documents differ from paper documents
- How readers read e-mail documents
- Common problems in writing and reading e-mail documents
- Samples of effective and ineffective e-mail messages
Testing Online Readability
- Five principles of readability
Revising Techniques
- Macro- and Micro-revising
- Using Active/Passive Voice
- Peer Reviews
- Revising Practice
Creating a Professional Style
- Focusing on the “real” subject
- Using action verbs
- Deleting empty phrases
Peer Editing Practice
Discussion and Final Comments
Time Investment
Typically 8 hrs per class