Course curriculum

  • 1

    Getting Started

    • Welcome!

    • Course Description and Objectives

    • How to Navigate This Course

    • Meet Your Instructor and Support Team

    • Contact Information

    • Share Your Course Goals
  • 2

    Lesson One: 6-Steps to Effective Business Writing for any Document

    • Objectives & Completion Time

    • The Optimal Business Writing Process

    • Download This Resource: 6-Step Process for Business Writing

    • Step One - Analyze Audience and Determine Purpose

    • Download This Resource: Reader & Purpose Sheet

    • Step Two - Generate Content

    • Step Three - Categorize the Information

    • Step Four - Sequence the Concepts

    • Step Five - Write the First Draft

    • Step Six - Edit

    • Download This Resource: Editing Checklist

    • 6-Step Process Exercise

    • 6-Step Process Quiz
  • 3

    Lesson Two: Document Planning and Coaching Session #1

    • Objectives & Completion Time

    • Ready, Fire, Aim? No!

    • Different Approaches to Planning

    • Practice Exercise Assignment: Define the Audience for Your Document

    • Schedule Your Coaching Session #1
  • 4

    Lesson Three: Document Structure

    • Objectives & Completion Time

    • Document Organization

    • How to Assemble a Well-Organized Document

    • Academic vs. Business Writing and Advanced Document Structure

    • Effective Collaborative Writing Starts Here
  • 5

    Lesson Four: Summarizing and Extracting Complex Information

    • Objectives & Completion Time

    • Executive Summary Defined and Process Illustrated

    • When and How to Write the Executive Summary

    • Examples of Good and Bad Executive Summaries and Key Tips

    • Two Common Errors in Reporting Documents and Executive Summaries

    • Practice Exercise Assignment: Submit Your Document Concept Map
  • 6

    Lesson Five: Document Examples Using Various Tools

    • Objectives & Completion Time

    • Tools and Templates

    • Templates Benefits and Dangers Illustrated

    • PowerPoint

    • Excel

    • Overarching Organization in the Examples

    • Word

    • Avoiding Writer's Block

    • Incorporating AI Tools

    • Download This Resource: Incorporating AI Tools

    • Draft Your Document
  • 7

    Lesson Six: Persuasion

    • Objectives & Completion Time

    • Persuasion Through Formatting

    • Download this Resource: Persuasion Format Checklist
  • 8

    Lesson Seven: Format Considerations

    • Objectives & Completion Time

    • Overall Format Considerations

    • Using White Space

    • Using Visuals and Graphics Appropriately

    • Graphical Integrity
  • 9

    Lesson Eight: Clarity and Word Choice

    • Objectives & Completion Time

    • How to Hone Clarity

    • Download This Resource: Clarity in Business Writing Guide

    • Download This Resource: Strong Business Verbs

    • Expletive Constructions

    • Active Voice vs. Passive Voice

    • Write with Confidence

    • Eliminate Jargon

    • The Power of Short Words

    • Put the What Before the Why in a Sentence

    • Download This Resource: Sentence Polishing Checklist

    • Clarity and Word Choice Quiz
  • 10

    Lesson Nine: Grammar and Syntax

    • Objectives & Completion Time

    • Easily Fix Grammar

    • Download This Resource: Grammar Correction Guide

    • Proofreading Tips

    • Download This Resource: Proofreading Guide

    • Other Grammar and Writing Tools We Recommend
  • 11

    Lesson Ten: Final Document and Coaching Session #2

    • Edit and Submit Your Document

    • Schedule Your Coaching Session #2
  • 12

    Wrap Up

    • Evaluate Training

    • Ongoing Resources and Support