The Business Writing Toolkit

Learn the most important business writing skills you need; this seven module course will make a difference to your written communication skills and boost your writing confidence.

The course teaches seven key writing skills:
1. How to plan your business documents
2. How to make your writing and layout reader-friendly and correct
3. How to ensure that you present your ideas logically and coherently
4. How to target your reader/s
5. How to create a good impact with words and build vocabulary
6. How to avoid common grammar and punctuation errors
7. How to master correct business writing style


Course details
• Modules: Seven lessons
• Cost: R2795.00
• Length: Six weeks
• Registration: At any time; fill out the application form at www.sawriterscollege.co.za

Students must complete 15 assignments:
1. Planning a memorandum
2. Re-working an email
3. Writing a job advertisement
4. Replacing "awful abstracts"
5. Placing paragraphs in a business letter
6. Working on a brochure
7. Spelling exercise
8. Thesaurus exercise
9. Vocabulary exercise
10. Grammar exercise
11. Punctuation exercise
12. Proofreading exercise
13. Working with the active and passive voice
14. Analysing style
15. Rewriting a business letter

Admission Requirements
• Basic writing skills are essential
• Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required
• No previous tertiary qualification required

Course Curriculum
Module One: Getting Started: Introduction to Business Writing
• Business writing: what is it?
• Think before you write
• Plan before you write: five steps to take
• Assignment 1: Correctly plan a memorandum
• Assignment 2: Write an email responding to a customer's complaints
Module Two: Keep it Simple: The Rules of Plain English
• Write with clarity
• Obstacles to clear writing, including: clichés, abstract nouns, jargon, officialese and legalese
• Write with style
• Use the correct, most effective layout
• Assignment 3: Write a job advertisement
• Assignment 4: Replace the "awful abstracts" with more appropriate words
Module Three: Make it Flow: Logic and Writing
• Use simple sentences and clear paragraphs
• Paragraphing tips
• What are transitions?
• Create logical flow through transitions
• Assignment 5: Place appropriate paragraphs in a business letter
• Assignment 6: Use appropriate transitions in a brochure
Module Four: Let's Build: Vocabulary and Writing
• What are words?
• Avoid risky words
• Improve vocabulary, and understanding how we build up vocabulary
• Changes in meanings of words
• Dictionaries and spelling rules
• Assignment 7: Choose the correct spelling
• Assignment 8: Use a thesaurus
• Assignment 9: Test your vocabulary knowledge
Module Five: Getting Rid of Grammar Gremlins
• Avoid grammar gremlins
• Books for your bookshelf
• Assignment 10: Grammar exercise
Module Six: Mastering Punctuation
• Understand why we use punctuation
• Gain a sound knowledge of the punctuation rules
• Know how to use punctuation correctly and effectively
• Assignment 11: Correct five examples
• Assignment 12: Proofreading exercise
Module Seven: It's All About Style
• Choosing a voice
• I versus we
• Active versus passive voice
• Use the correct style
• A re-cap of important writing tips
• Assignment 13: Changing from passive to active voice
• Assignment 14: Analysing style
• Assignment 15: Rewrite a business letter, focusing on voice, tone, style, paragraph construction and structure

How does the course work?
Detailed class notes covering the content of each module are e-mailed to students. At the end of each module, students will be required to complete the assignment/s.
Once the writing assignment has been completed and e-mailed to the tutor, an assessment and feedback will be sent to the student, and the module will be considered complete. The student can then move on to the next module.

Conditions of Certification:
Students will receive an SA Writers' College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided they meet the following conditions:
• Students must have completed all 15 assignments
• The course must have been completed within one month of registration.
• Students are expected to attain a minimum average of 50% for the course

Minimum Estimated Time Commitment:
• Reading time: four hours
• Writing time: seven hours
• Planning time: two hours

Venues

Date: 01 July 2013
Location: Online Correspondence Course, Countrywide
Cost: 2795.00

Date: 22 July 2013
Location: Online Correspondence Course, Countrywide
Cost: 2795.00

Date: 29 July 2013
Location: Online Correspondence Course, Countrywide
Cost: 2795.00

Date: 05 August 2013
Location: Online Correspondence Course, Countrywide
Cost: 2795.00

Date: 19 August 2013
Location: Online Correspondence Course, Countrywide
Cost: 2795.00

Date: 26 August 2013
Location: Online Correspondence Course, Countrywide
Cost: 2795.00

Contact: Koos Turenhout
Company name: SA WRITERS' COLLEGE
Email address