Hands-on Workshop and Practical Seminar

Professional Skills for Writing in Clear, Concise and Impactful Business English
Applying Harvard University Global System™ Tools

Crafting email, reports and daily correspondence with clarity, coherence and impact is vital for all employees. That is why good writers are sought everywhere, but they are not easy to find. Not many people are in complete control of their written communications; not everyone is able to write a message so that they convey exactly what they mean and achieve their intended effect on their readers.

As a participant, you will practice with unique exercises designed to reinforce learning and improve your written communication skills. You can expect to acquire lasting skills and increased proficiency in business correspondence, the cornerstone of corporate productivity and personal success.

Who should attend: Managers, team leaders, executive and administrative assistants, proofreaders, engineers, IT analysts and other professionals who would benefit from a refresher course in the building blocks of English (proofreading, spelling, punctuation); a review of difficult expressions and styles commonly used in business; instruction that will result in concise, readable English; guidance in crafting more effective letters and memos.

1. Mechanics and Grammar

• Sentences:
  what different kinds of sentence can we write?
  How do our sentences either clarify or obscure our message?
  How can we craft sentences that build suspense, lead to a climax, present information clearly, and give readers a clear picture of our meaning?
• Punctuation:
  what are the rules for commas, semi-colons, colons, apostrophes?
  Do the rules make sense, and are we able to use the rules properly to maximize our readers' understanding of our message?
• Grammar:
  what is a modifier, and how can it be manipulated in a sentence to add emphasis?
  How do we use pronouns correctly, and how to we make sure that they are always clear?
  What does 'parallelism' mean, and how can it help our writing?
• Spelling:
  what are some tricks we can use to ensure that our spelling is correct the first time?

2. Crafting a Message Part One: What am I saying?

• How do I know what I want to say?
• How do I know what the reader wants to know?
• What do I need to say or not say? How do I organize these thoughts?
• Is one idea a digression or an essential part of my message?
• How do I eliminate digressions and focus on the essentials?

3. Crafting a Message Part Two: How am I saying it?

• What strategies can I employ to make sure that I am going to get the response I want from my readers?
• How can I make my readers understand me at their ease?
• What are the qualities of good writing, and how do I balance them?
• What are rhetorical strategies, and how can I use them?
• Can I recognize features of good writing in what I read?
• How do I evaluate my own tone and make sure it is suitable and appropriate in all occasions?

In this workshop, we will consider various forms of formal and informal writing. Our final goal is to take responsibility for our ideas in words, and we will work on developing the confidence to do so.

• Duration: 2.5 days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. day 1 and 2, from 8:30 a.m. to noon day 3
• Value in Continuing Education Units: 2 CEU
• Tuition Fees
  • Fees include books, hand-outs, road maps and other course materials of exceptional value (see above), a daily continental breakfast, a light luncheon plus hot and soft drinks twice a day.
  • Regular fees: $1395; government: $1345; group fees for 3 or more delegates registering for the same session at the same time: $1295 per participant. Add taxes for non tax-exempted participants
  • Complete 5-day Program: $2495; government: $2445; groups for 3 or more participants: $2395 per participant. Add taxes for non tax-exempted participants.