Writing Strategies and Techniques /F335

Course Overview

Transpose Your Ideas into Words

Goal

Improve the efficiency of business writing using a simple drafting method and appropriate expression.

Learning objectives

• Learn to communicate better in writing and expand the scope of your texts.
• Understand the impact of electronic communications on professionalism and credibility.
• Adapt your style for the audience and the situation.
• Learn an effective drafting method that is applicable to all business writing.
• Learn to plan, target, structure and edit your message.
• Use business writing etiquette.

Activities

Theory (40%); practical exercises (60%).

Content

Pre-training preparatory exercise

• Choose a document to work on during the workshop
  • Exercise: My objective

Workshop – 1 day

• Ice breaker: Let me clarify!
• Activity: Writing vs. talking
• Writing: Soft skills and hard skills

Soft skills

• Writing means reflecting
  • Writing analysis exercise – full group
  • The audience: Precautions to take
  • Adapting for the audience and for the purpose
  • Non-verbal language and tone
  • Exercise: Find the object
  • The words under the emotions: Key actions
• Electronic communications: Special care required
  • Credibility and professionalism
  • Exercise: The best opportunities
  • Choose the means of communication

Hard skills

• Drafting structure
• Self-diagnosis: Concision
• Two types of drafting plan: Short text and long text
• Exercise: Over to you
• Detailed drafting process
• Exercise: Clarify the objective (review preparatory exercise)
• Exercise: Put your ideas in order
• Exercise: Make a detailed plan
• The Golden Rules of business writing
  • Drafting principles
  • Improving the quality of your writing: Write clear sentences, obey syntax and grammar rules, use the right word, simplify technical jargon, make use of argument techniques.
  • Practical exercises
• Re-read and edit
  • Identify errors quickly
  • Key actions and helpful tools
• Action plan: Knowledge and application

Workshop evaluation