We all know that writing is one of the most important methods of business communication for most people, whether its e-mails, memos, proposals, or major reports.  Lots of people struggle with the composition of these.  Sometimes it’s because they don’t have to do it very often so therefore it doesn’t flow as easily as they would like, sometimes because they are new to a role, or just because it’s not their favourite thing. 

This workshop will provide:

* a quick refresher on basic writing concepts (such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation) – the things that we often miss especially when completing work under pressure; and

* an overview of some the typical business documents – letters, reports, proposals – that you may have to deal with, with tips on structure, style etc.

There will be activities in as many areas as possible, to give you some practice in structuring your documents.  Note you won’t be doing much actual writing - this is neither an English course nor a word processing course.  We’ll also spend a little time on polishing/reviewing – it’s like reading over your answer when you’ve finished a question in an exam (if you ever get the time!).  You always find something.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

* Understand the function/purpose of all of the above.

* Utilise the tips and techniques provided here to determine an appropriate structure to use for your business artefacts in different situations.

* Define proofreading and understand the techniques in improving proofreading skills.

* Define peer review and list ways peer review can help improve business writing skills.

* Notice (and correct) common spelling and grammar issues in business writing.

* List guidelines in printing and publishing business writing

1. Familiarise yourself with commonly misused words. Example: Affect vs. Effect
2. Make sure you pronounce words properly.
3. Note some friendly rules on spelling. 
4. If you’re writing for an international audience, note that there are spelling variations in the different kinds of English. 
5. Use spelling resources.

* Period/full stop (.) – used to end a sentence.

* Question Mark (?) – used after a question.

* Exclamation Point (!) – used after statements with emotion. 

* Comma (,) – used to separate items in a series.

* Colon (:) – used to mean “note what follows,”

* Apostrophe (‘) – used to show possessive case, or to indicate the omission of letters in a word.

* Semicolon (;) - used to link independent clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction

Tips on how to write a business letter:

* Determine the purpose of your letter, and make it clear at the outset.

* Be courteous and diplomatic, even if it is a difficult or contentious topic. 

* Remember that correct spelling, grammar and punctuation are always important. 

* Tailor your letter so that it does not ‘read’ like a standard mail-shot. 

* An Overview of your company

* A statement of the need/requirement

* The Scope of your proposal

* Contact Details

* References

* Marketing material

Please call Australian Salesmasters on 02 9700 9333 to book your attendance. Looking forward to meeting with you.