HF5718.3.W745

Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-83)

Mentor¿s Message: Good Writing Gets Results The Basics of Good Business Writing Foundation Principles Like everything of consequence, good writing rests on a number of principles. Clarify your propose Take a reader-centered approach State your key message clearly Keep the message short and simple Confirm your delivery strategy Scope Your Project Before you begin writing, always ¿scope¿ the project. Scoping means determining the breadth of your subject and how deeply you will cover it. A good job of scoping will save you and your audience unnecessary time and work. Broad versus limited scope Start-Up Strategies One of the hardest parts of the writing process is getting started. This section offers several strategies for overcoming that problem. Questioning The traditional outline The brainstorm outline Free writing Organize Material According to Purpose Written communication must be logically organized¿otherwise, it won't accomplish its intended purpose. This section described several organizing methods. Order of importance method Chronological method Process and procedure methods Spatial arrangement method Compare and contrast method Specific-to-general or general-to-specific method Analytical method Writing the First Draft Use the first draft to get all key points down on paper¿or on the screen. This section will help you through this important stage. Begin where you feel most comfortable Write in "categories" Special considerations for a technical document Structuring Paragraphs Paragraphs are the essential building blocks of writing. They introduce topics, and signal readers that another step in an argument has begun. Do a good job with paragraphs and the writing battle will be half won. Limit the number of subjects in each paragraph Create smooth transitions Editing for Content Once you complete the first draft, you must edit its content, finalizing the structure, logic, and message of your document. Put your message in focus Review for clarity Sequence your key message strategically Answer your readers' question: "Why?" Editing for Style In this stage of editing, your job is to make your writing sing. You do this by giving it visual appeal, the right voice and tone, and by making it accurate. Text with these qualities has an impact on readers. Design for visual impact Match your tone to your audience Check for conciseness Adopt the active voice Edit for accuracy Drafting E-mail E-mail correspondence should receive the same attention that business letters, memos, and reports receive. Common problems Start with the subject line Only one topic per e-mail Make the purpose of the message clear Be concise and use attachments Remember your audience Keep formatting simple Review your company's e-mail policy Know when not to send an e-mail Tools and Tips Tools for Business Writing Worksheets that will help you through the writing process Test Yourself A helpful review of concepts presented in this guide. Take it before and after you¿ve read through the guide to see how much you¿ve learned. To Learn More Titles of articles and books that can help you further master this topic. Sources for Writing for Business Notes Use this Notes section to record your ideas