Course Description

Business Writing Essentials is designed to meet the basic communication needs of students and working professionals in business fields. This course is also an excellent introductory writing course for students who may choose to pursue a certificate in technical writing. The course covers issues of purpose and style while allowing students plenty of focused practice with short writing exercises.

Business writing is a form of communication, a type of conversation, an interactive process that involves writers and readers who respond to one another. In fact, business writings are documents that use description and explanation in order to persuade readers to take action. Consequently, effective writers in the business world must have:

• a clear understanding of the subject matter
• a thorough awareness of the the intended audience(s)
• a strong mastery of the required business writing forms

Business writing has many forms, including letters, memos, reports, proposals, and presentations. Since there are so many forms and such variety within the forms, it is not possible for students to learn everything they might eventually need for a workplace in this one course. Students can, however, gain an appreciation for and refine skills needed to develop writings that are, in effect, representative of what effective business communication entails.

The course is organized to cover the purposes and styles of business writing and to offer students a variety of focused writing exercises structured around scenarios or actual work situations. The class gives students an opportunity to learn and apply both writing and critical thinking skills. Students will develop resumes; write memos, letters, and electronic messages; work on teams to create a collaborative report; write a short individual research proposal; prepare and present oral presentations; and engage in editing, revising, and evaluating business writings. Work will be graded on a portfolio system where revision will be rewarded. Because much work will be done in class, attendance is absolutely mandatory.

CASE students who enroll in this course will develop a final research proposal for their community partners, either alone or as part of a group.

Please note: students do not have to sign up for CASE to take one of these sections of Business Writing Essentials, though it is strongly encouraged.

The links to the left can be used to learn more about Business Writing Essentials as well as other business and technical writing courses.