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by Nan Levinson
How To Sharpen Your Business Writing Skills, Second Edition
Cover Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
About This Course
How to Take This Course
Pre-Test
1 Writing for Your Reader
Establishing Criteria
Exercise 1–1: What Is Good Writing?
Knowing Why You Write
Knowing Your Audience
Position in the Organization
Exercise 1–2: Paths of Communication Based on Social and Political Relationships
Knowledge of the Topic
Exercise 1–3: Paths of Communication Based on Level of Knowledge
Personal Characteristics
Exercise 1–4: Consider the Reader
Multiple Readers
Applying Basic Psychology
Point Out Benefits to the Reader
Consider the Reader’s Point of View
Use an Appropriate Tone
Exercise 1–5: Writing with an Appropriate Tone
Recap
Review Questions
2 Getting Organized
Creating an Outline
Formal and Informal Outlines
The Outline as a Test of Logic
Developing Your Topic
Good Evidence
Validity and Logic
Exercise 2–1: Finding the Flaw in the Argument
Details, Details
Organizing Your Material
Direct Organization
Exercise 2–2: Get to the Point
Indirect Organization
Putting Your Supporting Ideas in Sequence
Exercise 2–3: From Brainstorm to Order
Chronology
Categorization
Problem/Solution
Comparison
Process Analysis
Getting Going
Recap
Answers to Exercises
Review Questions
3 Types of Business Writing
The Business Letter
Format
Body of the Letter
Exercise 3–1: Writing Letters
The Memorandum
Protocol and Format
Content
Exercise 3–2: Writing a Memo
The Proposal
Body of the Proposal
The Report
Minutes of a Meeting
Writing Together
Recap
Answers to Exercises
Review Questions
4 Effective Writing
Choosing Appropriate Sentence Patterns
Simple Sentences
Compound Sentences
Complex Sentences
Using Sentences Effectively
Topic Sentences
Paragraphs
Transitions
Exercise 4–1: Organizing Sentences
Emphasizing and Deemphasizing Ideas
Exercise 4–2: Beware the Dreaded Comma Splice
Exercise 4–3: Structuring for Emphasis
Controlling Sentence Length
Exercise 4–4: Sentence Length
Creating Rhythm with Sentence Variety
Building Sound Sentences
Parallel Structure
Exercise 4-5: Parallel Structure
Misplaced Modifiers
Dangling Modifiers
Exercise 4-6: Avoiding Dangling Modifiers
Recap
Answers to Exercises
Review Questions
5 The Right Word: Appropriate Language
Dictionaries: Tools of the Trade
Dictionary Entries
Synonyms
Read Thoroughly
Exercise 5–1: Consulting a Dictionary
Slippery Words
Denotation and Connotation
Sexist and Other Offensive Language
Jargon and Technical Terms
Formality
Exercise 5–2: Airing Out Stuffiness
Grammar
Agreement of Subject and Verb
Exercise 5–3: Subject-Verb Agreement
Agreement of Pronoun and Antecedent
Agreement of Pronouns in Other Sentences
Resources
Recap
Answers to Exercises
Review Questions
6 Language That Works
Finding the Right Tone
Choosing the Right Verbal Image
Loaded Words
Positive and Negative Associations
Warm and Cold Words
Exercise 6–1: Warm and Cold Words
Being Precise
Writing Logically
Using Words Correctly
Finding the Right Word
Exercise 6–2: Precise Writing
Being Concise
Eliminate Fillers
Eliminate Repetition
Condense Phrases and Clauses
Exercise 6–3: Tight Writing
Recap
Answers to Exercises
Review Questions
7 Direct and Forceful Writing
Using Active Verbs
Making Passive Sentences Active
Exercise 7–1: The Active Voice
Using the Passive Voice Appropriately
Using Concrete and Specific Language
Powerful Verbs
Exercise 7–2: Active Verbs
Vivid Nouns
Exercise 7–3: Concrete and Abstract Nouns
Who Does What to Whom?
Verbized Nouns and Nounification of Verbs
It’s Absolutely, Totally Unnecessary to Overmodify Very Much
Exercise 7–4: Edit, Rewrite, Improve
Avoiding Tired Language
Recap
Answers to Exercises
Review Questions
8 Write and Rewrite: Punctuating and Revising
Punctuation
End Marks
The Comma
The Semicolon
The Colon
The Dash
The Apostrophe
Exercise 8–1: Punctuation Practice
Incorporating Quotations into Your Writing
Exercise 8–2: Quotable Quotes
Rewriting, Polishing, and Streamlining
Proofreading
Exercise 8–3: Find the Errors
Checking Yourself
Recap
Answers to Exercises
Review Questions
9 Research: Fact-Finding Missions
Interviewing for Information
The Right Questions
Open-Ended Questions
Indirect Questions
Feedback Questions
Exercise 9–1: Kinds of Questions
Researching
Using the Internet
Resources Online
The Library
Reference Librarians
Detective at Work
Exercise 9–2: Where in the World Is . . .
Using Sources
Recap
Answers to Exercises
Review Questions
10 Plugging In: Computers and Business Communication
Writing by Computer
Wordiness: Delete
Presentation: The Eyes Have It
Guidelines for Electronic Writing
Electronic Communication
E-Mail
Discussion Forums
Writing that Functions as Speech
Exercise 10–1: Writing E-mail
New Issues in Communication
Privacy
Offending Material
Copyright Protection
A Word to the Wise
Exercise 10–2: Assessing the Risks
Recap
Answers to Exercises
Review Questions
Bibliography
Post-test
Index
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How to Sharpen Your Business Writing Skills
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Copyright Page
How to Sharpen Your Business Writing Skills
Second Edition
Nan Levinson
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