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The Business Writing

Process

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Wtih a partner, discuss

these questions: What is meant by the writing process?

How is the business writing processsimilar to other kinds of writing?

How is the business writing processunique?

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Steps in the Process

Many writers break their writing

down into different steps -

although other writers may

combine some of these steps

Planning

Drafting Revising

Formatting

Proofreading

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Planning

Purpose What is your general purpose?

What is your specific objective?

What do you want your reader to do?

Audience

Who is the main audience?

What are his/her/their characteristics?

What do you expect their response to be?

How much does the audience alreadyknow?

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Planning

Content

Include relevant data, discard irrelevant data

Techniques:

brainstorming

aim for quantity & dont evaluate mind mapping (or clustering)

Organization

classify - grouping related ideas

subordinate - ranking major and minor points

sequence - direct approach or indirectapproach

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Drafting

Let ideas flow - dont evaluate -separate drafting from revising

Ways to let your ideas flow

positive thinking find a quiet place to write

schedule enough time to achievesomething

write out your purpose

avoid perfectionism

talk out loud

save writing the hardest parts for last

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Revising

Three types of revising: Content, Style,Correctness

Content

Does the content match the purpose?

Is the message clear to the reader?

Is the content relevant and complete? Is the information organized in the best way?

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Revising

Style clear & concise

short, simple words

positive, non-discriminatory language

variety of sentence types appropriate active and passive voice

avoidance of fragments and run-on sentences

unified, coherent paragraphs

60 - 80 word paragraphs

sincere, courteous tone

you attitude

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Formatting

Use proper formatting for memoranda,reports, letters. (More on this will be

covered in the tutorials.)

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Proofreading

Proof for content

Proof for typographical errors (including

misspellings - e. g.., form - missed byspell-checkers)

Proof for format

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Problem-solving Task

Context: You are the HRO Director of acompany. Recently you interviewed aperson for the post of Assistant HRODirector. Now you must send them a

letter offering them the position.

With partners, discuss these questions: Who is the main audience for the letter? What are their

characteristics? What do they already know? What is the purpose of the letter? What is the specific

objective? What do you want the reader to do?

What relevant data should you include in the letter?

How should you organize the information in the letter?

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