Writing in the Workplace: Email, Memos, Reports, and Social Messaging
Effective professional writing, which happens consistently and inescapably, is one of the main driving forces of a productive workplace. This course covers the most common features and forms of everyday workplace writing, as well as strategies for creating and refining such writing.
What you'll learn
Writing in the workplace is often thought of as something coming in short bursts, or associated with major initiatives. The bulk of workplace writing, though, happens on a sustained, daily basis in the form of emails, memos, interoffice social communication, and routine informal reports. The average worker, regardless of field, generates 10-15 pages of writing a week. Proficiency with and understanding of these writing tasks will increase workplace efficiency and productivity, as well as the ultimate value of the writing itself. This course covers the most common, repeatable types of internal office communication, how to create this writing, and how to revise it for maximum impact and value.
Table of contents
- General Introduction and Course Objectives 7m
- Professional Writing Trait One: Clarity 4m
- Professional Writing Trait Two: Correctness 6m
- Professional Writing Trait Three: Conciseness 4m
- Professional Writing Trait Four: Comprehensiveness 3m
- Professional Writing Trait Five: Accessibility 3m
- Professional Writing Trait Six: Appearance 3m
- Professional Writing Trait Seven: Accuracy 3m
- Professional Writing Trait Eight: Honesty 6m
- Professional Writing Trait Nine: The Writing Situation 9m
- Module Review 2m
About the author
Alan Ackmann teaches business and technical writing in the Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse Department at DePaul University in Chicago, IL, where he lives with his wife and two children. His professional specialties include career development writing and the rhetoric of slideware and presentations. In his spare time, he enjoys jogging, reading, and singing (though not always in that order).