BC-8: Writing Clear, Effective Business Letters

This course will teach you how to write clear business correspondence that has the impact on readers you want to have. You will learn how to decide when to write, when to call, and when to email, how to write so the correspondence is easy to understand, how to select tone and formality that fit the reader, and how to make sure the closing achieves your objectives. You will then apply your knowledge to letters of request, response, apology, complaint, adjustment, bad news, and appeal

In this BCCG Career Short,you will learn how to:

• Write letters that partner with readers to achieve maximum results for you, the reader, and the company

• Decide when to write, when to call, and when to e-mail

• Organize for maximum clarity

• Write an introduction that increases impact

• Write a closing that achieves your objectives

• Apply the skills to letters of request, response, apology, bad news, and persuasion

Coach: Craig Hogan, Ph.D., Director, The Business Writing Center Robert Craig Hogan, Ph.D., is an accomplished writing trainer with 38 years of experience. He has been a professor of business communications at Illionis State University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Allegheny County College. Dr. Hogan has owned two companies consulting with businesses in writing and writing training, has been senior writer in another consulting company, and has been the manager of communications in a telephone billing service company. He has written dozens of courses and workshop materials training writers and is the author of books on business writing, including Explicit Business Writing: Best Practices for the Twenty-First Century.