Class Examples
Additional handouts and resources used in class discussions

Writing

Nationally known business writing instructor, John Sturtevant, discusses some of his favorite tips of the trade for corporate communicators.

Collaboration

Think it's difficult to get a team together for a collaborative project? Think again...

Presentations

» Example PowerPoint (.ppt, 122K)

Presentation Structure

In the brief 4 minute presentation below, note how communication expert Susan Leahy structures her conversation with the same essential elements we've discussed in class:

• Introduction (she introduces herself, introduces the topic, and uses anecdote to draw the audience in)
• Overview (introduces "three very important segments," which provides a "road map" for the audience to follow)
• Clear signposts (provides clear, easily discernible steps with a discussion of each "important segment")
• Summary and conclusion (w/ a review of those "three important segments")

Business writing and Communication Resources
Links to various online sites about business writing and style.

» Writing Tips compiled from WMU Today, a newsletter published by University Relations (WMU).

» Writing for and about Western Michigan University compiled by Thom Myers (WMU)
This style guide is offered to bring consistency to correspondence and print and electronic publications written for and about Western Michigan University. It addresses many of the more commonly asked questions about style and several of the more common errors.

» Writing Style Guides (WMU University Libraries)
Contains the rules and examples you need to format a manuscript or student paper, including how to format references you are citing, into one of several accepted styles. These standards also serve to help scholars understand each other's reference lists. The most commonly used styles include:

• APA (American Psychological Association) (Style Guide) PDF - Business writing often follows APA style
• MLA (Modern Language Association) (Style Guide) PDF
• Chicago (University of Chicago) (Style Guide) PDF

» Professional Writing Handouts and Resources (Purdue University)
Information about various aspects of business, technical, and professional writing, including an online resume workshop, cover letter workshop, research report guidelines, style guides, samples, and more.
» Here are some report writing guidelines from the OWL at Purdue University site:

» Business Writing (Empire State College, Genessee Valley Writing Center)
Information (with examples) about Bibliography of business & professional writing, nominal writing in business, personality choices in business writing, persuasive business writing, the "Seven Deadly Sins of Business Writing," the "Ten Commandments of Business Writing," using evidence to prove your point In business writing, writing a business memo, and more.

» Common Errors in English Usage compiled by Paul Brians, Professor of English at Washington State University. "To error err is human, but how does that impact effect affect your job performance?" Hundreds of common usage and spelling errors (and non-errors) defined and explained.

» Google Docs (for collaboration)
Google offers technology to share on-line documents among teams at the Google Docs and Spreadsheets website. Before you can use Google docs you have to create a Google account. If you have a gmail address, you already have a Google account.

Writing for the Web

» Good Documents: How to write for the INTRAnet
» Usable Web - Writing Styles
» Writing for the Web - Jakob Nielsen
» Writing for the Web - Sun Microsystems
» Web Style Guide: Editorial - Yale
» Web Style Guide 3rd edition, by Patrick J. Lynch and Sarah Horton

Hot Text! Web Writing that Works ISBN:0-7357-1151-8 (all PDF files)

• Table of Contents
• Chapter 1: Who Am I Writing for, and Incidentally, Who Am I?
• Chapter 2: What Kind of Thing Am I Creating?
• Chapter 3: What Will the Web Do to My Text?
• Chapter 4: Attention!
• Chapter 5: Shorten That Text!
• Chapter 6: Make Text Scannable
• Chapter 7: Cook Up Hot Links
• Chapter 8: Build Chunky Paragraphs!
• Chapter 9: Reduce Cognitive Burdens!
• Chapter 10: Write Menus That Mean Something
• Chapter 11: Writing in a Genre
• Chapter 12:
  • Where Can I Get the Answers to My Questions?
  • Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • E-mail Responses to Customers
• Chapter 13: Persuading Niche Markets, Individuals, and the Press
• Chapter 14: Making News That Fits
• Chapter 15: Entertaining People Who Like to Read
• Chapter 16: Sharing Your Research on the Web
• Chapter 16b: Getting a Job
• Chapter 19: Challenges
• For more info about the book and related writing resources, consult the publisher's web site.

Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works by Janice Redish

• Chapter 1 Content! Content! Content! (PDF, 1.3MB)
• Chapter 5 Writing Information, Not Documents (PDF, 2.5MB)
• For more info about the book, consult the publisher's web site.

Other Resources

Microsoft Office 2007 Resources

» Office 2007 Quick Reference card (pdf, 821KB)
» Up to speed with the 2007 Microsoft® Office system
» Word 2007 Quick Reference card (pdf, 363KB)
» Up to speed with Word 2007
» Excel 2007 Quick Reference card (pdf, 598KB)
» Up to speed with Excel 2007
» PowerPoint 2007 Quick Reference card (pdf, 448KB)
» Up to speed with PowerPoint 2007
» Outlook 2007 Quick Reference card (pdf, 439KB)
» Up to speed with Outlook 2007
» Access 2007 Quick Reference card (pdf, 821KB)
» Up to speed with Access 2007

Business Writing