- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional (1 July 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0071441271
- ISBN-13: 978-0071441278
- Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 14.7 x 1.8 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 566,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Good business writing is not a gift, which you either have or you don't. It is a process that can be taught and managed like any other business process. The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Business Communication Course will teach that process in 36 hours.
Author, teacher, and writing coach Ken Davis helps readers manage their writing skills through a proven 12-step program. From knowing your audience to effectively delivering the message, Davis shows how anyone can become better, more effective communicators. Whether writing better e-mails or memos, or creating more concise reports, The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Business Communication Course shows business professionals of all levels how they can improve their writing in order to become more effective at their jobs.
With the self-tests, exercises, and exams common to The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Course Series, this handy guide shows how anyone can be a better writer – and why it’s important. But, far from a primer on spelling, punctuation, and grammar, this real-world guide will help readers deliver their messages more clearly, more concisely, and more effectively, regardless of the medium.
From the Back Cover
The easy-to-learn, step-by-step approach for making yourself a more powerful, persuasive business writer
Effective business writing isn't a skill you're born with. It is simply a process, like any other, that becomes simpler when broken into clear, manageable steps.
The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Course in Business Writing and Communication takes you through each of these steps. Filled with hands-on exercises and self-tests, expert insights, up-to-date case studies, and more, this straight-talking guidebook introduces you to the tools and techniques you need to:
- Transform your writing from "I" and "You" centered to "We" centered
- Quickly collect and organize the information you need
- Use "turn signals" to guide your reader from sentence to sentence
- Eliminate non-specific words and phrases from your writing
- Grab your readers' attention by choosing stronger nouns and verbs
- Manage your online and cross-cultural writing
- Focus first on getting each project written before concerning yourself with getting it right
In business, whether you are crafting a three-line message or a 300-page report, how and what you write defines who you are. The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Course in Business Writing and Communication will give you the skills you need to write for success, regardless of your profession or position.
Inside This Book
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Amazon.com:
10 reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
A practical workplace writing course in a book
11 Aug 2005
Format:Paperback
If you're reading this review, you probably already know that improving your writing could help your career and are motivated to do that, so this book could be very helpful.
Although this book is very readable (written in a casual, direct, and often humorous style), you wouldn't want to just read it, because it's designed to be used. The organization is great for actually applying what each chapter teaches: testing yourself on what you've learned and, most importantly, practicing new approaches to writing. If you're serious about becoming a better writer on-the-job, then this book can teach you how to do that.
You just need to be motivated enough to put in the 36 hours and really do what's required to learn on your own. This is a lot cheaper, more flexible, and possibly more effective way to learn than taking a class with a roomful of people and doing graded homework assignments that might not apply to your every day work.
The author has great examples and his "manage your writing today" sections are practical and creative and easy to apply. You just need to follow the instructions.
Although this book is very readable (written in a casual, direct, and often humorous style), you wouldn't want to just read it, because it's designed to be used. The organization is great for actually applying what each chapter teaches: testing yourself on what you've learned and, most importantly, practicing new approaches to writing. If you're serious about becoming a better writer on-the-job, then this book can teach you how to do that.
You just need to be motivated enough to put in the 36 hours and really do what's required to learn on your own. This is a lot cheaper, more flexible, and possibly more effective way to learn than taking a class with a roomful of people and doing graded homework assignments that might not apply to your every day work.
The author has great examples and his "manage your writing today" sections are practical and creative and easy to apply. You just need to follow the instructions.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
More Than a How-to-Write Text
6 Sep 2005
Format:Paperback
Business Writing and Communication by Kenneth W. Davis claims to be an "easy-to-learn, step-by-step approach to making yourself a more powerful and persuasive business writer." It achieves that goal and more. It is also a learned book, demonstrating a breadth of knowledge and scholarship unusual in a "how-to" book.
What makes the book extraordinary is the rich collection of business wisdom woven throughout. Business Writing and Communication introduces the reader to the major business gurus of the last 30 years - Naisbitt, Toffler, Peters, Drucker, Deming, Beckwith, Iacocca - and M.A.S.H.'s Larry Gelbart. The quotes gathered just on pages 3-6 make the business case for clear communication persuasively and succinctly - and that's just the beginning. Throughout the book, the reader encounters not only the principles of effective writing, but also the positioning of writing as critical to business success. Davis begins the book by asserting, "In this knowledge economy, writing is the chief value-producing activity." He makes his case.
This book demonstrates what it teaches - that logical organization of ideas delivered in a lively, engaging style satisfies the reader. It is packed with real-world examples - documents that illustrate the points being made and anecdotes about successful and unsuccessful business communication strategies. The book's style itself is breezy, but appropriate; conversational, but clear. A pleasure to read, Business Writing and Communication contributes substantially to our understanding of "business communication" - not just the "how" but also the "why important."
Lee Clark Johns
Author of The Writing Coach and Writing Excellence
What makes the book extraordinary is the rich collection of business wisdom woven throughout. Business Writing and Communication introduces the reader to the major business gurus of the last 30 years - Naisbitt, Toffler, Peters, Drucker, Deming, Beckwith, Iacocca - and M.A.S.H.'s Larry Gelbart. The quotes gathered just on pages 3-6 make the business case for clear communication persuasively and succinctly - and that's just the beginning. Throughout the book, the reader encounters not only the principles of effective writing, but also the positioning of writing as critical to business success. Davis begins the book by asserting, "In this knowledge economy, writing is the chief value-producing activity." He makes his case.
This book demonstrates what it teaches - that logical organization of ideas delivered in a lively, engaging style satisfies the reader. It is packed with real-world examples - documents that illustrate the points being made and anecdotes about successful and unsuccessful business communication strategies. The book's style itself is breezy, but appropriate; conversational, but clear. A pleasure to read, Business Writing and Communication contributes substantially to our understanding of "business communication" - not just the "how" but also the "why important."
Lee Clark Johns
Author of The Writing Coach and Writing Excellence
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Highly recommended
14 Oct 2006
Format:Paperback
This is an outstanding business writing book -- high on substance, low on fluff, with just enough sidenotes and tangents to make it entertaining. Davis covers a lot of material in this quick read. I especially appreciate his advice on writing memos/emails for maximum effect and response. He provides simple formulas for common types of communication: request for info., claims, good news, bad news. And he recommends putting down points in the order the reader can use them, not the order in which you think of them. (Should be obvious, right? No so in the business world.)
He offers bad writing examples and good revisions. Check out this example:
"Subject: Roadway identification in parking lots
During our Safety Coordinators' meeting the point was made that with our energy conservation program (during the hours of darkness, fog, etc.) roadway identification in our parking lots is hazardous. The recommendation was raised that we might use a fluorescent-type reflecting paint. Would you please investigate the feasibility of this recommendation and advise me as to your decision on implementation?
Your early response is appreciated."
Awful, right?
Here's his revision:
"Subject: Fluorescent paint in parking lots
Can we use fluorescent paint in our parking lots to make traffic lanes easier to see?
During our Safety Coordinators' meeting, someone pointed out that with our reduced lighting, roadways are hard to see in fog or darkness.
Please find out whether this solution will work, and let me know within a week.
Thanks."
It's a great book! Now that I follow his guidelines I find writing easier, faster, and a lot more fun.
He offers bad writing examples and good revisions. Check out this example:
"Subject: Roadway identification in parking lots
During our Safety Coordinators' meeting the point was made that with our energy conservation program (during the hours of darkness, fog, etc.) roadway identification in our parking lots is hazardous. The recommendation was raised that we might use a fluorescent-type reflecting paint. Would you please investigate the feasibility of this recommendation and advise me as to your decision on implementation?
Your early response is appreciated."
Awful, right?
Here's his revision:
"Subject: Fluorescent paint in parking lots
Can we use fluorescent paint in our parking lots to make traffic lanes easier to see?
During our Safety Coordinators' meeting, someone pointed out that with our reduced lighting, roadways are hard to see in fog or darkness.
Please find out whether this solution will work, and let me know within a week.
Thanks."
It's a great book! Now that I follow his guidelines I find writing easier, faster, and a lot more fun.
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