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Class 6

Professional Writing

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Ｔｕｅｓ： 13:30-15:00 VBL 2F 電話 285-3630

REVISED Class Schedule5/28 (水 )12:50-14:20 Intro/ Self-Introductions ①6/4 (水 )12:50-14:20 Getting Your Point Across ②6/11 (水 )12:50-14:20 Casual Business Conversations ③6/18 (水 )12:50-14:20 Understanding Business News ④6/25 (水 )12:50-14:20 ⑤ PR & Marketing Communication

7/2 (水 )12:50-14:20 ⑥ Professional Correspondence7/9 (水 )12:50-14:20 ⑦ Science & Technology Writing7/16 (水 )12:50-14:20 ⑧ Working With New Media

[10/1](水 )12:50-14:20 ⑨ Public Speaking 10/8 (水 )12:50-14:20 Public Speaking⑨10/15(水 )12:50-14:20 Elevator Pitches⑩

10/29(水 )12:50-14:20 Business/Tech Project Plan Case Study⑪11/5 (水 )12:50-14:20 Initial Presentation ⑫

11/19(水 )12:50-14:20 Business/Tech Project Plan Workshop⑬11/26(水 )12:50-14:20 Final Plan Presentation⑭12/3 (水 )12:50-14:20 Final Plan Presentation (continued)⑮

12/11(木 ) 　 Final Report Due

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Prior Homework

Writing: (for next Wednesday) Take your news story topic, write a press release as if you were the

company or organization involved in the event or product discusses.

Watching/Listening/Reading: www.ManageYourWriting.com http://advertising.about.com/ http://advertising.about.com/od/smallbusinesscampaigns/u/

smallbusiness.htm www.prnewswire.com www.ketchum.com www.infocomgroup.com/ME2/Default.asp (PR Professionals) www.prwatch.org

Speaking: Marketing Tounge Twister: “She sells seashells by the seashore”

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Purpose of Business Writing

Convey information Deliver good or bad news Explain of justify actions taken

Influence reader to take action Direct action

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Specific Reasons for Many Business Documents to inform to explain to confirm to remind to follow up to formalize decisions

to express thanks to apologize to congratulate

to invite or welcome to introduce a person or policy

to recommend to reject a proposal or offer

to request to persuade To direct or command

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MemosInside of Company

manager «» employee staff «» staff

LettersOutside of Company

business «» business business «» customer business «» shareholder job applicant «» company

EmailMessages / Distribution Method

Harvard Business School on:

Effective Business Writing for:

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Harvard Business School on:

Good Business Writing

Have A Purpose Clear Be Audience Focused Make Your Message Clear Keep Focused on Topic Be Concise Use Simple Sentences Make Delivery Strategic (Who, When, How)

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Malcom Forbes on:

How to Write a Business Letter

Know what you want (to accomplish) Dive right in - Tell what your letter is about in the first paragraph Write so it is enjoyable for the reader (customer)

Be positive Be nice Be natural Be specific Be interesting (sense use humor – be careful about this)

Use more nouns and verbs than adjectives Use active voice, not passive voice Make the letter look good – format, spelling, grammar Keep it short Be honest, don’t exaggerate Be clear End with action statement and simple close

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Homework

Write a cover letter in English to apply for a job in a U.S. or U.K. company where you may want to work. Check their website to see if there are jobs

available (or make one up if no jobs are posted)

Extra Credit: Write a letter to Prime Minister Fukuda recommending that he take some action to improve Japan.

Email to btce2008@bizsmith.com by 7/8

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Cover Letters Keep it brief. Usually about four paragraphs:

1. Introduce yourself and explain why you’re writing. 2. Lay out your key, related skills and accomplishments. 3. Explain why you want to work for the company. 4. Thank the reader, invite him to contact you or write your follow-up plans.

Personalize. Address your letter to a specific person. (Make sure the spelling is correct.) Avoid generic greetings.

Sell your skills. Don’t just repeat your resume. Highlight the skills that are most relevant and show how they relate to the position.

Be clear. Be direct (but not pushy); write clearly and concisely. Don’t make the reader guess why you’re writing or how your skills match the position.

Be proactive. Tell how you can be reached and be specific about your plan to follow-up. Follow through.

Review carefully. Double-check for typos; don’t rely on spell-check. Ask a friend to check it. Make changes and review again.