This site has been started with your learning and interests in mind. You can use it as a space to save your work, to collaborate on improving writing skills, to ask your teacher questions, or to discuss issues of writing style with your colleagues. This wiki is a resource that is always there for you, a reference that you go back to any time you like, much like a course book, to review and check what you learned in class, or to get a fresh copy of a document you've lost or messed up. You will also find links to webpages of interest for extra practice and support, and a mail facility that allows you to contact your teacher without needing an e-mail address. You can edit the site yourself at any time, but if you have any ideas, suggestions, or preferences for this course, you can also use this site to get in touch.
The results for the needs analysis on this course indicated the following preferences:
Letters and formal e-mails
Letter-writing conventions: layout; addresses; dates; salutations; abbreviations, etc. – (ING house style dictates, but generally ?)
Writing in a suitably formal style and a suitably ‘businessy’ register. Not too formal and over-businessy, but not too informal and chatty. +
How to start a letter: different salutations and first paragraphs. +
How to show respect for your reader through your choice of language. +
How to use the active / passive to create distance, avoid accusing, etc. +
How to end a letter appropriately for its function and formality. +
How to make your letter easy for your reader to follow by using signposting and linking devices. +
How to make requests, enquiries, and point out mistakes diplomatically. +
Short e-mails
Differences in the language of letters and e-mails. ?
How to write e-mails for different functions. ?
Considering your reader
How to paragraph your letter properly and how to construct your paragraphs so the letter is easy to follow. +
How to use business jargon and terminology effectively so as to be concise while still being clear. +
How to write concisely to save your reader time. +
Articles (the / a / an). ? Punctuation (commas, colons, semi-colons, etc.). +
Reports
How to describe statistics in figures and graphs. +
How to describe movement in figures and graphs. +
Report-writing styles. +
Useful phrases for report-writing. +
How to express as much meaning in as few words as possible. + How to make recommendations politely and with respect. +
*Class preferences expressed:
+ Universally preferred
- Universally dispreferred
? Some disagreement / unsureness
The course will therefore cover the above topics, but will also be open to adaptation by request, to assist learners in targeting their particular weaknesses. In addition, ongoing needs analysis will be conducted by the teacher informally and formally at various points during the course.
Welcome to your site
This site has been started with your learning and interests in mind. You can use it as a space to save your work, to collaborate on improving writing skills, to ask your teacher questions, or to discuss issues of writing style with your colleagues. This wiki is a resource that is always there for you, a reference that you go back to any time you like, much like a course book, to review and check what you learned in class, or to get a fresh copy of a document you've lost or messed up. You will also find links to webpages of interest for extra practice and support, and a mail facility that allows you to contact your teacher without needing an e-mail address. You can edit the site yourself at any time, but if you have any ideas, suggestions, or preferences for this course, you can also use this site to get in touch.The results for the needs analysis on this course indicated the following preferences:
Writing in a suitably formal style and a suitably ‘businessy’ register. Not too formal and over-businessy, but not too informal and chatty. +
How to start a letter: different salutations and first paragraphs. +
How to show respect for your reader through your choice of language. +
How to use the active / passive to create distance, avoid accusing, etc. +
How to end a letter appropriately for its function and formality. +
How to make your letter easy for your reader to follow by using signposting and linking devices. +
How to make requests, enquiries, and point out mistakes diplomatically. +
How to write e-mails for different functions. ?
How to use business jargon and terminology effectively so as to be concise while still being clear. +
How to write concisely to save your reader time. +
Articles (the / a / an). ?
Punctuation (commas, colons, semi-colons, etc.). +
How to describe movement in figures and graphs. +
Report-writing styles. +
Useful phrases for report-writing. +
How to express as much meaning in as few words as possible. +
How to make recommendations politely and with respect. +
*Class preferences expressed:
The course will therefore cover the above topics, but will also be open to adaptation by request, to assist learners in targeting their particular weaknesses. In addition, ongoing needs analysis will be conducted by the teacher informally and formally at various points during the course.
Good luck, and enjoy the learning experience!