Research: Since you have to
be clear about your subject matter, Do your homework and know what you want to
say. What are your main points and how will you support them? Even when doing
your research, stay focused on your main point. The time to explore related
issues is when you are deciding on your topic. Once that is done, stay on
track.
Outline: If you have narrowed
your focus to one main idea, then outlining will simply be planning the order
in which to present your supporting points, and making sure you explain each
one fully. In this kind of writing, the numbers and letters, (I, II, III for
main points, and A.B.C. for supporting points) may help you keep track of your
ideas. Make it as easy and brief as possible. If its hard to outline (and you
find yourself going into sub-points, aa, bb, or cc), it will be hard to write
and difficult to read.
Business Writing - to
communicate plans, conclusions, requests and explanations (in the form of
reports and letters) necessary to accomplish tasks in business.
Your role:
Seller of things, services or ideas. This is true whether you are telling
someone something or asking for something. You have to be brief and convincing.
Reader’s Role:
Buyer. They will either buy in to your ideas or they won’t.
Your Method: Brevity
and concise clarity are more important here than the elegant use of language.
You are not writing to entertain, so save your poetic phrasing for poetry.
Writing: Free write on each idea separately. In
writing business reports, you can refer to the above guidelines for expository
writing, research and outlining. A letter should really have only one major
idea.
Research: Be thorough.
Tailor your report or letter to it’s readership. Research can also be done on
the person who will be reading your report or letter. “Know your market”
applies, so find out everything you can about this person’s needs and motivations.
The best example of this is the Cover Letter when job hunting. Good research on
the company, the position and the person making hiring decisions can really pay
off.