Writing Effective Letters and Reports

Introduction

Good written communication is at the heart of every organisation. Good writing skills are essential to do your job properly and effectively. Good writing reflects well not just on you, but your company as well.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course participants should be able to:

Write well grammatically and concisely

Write to create a good impression

Write using the appropriate tone and language

Write clear letters and e-mails

Write a structured report

Target Audience

This course is designed for all participants who wish to improve the way they communicate their written message. This can include clerical staff, officers, executives, supervisory staff and all personnel who routinely need to write correspondence in English in their working environment. An intermediate or above level of English is required.

Methodology

Much of the course consists of grammar and supervised writing practice. Participants will be expected to write a wide variety of written communication based on the language and structures they have learnt. Case studies may be included if time allows.

Course Outline

PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Day 1
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. / Registration
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. / Training Start
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. / Morning Break
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / Training Continue
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. / Lunch
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. / Training Continue
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. / Tea Break
3:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. / Training Continue
5.30pm / End of Day 1
Day 2
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. / Registration
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. / Training Start
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. / Tea Break
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / Training Continue
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. / Lunch
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. / Training Continue
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. / Tea Break
3:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. / Training Continue
5.30pm / End of Training

Introduction

  • Basic Sentence Structure
  • Grammar Used in business communications
  • Use of Active and Passive Tenses
  • Use of Reported Speech
  • Use of Conditionals

Memos, e-mails and faxes

  • Language used in above
  • Dos and Don’ts
  • Practice of above

Letter writing

  • 4 Point Plan of a Business Letter
  • Opening and Closing a Letter
  • Style and language of a Letter
  • Different Tones to be used in Letters
  • Use of Formal and Informal Language
  • 10 steps to good Letter Writing
  • Letter writing Practice

Common Letters

  • Giving good and bad news
  • Explanations and Reasons
  • Requesting action and information
  • Letters of Apology
  • Letters of Complaint
  • Practice of above
  • Topics for Letters, E-mails and faxes

Report Writing

  • Introduction
  • Report Structure
  • Language
  • Style of Business Reports
  • Linking Words and Paragraph Structure
  • Presenting Findings
  • Figures and Graphs
  • Writing a Conclusion
  • Writing Recommendations
  • Summary

Checking your work

  • Common errors
  • Proofreading
  • Practice

Course Leader’s Profile

Marinella Reid, B.A. is a highly experienced CELTA trained English teacher and qualified IELTS examiner. She also has a specialised business English teaching qualification (FCTBE).

Marinella has been teaching English for nearly 20 years, in a variety of countries. In Malaysia she has focused on business English, developing and delivering her own range of courses (covering both oral and written business communication) to an impressive range of companies. These include: AmBank, UOB, Tractors Malaysia/Sime Darby, Kone, Lafarge, Great Eastern Assurance, Shell and Bank Pembangunan Nasional.

Marinella believes that training and learning should be not only professional and effective, but also fun! She aims to make every course she teaches lively and participative. The positive feedback she consistently receives from happy students suggests that she usually succeeds!

Writing Effective Letters & Reports

CLEVERBRIDGE TRAINING RESOURCES

No.9A, First Floor, Lintang Pekan Baru, Off Jalan Meru, 41050 Klang, Selangor

Tel: 03-3343 2180 Fax: 03-3341 5755