GSA Contract: Business Writing Courses

Have an organizational pattern in mind.
Use special organizational patterns for some messages.

For e-mails and memos, always write a clear, meaningful subject line.
For letters, use a "Subject" or "Re" line if your company customarily uses it.
Write a clear, complete e-mail introduction.
Write a clear, complete report introduction.
Write a clear, complete letter introduction.
Write a clear, complete memo introduction.
For e-mails, letters, and memos, write a cordial beginning or buffer.
State the contents of the e-mail, letter, or memo.
State the contents of the report.
For reports, state conclusions and recommendations in the introduction.

Write a Clear Document

Write the explanations in blocks.
Keep explanations of a subject together in one block.
Check each block for focus.
Check each block for completeness.
Open each block with a statement of the contents.
Use headings to open blocks.
Bold field or data names to identify them as blocks.
Create lists.
Open list blocks.
Mark the list items clearly.
Keep list items in a single list.
Keep list items in the same format.
For reports, present information in tables when possible.

Write Clear, Complete Explanations

Write to build conclusions in the reader's mind.
For reports, write clear, complete, relevant explanations.
Use key words consistently.
Fully explain each new concept word or phrase.
Use full phrases to define words clearly.

Write a Conclusion with Impact

Write a conclusion that achieves your goals.

Write Clear, Effective Sentences, Paragraphs, and Words

Use paragraphs to organize information.
Write concisely.
Combine sentences to show relationships. Separate sentences to make them clearer.
Write clear, simple, straightforward sentences.
Write strong, direct sentences.
For reports, write clearly and simply for non-technical readers.
Use words the reader will understand.

Prepare a Polished, Correct Final Draft

Use your spell checker and grammar checker.
Proofread.
Format the e-mail to be readable.

USAGE TRAINING CONTENT

Course Pre-test

Lesson 1: Proofreading Principles
Lesson 2: Grammar and Punctuation

Course Post-test

PREREQUISITES: No severe basic writing skills problems.
TUITION: $280
TEXT: All materials are online.
DURATION: Approximately 30 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC421 Business Report Writing

The Business Report Writing course teaches the skills required to write clear, explicit business reports. It focuses on the structure critical to all reports, so it provides the basic knowledge any report writer can use for any report.

CONTENT

Plan the Report

1. Set goals.
2. Know your readers.
3. Choose strategies based on the goals and readers.

Competency Examination 1
Submit a report.
Prepare Your Notes

4. Learn how to overcome writer's block.
5. Prepare notes for your report.

Organize the Writing

6. Have an organizational pattern in mind.
7. Use special organizational patterns for some messages.

Introduce the Content

8. Write a clear, complete report introduction.
9. State the contents of the report.
10. State conclusions and recommendations in the introduction.

Present Explanations in Blocks

11. Write the explanations in blocks.
12. Keep explanations of a subject together in one block.
13. Check each block for focus.
14. Check each block for completeness.
15. Open each block with a statement of the contents.
16. Use headings to open blocks.
17. Bold field or data names to identify them as blocks.

Competency Examination 2
Submit a report.
Present Lists Clearly

18. Create lists.
19. Open list blocks.
20. Mark the list items clearly.
21. Keep list items in a single list.
22. Keep list items in the same format.
23. Present information in tables when possible.
24. Consider information blueprinting to be explicit.

Competency Examination 3
Submit a report.
Write Clear, Complete Explanations

25. Write to build conclusions in the reader's mind.
26. For reports, write clear, complete, relevant explanations.
27. Use key words consistently.
28. Fully explain each new concept word or phrase.
29. Use full phrases to define words clearly.

Write Conclusions that Have Impact

30. Write a conclusion that achieves your goals.

Competency Examination 4
Submit a report.
Write Clear, Effective Paragraphs, Sentences, and Words

31. Use paragraphs to organize information.
32. Write concisely.
33. Combine sentences to show relationships.
Separate sentences to make them clearer.
34. Write clear, simple, straightforward sentences.
35. Write strong, direct sentences.
36. Write clearly and simply for non-technical readers.
37. Use words the reader will understand.

Prepare a Polished, Correct Final Draft

38. Use your spell checker and grammar checker.
39. Proofread.

Competency Examination 5
Submit a report.
PREREQUISITES: No severe usage problems
TUITION: $280
TEXTS: All course materials are online.
DURATION: The course has 39 skill guidelines. It requires approximately 26 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC424 Writing Specialized Reports

The Writing Specialized Reports course teaches the skills required to write clear, explicit specialized business reports that have a format prescribed by the organization. The five competency examinations in this course all require the trainee to submit a specialized report he or she prepares as part of normal work activities. The trainer helps the trainee apply the general skills of business report writing to the specialized reports he or she writes.

CONTENT

Plan the Report

1. Set goals.
2. Know your readers.
3. Choose strategies based on the goals and readers.

Competency Examination 1
Submit an actual work report.

Prepare Your Notes

4. Learn how to overcome writer's block.
5. Prepare notes for your report.

6. Have an organizational pattern in mind.
7. Use special organizational patterns for some messages.

8. Write a clear, complete report introduction.
9. State the contents of the report.
10. State conclusions and recommendations in the introduction.

Present Explanations in Blocks

11. Write the explanations in blocks.
12. Keep explanations of a subject together in one block.
13. Check each block for focus.
14. Check each block for completeness.
15. Open each block with a statement of the contents.
16. Use headings to open blocks.
17. Bold field or data names to identify them as blocks.

Competency Examination 2
Submit an actual work report.

Present Lists Clearly

18. Create lists.
19. Open list blocks.
20. Mark the list items clearly.
21. Keep list items in a single list.
22. Keep list items in the same format.
23. Present information in tables when possible.
24. Consider information blueprinting to be explicit.

Competency Examination 3
Submit an actual work report.

Write Clear, Complete Explanations

25. Write to build conclusions in the reader's mind.
26. For reports, write clear, complete, relevant explanations.
27. Use key words consistently.
28. Fully explain each new concept word or phrase.
29. Use full phrases to define words clearly.

Write Conclusions that Have Impact

30. Write a conclusion that achieves your goals.

Competency Examination 4
Submit an actual work report.

Write Clear, Effective Paragraphs, Sentences, and Words

31. Use paragraphs to organize information.
32. Write concisely.
33. Combine sentences to show relationships.
Separate sentences to make them clearer.
34. Write clear, simple, straightforward sentences.
35. Write strong, direct sentences.
36. Write clearly and simply for non-technical readers.
37. Use words the reader will understand.

Prepare a Polished, Correct Final Draft

38. Use your spell checker and grammar checker.
39. Proofread.

Competency Examination 5
Submit an actual work report

No severe usage problems

$280

All course materials are online.

The course has 37 skill guidelines. It requires approximately 30 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.

The Business Research Report Writing Skills course teaches business researchers how to prepare reports summarizing the results of their research for use by internal clients in accomplishing business goals. One specific example of such a report is the report that presents information about a potential customer to enable account representatives, marketing specialists, and strategic planners to enhance or develop a business relationship with the potential customer.

Enrollment is currently open. Fill out the registration form at http://writingtrainers.com/register/gsaformdata.htm . Your syllabus will be online as soon as possible after registration is finished. Complete lessons at your own pace, as long as you finish them within six months.

BWC420 Business Research Report Writing

The course teaches the researcher how to decide what information is pertinent and how to summarize or synthesize the information into a coherent presentation without interjecting bias.

CONTENT: Diagnostic 1: Initial diagnosis of writing ability; Lesson 1: The client and audience; Lesson 2: Objectives and specifications for the research report; Lesson 3: Methods of filtering and recording information; Lesson 4: Facts, conclusions, inferences, and judgments; Lesson 5: Paraphrasing, summarizing, synthesizing, and filtering objectively; Diagnostic 2: Writing objectively; Lesson 6: Organizing; Lesson 7: Using guideposts for clarity; Diagnostic 3: Synthesizing and organizing; Lesson 8: Writing clearly; Lesson 9: Bibliographic methods; Diagnostic 4: Complete sample report; Lesson 10: Editing; Lesson 11: Writing concisely; Lesson 12: Research report format and publishing; Lesson 13: Proofreading; Diagnostic 5: Final complete report
PREREQUISITES: Basic library research skills; no severe usage problems
TUITION: $299 (includes a bibliography style manual)
TEXTS: Bibliography style manual
DURATION: 13 lessons, approximately 26 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC95 Business Writing Essentials

The Business Writing Essentials course teaches students how to write letters, e-mails, memos, and reports that people understand and take seriously. The course is designed to help students feel they can write an e-mail tomorrow morning confident that it will be understood and generate the desired response.

The course uses the same training materials as the Business Writing Skills course, but without the practice activities. The trainer evaluates four competency examinations. The reduced trainer time results in the reduced tuition. As with all other Business Writing Center courses, trainees still have unlimited access to the instructor to ask questions during the course.

CONTENT

Pre-write

Follow e-mail protocol.
Set goals.
Know your readers.
Choose strategies based on the goals and readers.
Use a standard letter format.
Use a standard memo format.

Prepare the Information

Learn how to overcome writer's block
Prepare notes for your e-mail, memo, letter, or report.

Have an organizational pattern in mind.
Use special organizational patterns for some messages.

Write Clear, Complete Explanations

Write a Clear Document

Write a Conclusion with Impact

Write a conclusion that achieves your goals.

Write Clear, Effective Sentences, Paragraphs, and Words

Prepare a Polished, Correct Final Draft

Use your spell checker and grammar checker.
Proofread.
Format the e-mail to be readable.

PREREQUISITES: Basic command of the English language with no serious usage problems.
TUITION: $139 if you enroll for the course alone. 14% discount if you also enroll for BWC85: Basic Grammar Essentials at the same time.
TEXT: All text materials are online.
DURATION: Approximately 12 to 18 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within two months. If you enroll for both BWC85 and BWC95, you have four months to complete both courses in any order. You may have a one-time extension of a month for each course if you need the extra time to finish.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC210 Business Writing Skills

The Business Writing Skills course teaches trainees how to write letters, e-mails, memos, and reports that people understand and take seriously. The course is designed to help trainees feel they can write a document tomorrow morning confident that it will be understood and generate the desired response.

CONTENT

Pre-write

Follow e-mail protocol.
Set goals.
Know your readers.
Choose strategies based on the goals and readers.
Use a standard letter format.
Use a standard memo format.

Prepare the Information

Learn how to overcome writer's block
Prepare notes for your e-mail, memo, letter, or report.

Have an organizational pattern in mind.
Use special organizational patterns for some messages.

Write Clear, Complete Explanations

Write a Clear Document

Write a Conclusion with Impact

Write a conclusion that achieves your goals.

Write Clear, Effective Sentences, Paragraphs, and Words

Prepare a Polished, Correct Final Draft

Use your spell checker and grammar checker.
Proofread.
Format the e-mail to be readable.

PREREQUISITES: Basic command of the English language with no serious usage problems.
TUITION: $280
TEXT: All text materials are online.
DURATION: Approximately 24 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC520 Coaching through Writing
Actual Documents

In the BWC520 Coaching through Writing Actual Documents course, the instructor evaluates drafts of actual documents and coaches the business person through revising them to produce a polished final draft. The documents may be e-mail, memos, letters, proposals, personnel documents, or any type of report. The participant learns while producing high-quality final documents.

The number of documents depends on their length, but normally the course goes through three longer documents or up to six shorter.

PREREQUISITES: None
TUITION: $375
TEXTS: Vary
DURATION: The work varies because the course is individualized. All work must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC410 Editing Skills

The Editing Skills course teaches trainees how to manage editing projects and rewrite to polish documents. Trainees learn how to

edit sentences to make them clear, concise, cohesive, and elegant
develop paragraphs that are clearly organized
select vocabulary that is accurate and descriptive
edit for organization so you can produce documents that readers cannot misunderstand

CONTENT

Lesson 1: Prepare for Editing

Lesson 2: Edit to Give the Document Focus

Lesson 3: Edit to Give the Document Cohesiveness

Lesson 4: Edit the Introduction, Format, and Conclusion

Competency Examination 1

Lesson 5: Edit Paragraphs for Focus and Continuity

Lesson 6: Edit Paragraphs for Emphasis and Variety

Competency Examination 2

Lesson 7: Know the Basic Structure of a Sentence

Lesson 8: Build Meaningful Sentences

Lesson 9: Write Effective Sentences

Lesson 10: Add Sentence Variety

Lesson 11: Work with Problem Sentences

Competency Examination 3

Lesson 12: Write Concisely

Lesson 13: Use Precise Words

Lesson 14: Use Clear Words for Concepts

Competency Examination 4

Requires good English language skills with few or no consistent usage problems.

$280

All text materials are online.

14 lessons, approximately 30 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.

The Explicit Business Writing course teaches trainees the best practices explained in the book, Explicit Business Writing: Best Practices for the Twenty-First Century.

BWC220 Explicit Business Writing

CONTENT
Trainees master all of the following skills and demonstrate mastery in writing examinations:

Plan and organize.

Have clear objectives.
Provide information that suits the reader's knowledge of the subject, educational background, technical expertise, need for concrete explanations, and need for depth of knowledge.
Include everything every intended reader needs to achieve your objectives.
Respond to requests by providing precisely what the person asked for under the conditions specified.
Give readers the information they need at the specific points where they need it for maximum understanding.
When readers have differing needs or abilities, write different versions or sections of the document to match the readers' needs and abilities.
Present topics in the same order throughout and link all the contents in each part.

Build the communication infrastructure.

In e mails, letters, and memos, write thanks, commendations, and genuine statements of good will that build teams and partnerships with clients.
Present the information with consideration for the reader's possible reaction to the subject and you.
Use the tone and level of formality that fit the objectives and the reader.
Ask for and give feedback on the clarity and relevance of documents and writing.

Prepare readers to understand and act.

Write e mail subject lines using words that alert the reader to the contents, required action, or critical information in the e mail.
In the introduction, explain everything readers need to know to understand fully why they are receiving the document.
In the introduction, describe all actions the reader is expected to perform and any critical information the reader must know.
Summarize conclusions and recommendations at the beginning.
Write a clear statement of the contents at the end of the introduction so readers know what to expect and can prepare for reading.

Provide a clear framework that guides readers.

Put the information into clearly defined blocks that the reader can read, understand, and remember, one block at a time.
For each information block, write an explicit opening statement the reader can use to begin putting the block's details into a framework.
For lists with items that are each several paragraphs or pages long, open the lists with statements of the contents and open each list item with a description of the item's contents.
For lists with items that are a few lines long, break out the lists with numbers and bullets.
Present information in a clear visual blueprint so readers can see the organization as they read.
Use tables to organize the information so readers can place the details into a clear framework.
End the document with a conclusion that helps readers achieve your objectives.
Include feedback loops that reflect the importance of the content and your assessment of the likelihood this reader will understand or act as expected.

Use explicitly clear explanations.

Write concrete, detailed descriptions of problems and issues.
Write requests that state directly, unambiguously, and completely what you are requesting.
Use key terms consistently.
Fully explain the concept behind every new key term as the reader encounters it.
Have a clear focus for the document and for each part.
Communicate technical subjects clearly to non technical readers.
Write instructions and procedures that are complete and concrete.
Provide sufficient, relevant evidence for statements.

Write clear, concise paragraphs, sentences, and words.

Write concisely.
Write clear, focused, organized paragraphs that help readers identify, understand, and remember concepts.
Write sentences that are complete, simple, clear, and straightforward.
Use only simple punctuation.
Use words every intended reader will understand.

Write a final draft that has correct usage (grammar, punctuation, and spelling) and uses clear formatting.

Polish and proofread all documents.
Use formatting that makes the text easy to read.
PREREQUISITES: Requires good English language skills with few or no consistent usage problems.
TUITION: $280 (includes textbook)
TEXTS: Explicit Business Writing: Best Practices for the Twenty-First Century
DURATION: 13 lessons, approximately 30 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC225 Explicit Business Writing with
Additional Training

BWC225 Explicit Business Writing with Additional Training is a thorough, in-depth, competency-based course that teaches all the best practices that business-writing professionals now know create explicit e-mail, memos, letters, and reports. It is competency based, so it teaches the skills to a mastery level. The training is sufficiently thorough that graduates are able to edit others' work and teach the principles. As such, it is suitable for training trainers. We know of no other training program in business writing that teaches these best practices and no other that teaches business writing skills to a mastery level of competence.

The course is taught by R. Craig Hogan, Ph.D., author of the book, Explicit Business Writing: Best Practices for the Twenty-First Century. The course includes a free copy of the book and teaches all of the best practices explained in the text. It contains 39 activities and 17 competency examination writing samples that Dr. Hogan evaluates. As such, it requires the amount of work expected in a three-credit-hour college course.

CONTENT
Trainees master all of the following skills and demonstrate mastery in writing examinations:

Plan and organize.

Have clear objectives.
Provide information that suits the reader's knowledge of the subject, educational background, technical expertise, need for concrete explanations, and need for depth of knowledge.
Include everything every intended reader needs to achieve your objectives.
Respond to requests by providing precisely what the person asked for under the conditions specified.
Give readers the information they need at the specific points where they need it for maximum understanding.
When readers have differing needs or abilities, write different versions or sections of the document to match the readers' needs and abilities.
Present topics in the same order throughout and link all the contents in each part.

Build the communication infrastructure.

In e mails, letters, and memos, write thanks, commendations, and genuine statements of good will that build teams and partnerships with clients.
Present the information with consideration for the reader's possible reaction to the subject and you.
Use the tone and level of formality that fit the objectives and the reader.
Ask for and give feedback on the clarity and relevance of documents and writing.

Prepare readers to understand and act.

Write e mail subject lines using words that alert the reader to the contents, required action, or critical information in the e mail.
In the introduction, explain everything readers need to know to understand fully why they are receiving the document.
In the introduction, describe all actions the reader is expected to perform and any critical information the reader must know.
Summarize conclusions and recommendations at the beginning.
Write a clear statement of the contents at the end of the introduction so readers know what to expect and can prepare for reading.

Provide a clear framework that guides readers.

Put the information into clearly defined blocks that the reader can read, understand, and remember, one block at a time.
For each information block, write an explicit opening statement the reader can use to begin putting the block's details into a framework.
For lists with items that are each several paragraphs or pages long, open the lists with statements of the contents and open each list item with a description of the item's contents.
For lists with items that are a few lines long, break out the lists with numbers and bullets.
Present information in a clear visual blueprint so readers can see the organization as they read.
Use tables to organize the information so readers can place the details into a clear framework.
End the document with a conclusion that helps readers achieve your objectives.
Include feedback loops that reflect the importance of the content and your assessment of the likelihood this reader will understand or act as expected.

Use explicitly clear explanations.

Write concrete, detailed descriptions of problems and issues.
Write requests that state directly, unambiguously, and completely what you are requesting.
Use key terms consistently.
Fully explain the concept behind every new key term as the reader encounters it.
Have a clear focus for the document and for each part.
Communicate technical subjects clearly to non technical readers.
Write instructions and procedures that are complete and concrete.
Provide sufficient, relevant evidence for statements.

Write clear, concise paragraphs, sentences, and words.

Write concisely.
Write clear, focused, organized paragraphs that help readers identify, understand, and remember concepts.
Write sentences that are complete, simple, clear, and straightforward.
Use only simple punctuation.
Use words every intended reader will understand.

Write a final draft that has correct usage (grammar, punctuation, and spelling) and uses clear formatting.

Polish and proofread all documents.
Use formatting that makes the text easy to read.
PREREQUISITES: Requires good English language skills with few or no consistent usage problems.
TUITION: $565 (includes textbook)
TEXTS: Explicit Business Writing: Best Practices for the Twenty-First Century
DURATION: 39 activities and 17 competency examinations, requiring 50 to 60 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC430 Grant-Writing Skills

The Grant Writing Skills course teaches trainees how to develop grant proposals from conception of the concept through publishing the proposal. The course pertains to proposals for private companies, non-profit agencies and foundations, and government agencies. Trainees produce a grant proposal for a hypothetical or real granting entity. If trainees are currently working on grant proposals, the proposals will be used as the projects in the course.

CONTENTS: Lesson 1: Course Introduction; Lesson 2: Getting to Know Granting Agencies; Lesson 3: Preparing to Develop the Grant; Lesson 4: Developing the Grant Idea; Lesson 5: Developing the Statement of Purpose; Lesson 6: Developing the Statement of Need; Lesson 7: Developing the Project Description; Lesson 8: Developing the Qualifications; Lesson 9: Developing the Budget; Lesson 10: Packaging; Lesson 11: Procedures for Preparing the Grant; Lesson 12: Variations on the Proposal Format; Lesson 13: Evaluation of Sample Proposals
PREREQUISITES: Good English language skills with few or no usage problems.
TUITION: $346 (includes two grant-writing textbooks)
TEXTS: Two grant-writing textbooks
DURATION: 13 lessons, approximately 36 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC510 Individualized Writing Course

The Individualized Writing course is developed based on the trainee's needs and/or wishes to pursue an area of writing skills. This course is taught by Dr. R. Craig Hogan, director of the Business Writing Center and author of Explicit Business Writing: Best Practices for the Twenty-First Century. Trainees may have a clear conception of what they would like to learn, or may ask the instructor to diagnose their writing and develop an individualized course of study.

Trainees may combine portions of existing writing courses. For example, one trainee wanted to learn business writing skills and how to edit. The instructor combined lessons from the two courses into an individualized course of study.

PREREQUISITES: None
TUITION: $375
TEXTS: Vary
DURATION: The work varies because the course is individualized. All work must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC600 Writing Coaching for Executives
and Managers

The Writing Coaching for Executives and Managers course is oriented toward executives and managers who want the individual attention and focused training that will help them write with impact and effectiveness. The course is developed based on the participant's needs and wishes to pursue an area of writing skills. Usually, participants submit writing they are preparing for actual work situations. The instructor works with them to learn how to improve the writing. The training may include reading assignments from online materials and texts.

Participants may combine portions of existing writing courses to form a course.

PREREQUISITES: None
TUITION: $375
TEXTS: Vary
DURATION: The work varies because the course is individualized. All work must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC140 Writing Coaching for Executive
Nonnative Speakers of English

The Writing Coaching for Executive Nonnative Speakers of English course is oriented toward executives and managers who are nonnative speakers of English and want the individual attention and focused training that will help them write with effectiveness and polish their language usage.

The course is based on the participant's ability with the English language. Participants submit writing from actual work situations. The instructor works with participants to help them learn how to improve their language usage and writing. The training will include reading assignments from a grammar textbook.

None

$441 (includes a grammar textbook)

Grammar textbook

Approximately five writing samples. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.

BWC130 Individualized Writing for Nonnative
Speakers of English

Enrollment is currently open. Fill out the registration form at http://writingtrainers.com/register/gsaformdata.htm . Your instructor will contact you and work with you to develop your individualized course of study. Complete lessons at your own pace, as long as you finish them within six months.

The Individualized Writing for Nonnative Speakers of English course is for people who have a good command of the English language, but have basic usage problems resulting from speaking English as a second language.

PREREQUISITES: Basic command of the English language.
TUITION: $394 (includes a grammar textbook)
TEXTS: Grammar textbook
DURATION: Coaching through five writing samples. The instructor evaluates one sample at a time, provides a report on errors and skills needed for each sample, coaches the person through learning the skills, provides assignments from the grammar textbook, and tests whether the skills have been learned. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC320 Editing, Polishing, and Proofreading
Your Business Writing

The Business Writing Center developed the Editing, Polishing, and Proofreading Your Business Writing course to provide business writers with the skills they need to be able to understand basic grammar rules and proofread their own writing. It is not so rigorous as the Proofreading Skills course, but teaches more grammar and proofreading skills than are included in the Business Writing Skills course.

CONTENT: Lesson 1: Edit to Give the Document Cohesiveness; Lesson 2: Edit Paragraphs for Focus and Continuity; Competency Examination 1; Lesson 3: Know the Basic Structure of a Sentence; Lesson 4: Build Meaningful Sentences; Lesson 5: Write Effective Sentences; Lesson 6: Add Sentence Variety; Lesson 7: Work with Problem Sentences; Competency Examination 2; Lesson 8: Write Concisely; Lesson 9: Use Clear Words for Concepts; Competency Examination 3; Lesson 10: Proofreading Skills; Lesson 11: Typos, Accuracy, Transpositions; Lesson 12: Abbreviations, Numbers, Capitalization; Lesson 13: Commas, Other Punctuation, Spelling; Lesson 14: Subject/Verb, Pronouns
PREREQUISITES

BWC485 Legal Writing Skills

The Legal Writing Skills course trains anyone working in the legal profession to write effectively, especially attorneys.

CONTENT: Lesson 1: Have clear objectives; Lesson 2: Know the reader; Competency exam 1; Lesson 3: Use content to accomplish objectives; Lesson 4: Check organization and reorganize; Lesson 5: Write clear openings for new information; Lesson 6: Use explicit guideposts for readers; Competency exam 2; Lesson 7: Use strategies to have the impact you want; Lesson 8: Quote and cite correctly; Competency exam 3; Lesson 9: Use key words, definitions, explanations, and examples; Lesson 10: Write using clear, simple words; Lesson 11: Write clear, simple sentences; Competency exam 4; Lesson 12: Write clear, simple paragraphs; Lesson 13: Write concisely; Competency exam 5; Lesson 14: Use an attractive, easy-to-follow format; Lesson 15: Proofread for correctness; Competency exam 6
PREREQUISITES: Basic command of the English language with few usage problems.
TUITION: $299 (includes textbook)
TEXT: Textbook in legal writing
DURATION: 15 lessons, approximately 30 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.
ENROLLMENT AND START DATES

BWC440 Proofreading Skills

The Proofreading Skills course contains clear, thorough explanations of the proofreading process, proofreader's marks, and tricks of the proofreading trade. It takes trainees through a comprehensive review of basic English usage to help them locate writing errors even experienced proofreaders may not notice.

The Proofreading Skills course has six diagnostic tests. To graduate from the course, the participant must have achieved an average of at least 70 percent on the six diagnostics.

CONTENT

Lesson 1: Introduction to Proofreading

Lesson 2: Proofreader's Marks

Lesson 3: The Proofreading Process

Proofreading Diagnostic Test 1 - Test of General Skills

Lesson 4: Spelling, Word Division

Lesson 5: Abbreviations, Capitalization

Proofreading Diagnostic Test 2 - Spelling, Word Division, Abbreviations, Capitalization

Lesson 6: Numbers, Figures

Lesson 7: Subject/Verb Agreement

Proofreading Diagnostic Test 3 - Numbers, Figures, Subject/Verb Agreement

Lesson 8: Pronoun Agreement and Selection

Lesson 9: Punctuation

Proofreading Diagnostic Test 4 - Pronoun Agreement and Selection, Punctuation

Lesson 10: Mood and Voice

Lesson 11: Modifiers and Connectives

Proofreading Diagnostic Test 5 - Mood and Voice, Modifiers and Connectives

Lesson 12: Format, Publishing

Lesson 13: Case, Tense

Proofreading Diagnostic Test 6 - Final Examination

Good command of the English language with no basic usage problems.

$395 (includes grammar and proofreading skills textbooks)

Grammar and proofreading skills textbooks

13 lessons, approximately 30 hours of study. All lessons must be completed within four months. You may have a one-time two-month extension if you need the time to finish the course.