Critical Thinking for Business Communication & Technical Writing

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Learn to consider relationships, situations & intangibles elements that effect business writing.

 

Master skills for Critical Thinking and Technical Writing.

In this onsite writing course, participants learn how to apply critical thinking skills to improve technical writing, creating more effective documents and, in the process, enhance your organization’s image.

Using real-world examples and practice exercises, participants consider actual relationships, situations and the intangible elements that effect workplace writing. The tips and techniques offered in this program help them apply newly developed critical thinking abilities in their writing.

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The intricate connection between thought and language in business communication often requires:

• the use of critical thinking processes and

• the mastery of technical writing skills.
  

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The exercises, with various levels of complexity, stress the importance of critical awareness and provide opportunities for participants to practice technical writing and applying the important principles they have learned. They practice the art and science of persuasion, developing emotional and logical arguments, organizing technical information and ideas for better understanding, and much more.

Everyone leaves this course with a new awareness of how the use of critical thinking techniques helps them communicate more effectively and achieve better results from the documents they write.

A minimum of two iterative activities will occur each session. Attendees are encouraged to bring past and current writing projects, for evaluation and editing, as the activities will focus on developing, writing, editing and polishing their documents. Break or lunch times can be adjusted as needed to maximize learning and best accommodate attendees.

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Who Should Attend

Analysts and anyone who needs to be able to communicate findings, recommendations and actions clearly to their team members and co-workers.

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Training Benefits

• Develop critical thinking skills to examine situations and solutions
• Create logical frameworks for communicating information
• Clearly communicate problems and solutions so everyone understands the same message
• Learn the two primary purposes of business documents
• Develop writing skills for clear communication and documentation

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Overview of Training Topics and Learning Points Developed

In this course, participants learn how to turn critical thinking into clear written communication. In organizations processing vast amounts of data, it is crucial for analysts to be able to communicate findings, recommendations and actions clearly. This means knowing when to write a technical document with many layers of data possible, and when to build a simple argument that will “sell” the benefits of the recommendations. Audience, scope, desired outcome and memorability are always important elements of this, so the communicator must prepare carefully, considering all the factors.

Participants begin by considering issues that have recently been identified, using critical thinking skills to examine the situation and solutions more closely. Examination of those ideas and the supporting data will use guided decision processes to strengthen reasoning skills. After understanding the breadth of the concern, the steps of resolution, and its impact, attendees will be better able to understand and create a logical framework.

However, understanding a problem and possible solutions is of little value unless the information can be clearly communicated to others so everyone on the team understands the same message. When they do, they can make the necessary shifts and access the same data – thereby creating what some call a single version of truth.

Communication has many different forms, but none is as permanent as the written record. A clearly written document preserves the logic and original thinking, both at the beginning – and in the future if questions arise. Documents provide much – from direction to inspiration, so it is crucial documents clearly reflect the ideas, thinking and supporting information of the writer. 

There are two primary purposes of business documents. The first is to persuade the reader - writings that cause the reader to take an action, make a decision, align with other parts of the organization, streamline activities or work toward goals. Much of business writing is “selling” our ideas – to co-workers, the people we serve or business partners. As Mark Twain once said, “No matter what we’re doing, we’re all selling something” and that truth continues.

The second purpose of writing in business is to provide information to the reader. These are writings that clearly present data, updates, rules, guidelines, policies, process or research conclusions in a manner so the audience clearly understands – and then knows when and how to apply it, or locate it in the future as needed. This requires precise clarity, strong organization and the ability to determine which data is truly relevant.

In this highly interactive course, attendees will be guided through a definable writing process to transform the results of their critical thinking to writing that is clearly understood. Challenges such as getting started, knowing how much data to include, how to provide clear instructions and recommendations are all addressed. Time will be spent focusing on both technical and non-technical writing. Once the attendees draft their document, they will practice polishing content, grammar and layout. In addition, examination of the review process will help to finalize successful written communication – that really works!

 

Course Outline
Day 1
Introduction - Opening Activities
Critical Thinking

• Defining Critical Thinking
• Critical Thinking Processes
• “Good Thinker” Characteristics
• Clarifying thoughts internally
• Translating thoughts to messages
• Questions to ask - Research

Writing Preparation

• Crystalizing Key Messages
• Defining Goals
• Testing the Goals
• Identifying the Audience
  • Position / Authority
  • Knowledge / Needs
  • Personality / Reading Styles
  • Comprehension Skills

Day 2
Recap - Q&A Set up days learning
Beginning to Write

• The Three Stages of Writing
• Writing for Others
• How to get Ideas
• Breaking Writer’s Block
• Writing First Drafts

Organizing to Communicate

• Examining Basic Structure
• Document Flow
• Missing Information and other Problems
• What to put First
• Transitions – moving from one thought to the next
• Sentence logic and emphasis

Day 3
Recap - Q&A Set up days learning
The Art of Persuasion

• Elements of Persuasion
• Proven Written Persuasion Techniques
• The Emotional Argument
• Assumptions: Four Types
• Testimonials, Endorsements & Support Techniques
• Writing to “Sell” your Idea

The Science of Persuasion

• The Rational and Non-rational – Features
• Features & Benefits
• The Logical Argument
• Induction & Deduction
• Power of Logical Connections
• Proving and Supporting Your Idea
• Testing Persuasion Success

Day 4
Recap - Q&A Set up days learning
Communicating Technical Information

• Difference between Technical writing and other writing
• Setting clear objectives
• Researching for accuracy
• Determining scope
• Researching, interviewing and sourcing
• Simplifying for the non-technical
• Determining document sections and sequencing

Supporting the Reader

• Definitions, Process Descriptions, Physical Descriptions
• Clear instructions for actions
• Ensuring clarity and precision
• Indexes, appendices, and back of the book
• Identifying follow-up support for reader
• Cross-references, citations and acknowledgments

Day 5
Recap - Q&A Set up days learning
Polishing Your Document

• Editing Content
• Editing for style - Use of style guides
• Readability – Using the Altitude test
• Proofing
  • Sentence / Paragraph construction
  • Grammar
  • Punctuation
• Visual layout principles
  • Black Space - Charts, Graphs, Tables, Photos and Illustrations
  • White Space – The importance of use
  • Gray Space – Text use and font guidelines
  • Scholar's column and other visual enhancements

Finalizing Your Document

• Creating a meaningful review process
• Managing non-technical reviewers
• Incorporating final changes
• Defending the final product for approval
• Print vs. Electronic Publishing – advantages and disadvantages
• Attendee personal improvement plan commitment

Evaluations and Wrap-up

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Bring this writing skills course to your organization and begin applying these powerful techniques immediately.

To receive more information about this training call toll free at 877-385-5515.

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Advanced Business Writing Skills Workshop

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Learn and Practice Tips and Advanced Techniques for Better Writing

 

Upgrade your writing to increase readability and credibility.

 

This interactive, hands-on, 2-day advanced writing skills workshop is for those who already have some knowledge of writing skills. Class time is devoted to the writing challenges business professionals are faced with on a regular basis. 

Participants become more skilled at making their writing clear, concise and correct. They will learn to make emails more effective and develop a quick and easy method for composing documents—letters, memos, reports and proposals—in an organized format. This seminar provides you with basic formats and formulas for tackling any kind of writing task and communicating to your readers what they need to know.

This onsite seminar is not another “vanilla” writing course. Participants participate in individual and team writing exercises. They critique writing samples they have brought to class. Participants discover new techniques and develop skills to streamline their writing process and save time by focusing on what to write instead of how to write it. Everyone will see a dramatic improvement in their writing skills even before the class is over!

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Note: Participants are encouraged to bring a current writing project and will receive 
one-on-one feedback on their writing efforts during the session.

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Who Should Attend

Executives, managers and all staff members who want others to read and respect what they have written.

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Training Benefits

• Upgrade your writing to increase readability and credibility
• Reduce response time to your email and letters by over 50%
• Find ways to jump-start your writing and overcome procrastination
• Make your writing clear, concise and correct
• Get hands-on experience in writing effective emails, letters or reports
• Identify and overcome your writing challenges
• Quickly organize your thoughts and generate content
• Improve sentence construction and paragraph development
• Identify ways to make your writing simpler and easier to read
• Eliminate numerous time-consuming revisions
• Develop effective business letters for tough situations
• Make emails more effective
• Develop an appropriate writing style and format for letters, business cases and reports
• Use standard ways of documenting materials

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Outline of Course Topics and Learning Points

• Introduction
• Getting to know participants – identify participants’ learning objectives
• Principles that ensure effective business writing
  • Planning and establishing purpose
  • Meeting the reader’s needs and expectations
  • How to use techniques for overcoming writer’s block
• The Three C’s – All writing should be clear, concise and correct
  • Techniques for achieving clarity and precision in everyday business writing
  • The role of word choice
  • How to construct sentences that are clear, concise and direct
• Writing Purposeful Paragraphs
  • What a paragraph should contain and how to order paragraphs
  • How to use linking words and phrases in sentences and paragraphs
  • Active and passive voice and parallelism
  • How to employ various patterns of organizing information
  • Participants will also take a close look at the proper length of paragraphs
• Grammar and Writing Mechanics
  • Seven easy ways to help participants simplify their writing and ensure their grammar is correct
• Determining Readability
  • How and when to use the readability test (also called the Gunning Fog Index)
  • Applying readability test to their own work
Writing Letters
• Learn the essential guidelines for writing effective memos and letters
• Understanding the twelve important parts to a business letter choosing the best of several different styles 
• The importance of opening sentences
• How and when to use persuasive, positive and negative words
• How to use appropriate tone
Partner with Your Readers 
• Use a cordial tone 
• Write a buffer before negative information 
• Use a tone and level of formality appropriate for the reader 
• Focus on what's in it for the reader 
• Write so you build partnerships and teams 
Prepare Readers to Understand, Remember and Act 
• Use a meaningful, informative subject line 
• Open with the context 
• Write a clear statement of the contents 
• In the introduction, state actions to be performed and critical information 
• Write a conclusion if it will help you achieve your objectives 
• Include feedback loops to ensure that your message is successful 
Dealing with Specific Requests – Learn How to Write Special Documents Explicitly 
• Write clear descriptions of problems and issues 
• Write direct, unambiguous requests 
• Write clear procedures 
• E-mail Etiquette
  • Email, a universal method of communication, but what about email etiquette, tone and more…?.  
  • Identifying common email dilemmas – recommended solution
  • The guidelines for writing effective e-mail 
  • The importance of subject lines
• Business Documents
  • How to write a:
    • business case
    • request for proposal
    • formal report
  • Where would you start?
  • Apply guidelines and checklists that keep the writing on track
• Editing and Proofreading the Final Version
  • How to recognize common proofreading errors
  • Techniques for effective editing and proofreading
  • Methods for revising the first draft
  • How to avoid sexist or offensive language
  • Often confused words
• Workshop Wrap-Up
  • Workshop review
  • Develop an action plan

 

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Quality writing skills are essential to success in today’s business world. In this Advanced Writing Skills Workshop, good writing skills are taken to the next level. Without this kind of training, these writing skills are too often learned by trial and error or not learned at all. We recommend organizations make advanced writing skills training available to employees at all levels. 

To receive more information about this training call toll free at 877-385-5515.

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Onsite Technical Writing Workshop

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Learn the techniques to write professional, easy-to-understand technical documents.

 

Every technical writer faces the challenges of making the complex data and detailed information easily understood and meaningful to the non-technical reader. Let’s face it. The facts really cannot speak for themselves. Facts must be presented. Understanding how to structure the presentation of facts and details is critical to technical writing success. In this onsite technical writing workshop, you will learn how the structure of language helps readers interpret facts and evaluate data to arrive at their conclusions. You will learn technical writing skills to present even the most technical details and data in the most easily understood and meaningful manner.

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Develop skills to write technical information clearly and concisely.

This is a highly interactive training program filled with practical technical writing exercises and activities. The training introduces learners to the essentials of good technical writing, for both print and electronic formats, and provides tips for quick, clear and concise presentation of technical information.

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Make complex data and detailed information meaningful to the non-technical reader.

You will learn how to use technical writing skills with confidence, gain powerful strategies for quickly organizing ideas and thoughts, and develop attention-grabbing writing techniques that will enable you to hold the reader’s interest.

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Technical Writing Training Benefits

• Understand the unique differences between the “Rules-Of-The-Road” for technical writing and other forms of writing
• Learn shortcuts to minimize your writing time
• Organize your material by purpose, reader and situation
• Hold your reader’s attention so the message gets across
• Discover ways to present complex technical information clearly and concisely
• Identify and avoid common pitfalls of technical writing
• Make the most of using illustrations
• Use checklists and guides when planning and reviewing your writing
• Get hands-on experience in writing effective documentation

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Outline of Course Topics & Skills Developed

• Know the basics of good technical writing
• Identify the reader you are writing to for maximum impact
• Select the appropriate organizational pattern and format for your readers’ needs
• Develop idea generators that help break through writers’ block
• Create a detailed rough draft that you can use in minutes
• Learn to write definitions, narration, process descriptions, physical descriptions and instructions
• Develop effective graphs, charts, tables and other illustrations
• Use proven techniques for ensuring clarity and precision
• Use the “Altitude Test” to determine your document’s level of readability
• Know the essential page layout differences between print and electronic documents
• Apply effective editing techniques to polish technical writing
• Avoid costly proofreading errors

 More Technical Writing Training Options

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Who Should Attend

Any professional who wants to improve their technical communication skills and be able to quickly write polished documents that are both clear and concise.

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Bring this seminar to your organization and begin applying improved communication skills immediately to make better presentations and influence others in a positive manner. Participants leave this session with necessary skills to turn a worthy message into a story that is enjoyed, remembered and repeated.

To receive more information about this training call toll free at 877-385-5515. 

You may also email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Business Writing That Gets Results

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A Writing Skills Workshop

This business writing skills seminar teaches participants how to write better business emails, letters and reports in less time than ever before. Learn easy written communication techniques to get better and faster responses to electronic and hard copy messages. 

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Maximize Your Business Writing skills for Better Results

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We teach easy to remember writing techniques to make your point quickly, clearly, with fewer words and get faster responses to your writing. You will be amazed at how quickly you receive responses to your e-mails, letters and proposals. 

"This training makes crafting effective business emails, letters, proposals and reports easy." -Jill Thompson, Elm Grove, IL

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If you can answer yes to one or more of the following questions, you will benefit from attending this workshop.

• Is the time you spend writing of concern to you?
• Do you ever have a hard time just getting started?
• Do you need to write more concisely and still be clear?
• Do you tend to be too concise and come across as abrupt in your writing?
• Would you like some techniques to use in writing to a diverse audience?

In the age of “Information Overload,” do you want to write emails, memos or letters that others will appreciate reading?

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 This onsite seminar is not another “vanilla” writing course. Each seminar is tailored to the kind of writing participants do on the job. We make certain the topics covered meet the organization’s business writing objectives and learner’s needs. Participants get the benefit of individual and team writing exercises. They critique writing samples they have brought to class. Everyone will see a dramatic improvement in their writing skills even before the class is over. 

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Who Should Attend

Executives, managers and all staff members who want others to read and respect what they have written.

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Training Benefits

• Fine-tune your writing to increase readability and your credibility
• Reduce response time to your email and letters by over 50%
• Find ways to jump-start your writing and overcome procrastination
• Write more clearly, concisely and eliminate writing errors
• Get hands-on experience in writing effective emails, letters or reports

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Overview of Concepts and Deliverables Provided

• Break through writer’s block
• Use your subject line to get the reader to open your letter or email
• Identify how your reader wants to be communicated with
• Write for your reader – not for yourself
• Develop a conversational tone that encourages cooperation
• Understand what questions the typical reader wants answered quickly
• Use deadlines to get your reader to take action immediately
• How to use bullets and headings to make your ideas stand out
• Correct the most common grammar and punctuation errors
• Identify common mechanical mistakes that your computer will not detect
• Eliminate wordy phrases
• Write clearly and concisely
• Measure the readability level of your writing
• Format emails/memos and letters for the readers of today
• Avoid people emailing and calling you with more questions after receiving your message
• Use short paragraphs so your email or letter is easier to read
• Develop a tone that is conversational and encourages cooperation
• Reduce the length of your email or letter and still get your point across
• Use a simple format to organize all of your writing and save tons of time
• Use simple words and short sentences to make fewer grammar mistakes
• How to get your reader to take action much more quickly
• Write a persuasive message that will get others to follow through with what you want
• Turn a negative into a positive when responding to customer complaints

 

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Writing skills are essential to success in today’s business world. Without training, good writing skills are often learned by trial and error or not learned at all. We recommend organizations make writing skills training available to employees at all levels. 

To receive more information about this training call toll free at 877-385-5515.

You may also email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

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