Fat-Free Writing

Description:

The course was designed to cover critical business and professional development topics in the shortest time possible. With a wealth of hands-on exercises, the course keeps you engaged and help you retain critical skills.

The activities and techniques outlined in this book will teach you to communicate clearly, correctly, and concisely; format documents for maximum impact; use shirtsleeve English to get your point across; tailor your communication to different learning styles; and simplify your messages to ensure they will get read. Paring your writing down to a distinct and concise message makes a huge difference in what your reader pays attention to and retains. Today’s limited time, technological advances, and increased pace of communication means that every written word counts. You will learn critical skills for delivering messages with impact, such as constructing eye-catching subject lines and using parallel construction.

Duration: One day

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Four Communication Styles
Three Learning Styles
Assessing Your Communication Style
A Matter of Style

Part 1: Use Shirtsleeve English
Shirtsleeve Strategies
Use Short, Familiar Words
Get Rid of Word Weeds
Eliminate Time-Wasters
Avoid Stuffiness and Cliches
Be Positive in Tone
Be Specific and Concrete
Don’t Jargonize
Make Items Parallel
Keep Terms Consistent

Part 2: Use Power Language
Verbs Are Power Words
Use Active Voice
Go for the Verb!
Avoid Wimp-Speak

Part 3: K.I.S.S. Keep It Short & Simple!
It Is Simply Faster
Write Shorter Sentences
Create Must-Read Reference Lines
Get Right to the Point
Close with a Bang!
Write Shorter Paragraphs
Use Transitions

Part 4: Format for Your Reader’s Eye
Design Your Page Visually
Use Headings and Labels
Make Memos and Letters Scannable
Make Email Effective

Addendum
Punctuation Update
Proofreading Tips
Numbers in Writing
Test Your Word Usage
Author’s Suggested Responses to Exercises
Recommended Reading