Technical and Business Writing

Credit Hours 3+0

Course Code HS211

Course Learning Objectives

This course is designed to equip students with written form of Technical and Business
Communication Skills helpful in their academic and professional life. They would be able
to plan, organize and compose professional messages suitable for wide range of situations.
They will get an insight into the theory and application of administrative and managerial
communication. Moreover, students will be able to write effective resumés and employment
letters. In this course, students will also gain a practical training on writing proposals and
reports based on primary and secondary information with documentation.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course the students will be able to:
 Understand and apply basic communication principles
 Write routine positive, negative, persuasive and employment messages in letter,
email and memo format.
 Collect, analyze, document, and report research clearly, concisely, and logically in for
of reports and proposals.
Assessment / Evaluation
Assignments + Class Quizzes + Presentation(s) 20%
Midterm Examination 20%
Final Examination 60%
Assignments:
As part of continuous assessment, up to three assignment can set during the course. All
assignments must be submitted by due date. Late submissions are not acceptable. Plagiarism
(copying other’s work) will be severely penalized.
Class Quizzes
Class quizzes (announced and unannounced) of short duration would be taken in class
throughout the semester. At least four quizzes would be taken during the semester.. There
would be no MAKEUP for these quizzes.

Recommended Books:
 Business Communication: Process and Product 7th Edition, Mary Ellen Guffey and
Dana Loewy
 Technical Writing – Process & Product, 7th Edition, Sharon J. Gerson, S.M. Gerson
 Technical Communication – Principles & practice By M. Raman, and S. Sharma, Oxford
University Press.
 Reep, Diana C: Technical Writing Principles Strategies & Reading, 3rd Edition
Wee Topic to be Covered Suggested PLO
k Chapters*

1 Definition of Technical and Business PLO-8

Communication PLO-10
Understand the importance of communication skills in Chapter 1 PLO-11
relation to career success PLO-12
Recognize significant trends in today's dynamic workplace
and how these trends increase the need for excellent
communication skills.

Analyze the process of communication and understand

how to use it effectively.

Recognize barriers to interpersonal communication and

examine specific strategies for overcoming those barriers.

Understand the internal and external functions of

communication in organizations as well as compare and
contrast the advantages and disadvantages of oral and
written communication.

2 Characteristics/Criteria and features of effective PLO-8

Technical writing PLO-10
Explain how technical communication differs from other Supplementar PLO-11
forms of communication y handout PLO-12
Identify the various purposes of technical communication.
Adapt to written and oral communication channels

Explain why being a successful technical communicator is

important on the job

3 Writing process: planning PLO-8

Identify four basic principles of business writing, Chapter 4 PLO-10
summarize the 3-x-3 writing process, and explain how a PLO-11
writing process helps a writer.
PLO-12
Recognize the components of the first phase of the writing
process (prewriting), including analyzing your purpose,
 anticipating the audience, selecting the best channel, and
considering how to adapt your message to the audience.

Effectively apply audience benefits, the “you” view, and

conversational but professional language.

Effectively employ positive and courteous tone, bias-free

language, simple expression, and vigorous words.

4 Writing process: organizing PLO-8

Apply Phase 2 of the writing process, which begins with Chapter 5 PLO-10
researching data and generating ideas. PLO-11
Explain how to organize data into lists and alphanumeric PLO-12
or decimal outlines.

Compare direct and indirect patterns for organizing ideas.

Compose the first draft of a message, avoiding sentence

fragments, run-on sentences, and comma splices as well
as emphasizing important ideas, avoiding misplaced
modifiers, and using active and passive voice effectively.

Compose effective paragraphs using three classic

paragraph plans as well as applying techniques for
achieving paragraph coherence.

5 Writing process: Revising PLO-8

Complete business messages by revising for conciseness, Chapter 6 PLO-10
which includes eliminating flabby expressions, long lead- PLO-11
ins, there is/are and it is/was fillers, redundancies, and
PLO-12
empty words.

Improve clarity in business messages by keeping the

ideas simple, dumping trite business phrases, dropping
clichés and slang, unburying verbs, and controlling
exuberance.
 Enhance readability by understanding document design
including the use of white space, margins, typefaces,
fonts, numbered and bulleted lists, and headings.

Recognize proofreading problem areas and apply effective

techniques to proofread both routine and complex
documents.

6 Writing routine positive and goodwill messages PLO-8

Apply the 3-x-3 writing process to creating successful Chapter 8 PLO-10
positive messages, including e-mails, interoffice memos, PLO-11
and business letters.
PLO-12
Understand the appropriate use of e-mails, interoffice
memos, and business letters.

Compose direct messages that make requests and

respond to inquiries.

Write messages that clearly explain step-by-step

instructions.

Prepare messages that make direct claims.

Create adjustment messages that regain the confidence of

customers and promote further business.

7 Writing negative messages PLO-8

Describe the goals and strategies of business Chapter 9 PLO-10
communicators in conveying negative news effectively, PLO-11
Decide whether to use the direct or indirect strategy in PLO-12
conveying negative news.

Analyze the components of effective negative messages,

including opening with a buffer, apologizing, conveying
empathy, presenting the reasons, cushioning the bad
news, and closing pleasantly.

Describe and apply effective techniques for refusing

typical requests and handling bad news with customers.
8 Writing persuasive messages PLO-8
Define the concept of persuasion, identify effective and Chapter 10 PLO-10
ineffective persuasive techniques, and apply the 3-x-3 PLO-11
writing process to persuasive messages.
PLO-12
Explain the four major elements in successful persuasive
messages

Write persuasive messages that request favors and

actions, make claims, and deliver complaints.

Write persuasive messages within organizations and sales

messages.

Mid Term Examinations

9 Writing for Employment: PLO-8

Appreciate the need to customize your résumé, and know Chapter 15 PLO-10
whether to choose a chronological or a functional résumé PLO-11
style.
PLO-12
Organize your qualifications and information into effective
résumé segments.

Describe techniques that optimize a résumé for today’s

technologies, including preparing a scannable résumé, a
plain-text résumé, and an e-portfolio.

Draft and submit a customized cover message to

10 Chapter 15 PLO-8
accompany a print or digital résumé.
PLO-10
Messages requesting internship placement; Solicited and PLO-11
unsolicited job applications;
PLO-12
11 Writing Short Business Reports PLO-8
Describe basic features of business reports, including Chapter 11 PLO-10
functions, strategies (indirect or direct), writing style, and PLO-11
formats.
PLO-12
Apply the 3-x-3 writing process to business reports to
create well-organized documents that show a firm grasp of
audience and purpose.

Find, evaluate, and use print and electronic secondary

12 Chapter 11 PLO-8
sources.
PLO-10
Understand how to generate and use primary data while PLO-11
avoiding researcher bias.
PLO-12
Comprehend fast-changing communication technology:
the Web, electronic databases, and other resources for
business writers and researchers.

Recognize the purposes and techniques of documentation

in business reports, and avoid plagiarism.

Tabulate information, use statistical techniques, and

13 Chapter 12 PLO-8
create decision matrices to sort and interpret business
report data skillfully and accurately. PLO-10
PLO-11
Draw meaningful conclusions and make practical report
PLO-12
recommendations after sound and valid analysis.

Organize report data logically and provide cues to aid

comprehension.

Write short informational reports that describe routine

tasks.

Compose short analytical reports that solve business

problems.
14 Writing Proposals and Reports Chapter 13 PLO-8
Understand the importance, purpose, and components of PLO-10
informal and formal proposals. PLO-11
Discuss the general uses and basic components of PLO-12
proposals and grasp their audience and purpose.

Discuss formal proposals and how to anticipate a

receiver’s reaction to your message.

15 Formal / Long reports (structure and organization) PLO-8

Describe the steps in writing and editing formal business Chapter 13 PLO-9
reports. PLO-10
Convert report data into meaningful visual aids and PLO-11
graphics. PLO-12

Describe the components of typical formal reports.

16 Chapter 13 PLO-8
summaries, abstracts, table of contents, footnotes, PLO-10
glossaries, crossreferencing glossaries, index, PLO-11
appendices, typesetting systems, creating
PLO-12

Final Examinations
*Students can find suggested chapters from “Business Communication: Process and
Product” by Guffey for the given course components.