How to Write For a Business Course

You're a college student tackling business writing.

You're a college student and you've registered for a business course. On your first day, your professor goes over her syllabus and lets you know you'll be handing in several written assignments---and she expects you to write them in a business format. The last formal writing you did was for your English class as a senior in high school, so you're feeling a little lost. You have several resources you can turn to, as well you should. These resources will become, at the least, well-known friends if not your business course writing bibles.

Things You'll Need

• Highlighter
• Writing style book
• Technical writing book
• "Elements of Style"
• Dictionary
• Computer

Instructions

1. Attend the first day of your business course and go over the syllabus when your professor hands them out. Make note of all writing assignments, using your highlighter. Listen to what your professor tells you about her expectations for your class papers---details like what style book she wants you to use. These include the Chicago Manual of Style, Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association or APA.

2. Make note of formatting requirements like margins, spacing and font. Get together with other classmates and discuss the assignment---brainstorm several ideas. Depending on the assignment---memorandum, executive summary or a report---decide what "voice" you'll use. Begin any required research, using permitted sources. Stay away from sources where you can't identify the authors.

3. Listen carefully and discuss your professor's guidelines for writing memoranda, research reports and executive summaries in your business course. Ask her any questions you have and clarify everything you need before you start your writing assignments. Treat each assignment as if you were writing for you future boss.

4. Read your assignments before you turn them in. Look for grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors and correct these on the computer. Print out a rough draft, and read your assignments. Listen for any awkward phrasing, and change it where it occurs.

5. Leave the text speak behind when you're writing assignments for your business course. Phrases like "r u," "l8tr" and "lol" are not accepted business writing, and your professor will mark you down for these. Comb through your assignments carefully to make sure none have slipped in inadvertently. Remove them if you find any.

Tips & Warnings

• Tackle your business course writing assignments by creating a "study buddy" group, especially for assignments where the professor assigns the same topic to the whole class.

• Use your writing sources for every business course writing assignment---you have to get familiar with business technical writing.

References

• New Horizons for Learning: Instant Messaging: Friend or Foe of Student Writing?

• "Handbook of Technical Writing"; Gerald Alred, Charles Brusaw, Walter Oliu; 2003