This course is
predicated on the belief that the predominant difference between the competent
writer and those with less competence is confidence. If English is your
primary language and you read well, you already know many of the rhythms and
patterns of writing. Along with building confidence, this course will
remind the business writer of the most useable business punctuation and the
most common errors in business writing; it will introduce them to a formula for
understanding sentence construction, make them aware of proof reading tips and
strategies, and instruct them on the most common word usage errors. Finally,
this course will acquaint the business writer with the print and on-line
resources available, and it will introduce them to the concept of "reading for
grammar," making them a lifelong learner. If you understand the science of
grammar, the art of writing is much easier.
Students
will:
- Recognize the knowledge and skills they already possess
- Understand and use sentence construction as a formula
(ct. - ct,BOYSFANct. - ct;ct. - ct;adv conj,ct. - pt,ct. - c(pt)t. - ct, pt.).
- Understand and avoid the most common errors in subject
and verb agreement.
- Be able to accurately use the apostrophe in its most
common applications.
- Be able to accurately use who and whom.
- Be able to accurately use commas, semi-colons, and colons
in their most common applications.
- Be able to accurately use quotation marks, parenthesis,
ellipsis, and dashes in their most common applications.
- Be familiar with proofreading tips and strategies.
- Be aware of the most common word usage errors.
- Be familiar with the published and on line resources
available to the business writer.
- Understand the concept and be able to "read for grammar."
- Have the skills and confidence necessary to continue to
develop one's business writing abilities after the class ends by the skills
taught and the resources given.
This class is predicated on certain beliefs:
- Writing is 15% knowledge and 85% confidence. English born
speakers already know the writing rhythms; English readers have all the writing
patterns already in their head.
- If you understand the science of writing (grammar), the
art of writing is much easier.
- If a writer understands sentence construction, many of
his/her punctuation issues go away.
- Not all punctuation is created equal (some punctuation
functions are more useable in business writing than others).
- In business writing and in most jobs, one need not be a
great writer, but one needs to be able to "write with no pain." The business
writer needs to be comfortable enough to produce what is necessary with little
emotional angst, turn it over to be proofread, send it out, and move on to the
next task efficiently.
- In most businesses/jobs, writing is necessary, but it is
not most important activity.
- In many business/job writing activities, a single
paragraph will do the job (e-mails should be 25 words or less).
- If a business writer is going to retain the knowledge
gained in this class and continuously add new knowledge, he/she must do one of
two things:
- write and/or
- read for Grammar (a skill taught in this training)
Dates
February 8 - 27, 2010
Registration
Click here for registration form.
Online Learning
at BSU
The
Center for Research and Innovation and Bemidji State University, as well as the
entire Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system, use
Desire2Learn (D2L) as their course management system. According to the D2L
website at http://www.desire2learn.com, D2L is a "user-centric, web-based platform for the
delivery of online teaching and learning[.]" Thus, D2L allows BSU to
deliver quality interactive courses and programs over the Internet. Visit the
Center for Extended Learning website at http://distance.bemidjistate.edu/ for more information about online learning at BSU. Please
note that the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Higher
Learning Commission accredit BSU's online courses and programs.