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  • Berkeley Global

Effective Writing in the Workplace

ENGLISH X456

41089
Delivery Options Online

Whether you are writing a memo to your boss or a letter to the editor, it is crucial to craft your argument clearly and persuasively. Build confidence by improving your writing's organization, logic and style so that whatever kind of writing your work requires, you can get your point across eloquently and quickly. Delve into the details of the writing process: identifying an audience, choosing the best structure and revising early drafts of your work. Enrollment is limited.

Course Outline

Expand or collapse section

Course Objectives

  • Apply organization and logic to get your point across clearly.
  • Write appropriately for your audience.
  • Edit and revise your own work, as well as suggest edits to others’ work.
  • Write with increased confidence.

What You Learn

  • Common forms of business writing
  • Difference between primary and secondary audiences
  • Determining what you know about your audience and how that information will affect your writing
  • Purpose of a piece of business writing
  • How to critique others' writing
  • Planning and organizing your writing
  • Standard business reports
  • Organizational strategies for business documents or sections of documents
  • Difference between direct and indirect organization
  • Headings and subheadings
  • Writing and revising drafts
  • The revision process: group revision, content and organization, paragraph and sentence structure
  • Selection of active, concrete language
  • Cutting out excess words, buzzwords and jargon
  • Giving your writing the right tone through word choice
  • Formatting, grammar, punctuation and spelling
  • The proofreading process, including checking for correct formatting, identifying and fixing grammar and punctuation errors, and correcting spelling errors

How You Learn

  • Lectures
  • Reading assignments
  • Writing assignments, including drafts of a memo or report, “3 questions” and proofreading
  • Discussion participation and assignments
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Sections

Section 040

Jul 15 to Aug 26

Type: Online, Fixed Date

Instructor:

  • Patricia Smith

Cost: $530.00

See section 040 Details

Type Online, Fixed Date

Dates

Jul 15, 2025 to Aug 26, 2025

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

1 semester units

Section Notes

This Fixed Date Online, course runs from July 15 to August 26. Please note that this course has a drop deadline of 3 days (July 18).

Students will receive access to the course in Canvas on the course start date.

Section Materials

  • Textbook

    (Mandatory)

    A Writer's Reference by Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers

    © 2018 Bedford/St Martin's 9th edition ISBN 1319057446 Textbook ISBN: 978-8925598567
  • Textbook

    (Mandatory)

    HBR Guide to Better Business Writing by Bryan A. Garner

    © 2013 Harvard Business Review Press 1st edition ISBN 142218403X Textbook ISBN: 978-1422184035

Section 041

Sep 23 to Nov 04

Type: Online, Fixed Date

Instructor:

  • Jennifer Green

Cost: $560.00

See section 041 Details

Type Online, Fixed Date

Dates

Sep 23, 2025 to Nov 04, 2025

Instructional Hours

15.00

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

1 semester units

Section Notes

This Fixed Date Online, course runs from September 23 to November 4. Please note that this course has a drop deadline of 3 days (September 26.)

Students will receive access to the course in Canvas on the course start date.

Section Materials

  • Textbook

    (Mandatory)

    A Writer's Reference by Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers

    © 2018 Bedford/St Martin's 9th edition ISBN 1319057446 Textbook ISBN: 978-8925598567
  • Textbook

    (Mandatory)

    HBR Guide to Better Business Writing by Bryan A. Garner

    © 2013 Harvard Business Review Press 1st edition ISBN 142218403X Textbook ISBN: 978-1422184035

Fall 2025 enrollment opens on June 16!

This course applies to the following programs:

Professional Writing Program

Expand or collapse section

Required Courses

  • Effective Writing in the Workplace
  • Introduction to Public Relations Writing
  • Writing for Social Media

Electives

  • Writing Skills Workshop
  • Journalism Workshop
  • Writing the Feature Story
  • Editorial Workshop I: Introduction to Copyediting
  • Technical Communication I
  • Creative Nonfiction Workshop
  • Screenwriting: The Art of Visual Storytelling
  • Science Writing

Capstone Project

  • Professional Writing Program - Final Project

Course of Related Interest

Learn More About This Program

Notes

Departmental contact: extension-letters@berkeley.edu

Instructional Types

Live Online
Live Online courses provide an interactive learning experience with scheduled synchronous online sessions held via Zoom video conferencing (Pacific Time). Learn more about the Live Online format.
Online, Start Anytime
Continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. You have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course.
Online, Fixed Date
Enroll in this course by its start date and complete it by its specified end date. There are no live sessions, but plenty of opportunities to collaborate with your classmates and instructor.
Classroom
Take classes in-person at one of our buildings or partner locations.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

All of our courses are taught in English. If English is not your first language, please use the following test scores as guides in order to be successful:

  • TOEFL: 90
  • IELTS Academic Format: 7
  • DAAD: C1
  • TEM-4 or TEM-8: Level 70
  • Duolingo: 125

Note: You do not need to submit test scores.

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The University of California, Berkeley, is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). UC Berkeley Extension—like all other UC Berkeley schools, colleges and departments—is accredited by WASC through the University.

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Course Fee

Patricia Smith

Patricia Smith, M.J., is a senior corporate communication executive with 30 years of experience. Prior to establishing Patricia Smith Communications, a corporate training firm, she served nine years as communications director for Kaiser Permanente. Previously, she served in top communication positions with GE Financial Services, Bank of America, Blue Cross, Xerox Financial Services and Transamerica. Smith teaches business communication at several colleges and universities in the Bay Area.

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Course Fee

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