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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.

Prerequisites:

You must be proficient in English and have a solid grasp of English grammar.

Course Outline

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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 034

Apr 04 to May 09

Type: Online, Fixed Date

Instructor:

  • Margaret Steen

Cost: $490.00

See section 034 Details

Type Online, Fixed Date

Dates

Apr 04, 2023 to May 09, 2023

Instructional Hours

15.00

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

1 semester units

Section Notes

This is an Online, Fixed Date course that runs from April 04 to May 09.

Please note that this course has a drop deadline of 3 days (April 07).

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

Spring enrollment opens on October 17!

This course applies to the following programs:

Interdisciplinary Writing Program

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Individualized Study Plan

  • Effective Writing in the Workplace
  • Writing for Social Media
  • Grammar, Mechanics and Usage for Editors
  • Journalism Workshop
  • Science Writing
  • Writing the Feature Story
  • Introduction to Public Relations Writing
  • Writing and Editing Internship Program
  • Editorial Workshop I: Introduction to Copyediting
  • Writing Skills Workshop
  • Writing Creative Nonfiction
  • Creative Nonfiction Workshop
  • Developing the Memoir
  • Developing the Memoir II
  • The Craft of Reading
  • The Craft of Writing
  • Exploring Creative Writing
  • Introduction to Writing Fiction
  • Intermediate Fiction Writing
  • Advanced Fiction Writing
  • Developing the Novel
  • Screenwriting: The Art of Visual Storytelling
  • Poetry Workshop
  • Poets Studied and in Conversation
  • American Fiction
  • Great Novels You Always Meant to Read
  • Mystery Fiction
  • Shakespeare
  • Editorial Workshop II: Intermediate Copyediting
  • Advanced Editorial Workshop
  • Indexing: Theory and Application
  • Technical Communication I
  • Technical Communication II
  • Technical Communication III: Information Design

Learn More About this Program

Professional Writing Program

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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
  • Writing Creative Nonfiction
  • 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 | (510) 643-1110

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: 115

Note: You do not need to submit test scores.

Extension

1995 University Ave., Suite 130

Berkeley, CA 94704-7000

extension@berkeley.edu

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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

Margaret Steen

Margaret Steen, M.J., Extension Honored Instructor, is a Bay Area freelance writer, editor and writing instructor. Her work has been published in the San Jose Mercury News, Christian Science Monitor, Business 2.0, American Journalism Review, Stanford Business and Network World and on HotJobs.com. She teaches online and classroom courses in writing for UC Berkeley Extension.

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