Adapted from Jin Kim and Marcia Torres Xatruch
Adapted by Yinghua Yang, Fall 2015
Reviewed by Sea Hee Choi, Fall 2015
Objectives: Students will be able to…
• know how to create you-attitude in business communication
• deemphasize negative information by applying the five techniques in business communi-cation
• know how to achieve a desirable tone for business writing
• know when and how to apologize appropriately in business communication
Preparation:
Have students read You-Attitude pp. 38-46 and Positive Emphasis pp. 49-57 before class and complete the MAIN ACTIVITIES worksheet based on the reading.
Teacher Instructions and Tasks:
[50 minutes] You-Attitude & Positive Emphasis
The YOU-ATTITUDE & POSITIVE EMPHASIS PPT talks about the basic rules of creating you-attitude, de-emphasizing negative information, achieving a desirable tone, and making an appropriate apology in business communication. As you go through the presentation, check your students' work on the MAIN ACTIVITIES worksheet. Students can first check their answers in groups. You can then discuss their work as a class. All of the step-by-step instructions are on the handouts.
[20 min] Revising a memo
Ask the students to apply the rules about reader-centered writing to revise the following POORLY-WRITTEN LETTER. The students can work in pairs (possibly using a google doc) and then compare their revised letters with the rest of the class/other groups.
[10 min] Polishing Your Prose
Ask students to read Polishing Your Prose on pp. 48 and pp. 59 and complete the exercises by themselves.
Notes: This activity can be optional, if the previous one takes more than 20 min.
Homework:
Major Assignment 1: Business Memo Revision
Major Assignment 2: Plagiarism Prevention Tutorial [online]
Supplementary materials:
WARM-UP (Word Doc), WARM-UP (PDF)
WARM-UP (ANSWER KEY)
YOU-ATTITUDE & POSITIVE EMPHASIS PPT
MAIN ACTIVITIES (KEY)
POORLY-WRITTEN LETTER
POLISHING YOUR PROSE ANSWER KEY
Sources:
http://www.educationplanner.org/education_planner/deciding_article.asp?sponsor=2859&articleName=Admissions_and_Acceptance_Letters
“Establishing common ground” and “You orientation” materials were adapted from Young-Kyung Min in ESL 505 TA Archives
Ahmed, S. Course Overview. UIUC ESL TA Writing Resources.
Britt Roebuck, D. Improving Business Communication Skills. 4th ed. P. 484.
Author Stream. Writing Business Messages (PPP). Retrieved from http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest31215-270698-PPT68-Entertainment-ppt-powerpoint/
George Mason University. The Writing Center. Adapted from the following SOM 301 materials:
Scott, N. (2010, Spring). Business Writing Basics, SOM 301.
Owl Writing Lab. Tone in Business Writing. Retrieved from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/652/1/
http://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/hurley/modules/mod2/2_docs/you_attitude.pdf
Student Instructions:
Warm-up
Complete the WARM-UP worksheet individually with their textbooks closed. After you finish, check your answers with your partner.
Writing Reader-Centered Memos
Work in pairs, complete the worksheet based on what we just learned.
Revising a Memo
Work with a different partner, apply the rules about reader-centered writing to revise the poorly-written letter.
Polishing Your Prose
Read Polishing Your Prose on pp. 48 and pp. 59 and complete the exercises.
