Coursera
Catalog
  • Browse
  • Search
  • For Enterprise
  • Log In
  • Sign Up

English for Effective Business Writing

OverviewSyllabusFAQsCreatorsPricingRatings and Reviews

HomeLanguage LearningLearning English

English for Effective Business Writing

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

About this course: This course aims to improve your Business English writing skills by developing your use of vocabulary, grammar, understanding of different business writing genres, and your ability to write professional business documents. Skills learned in this course will be used in the cross-cultural communications course and help prepare you to produce the professional business documents in the Capstone project. After completing this course, you will be able to: - write business emails - write an executive summary - write persuasively in English - adapt content to purpose, context and audience - use appropriate style and tone of writing for business purposes


Created by:  The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Sean McMinn

    Taught by:  Sean McMinn, Senior Insructor

    Center for Language Education

  • Kin Tang

    Taught by:  Kin Tang, Instructor

    Center for Language Education

  • Delian Gaskell

    Taught by:  Delian Gaskell, Instructor

    Center for Language Education
Basic Info
Course 2 of 5 in the Business English for Non-Native Speakers Specialization
Commitment6 weeks of study, 3-5 hours/week
Language
English
How To PassPass all graded assignments to complete the course.
User Ratings
4.4 stars
Average User Rating 4.4See what learners said
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome Module
Welcome to Week 1! This week, we will cover Module 1 where we introduce you to the objectives and structure of this Specialization and course.
2 videos, 4 readings
  1. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
  2. Video: Introduction to our Specialization
  3. Video: How this course is organized
  4. Discussion Prompt: How is this course relevant to you?
  5. Reading: Learning how to learn
  6. Reading: Learning vocabulary
  7. Discussion Prompt: How do you learn English?
  8. Reading: The HKUST grammar guide
WEEK 2
Business writing genres
Welcome to Week 2! This week we will cover Module 2 where we introduce you to basic genres of business writing and the writing process. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
5 videos, 5 readings, 2 practice quizzes
  1. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
  2. Discussion Prompt: What is style?
  3. Video: Business writing genres
  4. Video: Business letters, memos and emails: The basics
  5. Video: Report writing
  6. Video: The writing process, part 1
  7. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
  8. Reading: Vocabulary list
  9. Practice Quiz: Vocabulary quiz
  10. Reading: Commonly confused words
  11. Video: Challenging grammar: -ing vs. -ed
  12. Practice Quiz: Challenging grammar: -ing vs. -ed
  13. Reading: Sentence pattern you should know #1
Graded: Module 2 Quiz
WEEK 3
Writing emails
Welcome to Week 3! This week we will cover Module 3 where we introduce you to emailing and the language skills you will use in business emails. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
7 videos, 8 readings, 7 practice quizzes
  1. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
  2. Video: Effective emailing
  3. Video: Context and directness
  4. Practice Quiz: Using the Direct Approach practice
  5. Video: Writing to persuade
  6. Practice Quiz: Writing to persuade practice
  7. Reading: What do we mean when we say, 'rhetoric'?
  8. Video: Rhetorical devices
  9. Reading: The concept of kairos
  10. Discussion Prompt: How many rhetorical devices do you use?
  11. Video: The writing process, part 2
  12. Reading: Peer-review practice: Sample persuasive email
  13. Practice Quiz: Peer-review practice: Persuasive email
  14. Discussion Prompt: Directness and persuasion
  15. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
  16. Reading: Vocabulary list
  17. Practice Quiz: Vocabulary quiz
  18. Practice Quiz: How concise are you?
  19. Video: Paragraphing
  20. Video: Challenging grammar: Missing verb 'to be'
  21. Reading: Sentence pattern you should know #2
  22. Practice Quiz: Pattern #2 Independent Clause: Appositive
  23. Reading: Peer review practice: Sample email
  24. Practice Quiz: Peer review practice
Graded: Writing a persuasive email
Graded: Module 3 Quiz
Graded: Correct the grammar and vocabulary errors and rewrite
WEEK 4
Writing memos
Welcome to Week 4! This week we will cover Module 4 where we introduce you memos and how to write according to audience and purpose. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
6 videos, 8 readings, 6 practice quizzes
  1. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
  2. Video: Writing memos
  3. Video: Audience, purpose, tone and style
  4. Video: Plain English
  5. Practice Quiz: Plain English practice
  6. Video: Gender sensitive language
  7. Discussion Prompt: Communication styles: Is there a gender influence?
  8. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
  9. Reading: Vocabulary list
  10. Practice Quiz: Vocabulary quiz
  11. Video: Active and passive voice
  12. Practice Quiz: Practising your active and passive voice
  13. Video: Challenging grammar: Comma splice
  14. Reading: Sentence patterns you should know #3 & #4
  15. Reading: Reasons to use the passive voice
  16. Reading: Tone & Style – Avoid using clichés in your writing
  17. Practice Quiz: Tone & Style – Avoid using clichés in your writing
  18. Reading: Peer review practice: Sample memo with errors
  19. Practice Quiz: Peer review practice quiz for grammar and vocabulary errors
  20. Reading: Peer-review practice: Sample memo
  21. Practice Quiz: Peer-review practice quiz for memo
Graded: Module 4 Quiz
Graded: Correct the grammar and vocabulary errors and rewrite memo
Graded: Writing a memo
WEEK 5
Writing executive summaries
Welcome to Week 5! This week we will cover Module 5 where we introduce you to executive summaries and language skills you will use when writing persuasively. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
4 videos, 10 readings, 3 practice quizzes
  1. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
  2. Video: Elements of an executive summary
  3. Reading: General organization of an executive summary
  4. Video: Presenting data
  5. Practice Quiz: Presenting data
  6. Reading: Linking ideas
  7. Reading: Business Case: Sustainable Seafood for a Sustainable Future
  8. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
  9. Reading: Vocabulary list
  10. Practice Quiz: Vocabulary quiz
  11. Video: Nominalization
  12. Reading: Connotation
  13. Discussion Prompt: What do these words mean to you?
  14. Video: Challenging grammar: Possessive form
  15. Reading: The prepositional of-phrase
  16. Reading: Sentence patterns you should know #5 & #6
  17. Reading: Peer-review practice: Sample executive summary
  18. Practice Quiz: Peer-review practice quiz
Graded: Module 5 Quiz
Graded: Executive summary for a proposal
WEEK 6
Concluding module
Welcome to Week 6! This week we will cover Module 6 where we will conclude the course and you will need to complete the final exam and post-course survey.
1 reading
  1. Reading: Post-course survey
Graded: Final exam

FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

Help from Your Peers
Help from Your Peers

Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

Certificates
Certificates

Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.

Creators
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
HKUST - A dynamic, international research university, in relentless pursuit of excellence, leading the advance of science and technology, and educating the new generation of front-runners for Asia and the world.
Pricing
Purchase Course
Access to course materials

Available

Access to graded materials

Available

Receive a final grade

Available

Earn a shareable Course Certificate

Available

Ratings and Reviews
Rated 4.4 out of 5 of 94 ratings
Marcelo Pereira Lima

Incredible, easily and powerful.

Lahcene Ouled Moussa

very nice courses

Lorena Plaza

Excellent Course!!

Gamil Alhaithy

Really Effective



You May Also Like
University of Washington
Business English: Meetings
1 course
University of Washington
Business English: Meetings
View course
University of Washington
Business English: Planning & Negotiating
1 course
University of Washington
Business English: Planning & Negotiating
View course
University of Washington
Business English: Making Presentations
1 course
University of Washington
Business English: Making Presentations
View course
University of Washington
Business English: Networking
1 course
University of Washington
Business English: Networking
View course
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
English for Effective Business Speaking
1 course
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
English for Effective Business Speaking
View course
Coursera
Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education, partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online.
© 2018 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
  • Coursera
  • About
  • Leadership
  • Careers
  • Catalog
  • Certificates
  • Degrees
  • For Business
  • For Government
  • Community
  • Partners
  • Mentors
  • Translators
  • Developers
  • Beta Testers
  • Connect
  • Blog
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Tech Blog
  • More
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Accessibility
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Directory
  • Affiliates