Can Do Writing : The Proven Ten-Step System for Fast and Effective Business Writing

by Daniel Graham; Judith Graham

• ISBN13: 9780470470046
• ISBN10: 0470470046
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2010-03-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

A simple, ten-step system for mastering the art of effective, persuasive business or technical writing"The Grahams' system is the best way to transform data and ideas into meaningful information necessary to make profitable decisions. Their system works every time." -Steven Laposa, PhD, MBA, Loveland Commercial Endowed Chair in Real Estate, Colorado State University"The Grahams' straightforward program helps my teams create clear and concise reports, letters, and other documents with minimal effort. I want this program to become the standard for my teams." -Bill Walter, Senior Vice President, Government and Infrastructure Division, KBR"The Can Do Writing system made my career! I used it to write a winning business plan and proposal, and now I use it every day for all communications. Can Do Writing provides valuable insights into business and management as well as writing techniques." -Christian Robey, President, DC ProgressYou may be an expert at what you do, but if you can't communicate effectively in writing it may not matter. For scientists, businesspeople, and professionals in fields from engineering to public relations, the art of writing well can be a vital key to professional success.Luckily, you don't need an English degree to produce top-class writing. If you're one of the millions of people who have to write clear, persuasive, understandable documents for your job, Can Do Writing is for you. Whether you're writing a business plan, a scientific paper, a press release, or anything else, this simple, straightforward guide will show you how to do it quickly, with style and confidence. You'll learn how to:Understand your audience and subject matterDevelop a simple, five-part purpose statement to keep you on trackOrganize your main points into a coherent, sensible orderEdit your work for clarity, coherence, organization, and logicEconomize your words to craft a concise, powerful documentMake your documents easily readable for any audience

Table of Contents

Preface

About the Authors

Introduction Can Do Writing

Skillset: Analysis

Analyze Purpose and Audience

What Result Do You Want from the Document?

Who Is the Audience?

What Does the Audience Do with the Information?

What Information Does the Audience Need?

Does the Audience Know Little or Much About the Information?

Does the Audience Need Proof?

Plan How to Write to Multiple Audiences

Write Your Document's Five-Part Purpose Statement

Decide the Type of Document or Oral Communication to Use

Pick a Verb That Describes What the Document Does

Assemble the Five Parts into a Purpose Statement

Use the Purpose Statement to Settle Controversies

Purpose Statements Make History

Practice Steps 1 and 2 Using a Case Study

Select Facts

Use the Purpose Statement As You Select Facts

Organize Your Points in a Sentence Outline

Write Your Points Using Short Words in Short Sentences

Evaluate Points to Eliminate Irrelevancies and Redundancies

Order the Points

Practice Steps 1 through 4 Using a Case Study

Skillset: Composing the Draft

Compose the Draft

Compose the Draft Body

Compose the Draft Conclusion

Compose the Draft Introduction

If Necessary, Compose the Draft Executive Summary

If Necessary, Compose the Draft Abstract

Skillset: Editing

Review the Draft for Organization and Logic

Test Organization by Answering Three Questions

Use Sentence Outlining Techniques to Improve Organization

Test Logic by Answering Five Questions

Edit for Coherence

Repeat Key Words throughout Your Document

Ensure That Each Paragraph Begins with a Point

Use Transition Words

Use Vertical Lists for Series of Like Items

Ensure Your Graphics Make a Point

Apply Visual Devices

Edit for Clarity

Use Concrete and Specifi c Words

Use Active Voice

Simplify Tense: Stay in Present Tense When Possible

Avoid the Helping Verbs Would , Should , and Could

Identify and Replace Ambiguous Pronouns

Use Standard English Words

Check Sentences for Misplaced or Dangling Modifi ers

Edit for Economy

Cut Useless Verbs

Cut Useless Prepositions

Cut Who , Which , and That

Cut Useless Repetition

Cut Redundancy

Cut Useless Comments

Cut Useless Modifi ers

Edit for Readability

Measure Readability Using the Gunning Fog Index

Replace Long Words with Short Words

Break Long Sentences

Conclusion Congratulations!

Index

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