PrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorPART I. HOW TO COMMUNICATE IN WRITINGChapter 1. Business Writing Today--And You Why Workplace Writing Matters How Employers See Writing Defining Business Writing for Today Now, Back to You The Impact of the Digital Age How to Use This Book Practice OpportunitiesChapter 2. Write to Accomplish Goals How and Why to Plan Your Messages Step 1: Identify Your Short- and Long-Range Goals Step 2: Analyze Your Audience Systematically Bridging Generational Differences How Understanding Other People Helps You Writing to Groups Practice OpportunitiesChapter 3. Put the Planning Structure to Work Decide What Response You Want Apply Your Audience Analysis Brainstorm Your Content Points Lead With Strength Middle Well Finally, End Well Choose How to Organize The Goldilocks Principle: How Much Is Just Right? Manage Your Tone Practice the Planning Structure Practice OpportunitiesPART II. SHARPEN AND IMPROVE YOUR WRITINGChapter 4. Create the First Draft Choose the Familiar Words of Conversation Build Clear, Concise Sentences Build With Action Verbs Work With Short Paragraphs Use Good Transitions: Words, Phrases and Devices Sidestep Tone Traps Practice OpportunitiesChapter 5. Edit Your Writing Ten Principles of Power Editing Practical Editing Stage 1: Content Review Practical Editing Stage 2: Review Language and Structure Commonsense Fix-It Techniques Sidestep Business-Speak Fixing Some Grammar Glitches The Fixer Takeaway Editing Down Long Copy How Correct Must Business Writing Be? Finally: Proofread Remember: Many Ways Can Work Practice Opportunities Resources for Part IIChapter 6.

Use the Techniques of Persuasion Line Your Toolkit With Essentials Adopt Persuasion''s Triple Play: Ethos, Logos, Pathos Write to Build Trust Acknowledge Other Viewpoints Build Persuasion Into All Your Writing Show Don''t Sell! Use Language Magic When the Story Is Yours: Finding, Shaping, Telling Draw on the Transformation Story Model Tips for Writing the Story Explore the Emotional Dimension Remember the Graphic Dimension Learn From a Model Business Writer: Warren Buffett Practice Opportunities Selected Resources for Chapter 6PART III. THE BASICS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONChapter 7. Building Relationships With Everyday Messages Use E-mail Strategically Apply the Planning Structure Build in the Right Tone Dont Bury the Lead! Communicating About Work Problems Some E-mail Q&A Practice OpportunitiesChapter 8. Writing More Formal Messages When to Write Letters--And How Craft Letters for Specific Situations Use Messages to Network Writing to Fix Business Problems The International Dimension of Business Writing Practice OpportunitiesChapter 9. Creating Strong Business Documents Writing Tips for Business Documents Create Reports That Win Support Develop Big-Picture Project Reports Write Solid Personal Reports The Executive Summary: Techniques and Options Sample Executive Summary for a Report Writing Proposals That Win Succeeding With Grant Applications A Word on Business Plans Practice OpportunitiesPART IV. WRITING FOR ONLINE AND SPOKEN MEDIAChapter 10. Craft Your Writing for the Interactive World Strategizing Your Digital Presence Adapting to Interactive Media Ten Tips for Using Online Media Website Writing: What''s Different How to Strategize a Website Blogging: Know Why, Know How Joining Online Communities Choose to Brand Yourself Think Global: The Internet Lives Everywhere Practice Opportunities Selected Resources for Social Media and the InternetChapter 11. Present Yourself: Write Well to Speak Well The Elevator Speech: Why and How to Write It Developing Speeches and Presentations Prepare Talking Points for In-Person Occasions Writing Tips for Spoken Media Creating Better PowerPoints Planning and Using Video Translating Verbal Into Visual Practice Opportunities Selected ResourcesPART V.

INTO THE FUTUREChapter 12. Win Your Opportunities: Writing for the Hunt Plan a Résumé Based on Strengths Write to Outshine the Competition Develop Strong Cover Letters Practice OpportunitiesAppendix: Activities, Practice, Planning Sentence Rewrite Practice (Nobody''s Perfect) Unfortunate Real-World Examples to Diagnose Writing and Ethics: Conversation and Debate Handle Unfamiliar Media: A Newsletter Project Make Your Own Cheat Sheets Develop Your Interviewing Skills Five Favorite Assignments Create Your Personal Writing RxIndex.