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    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    English for Effective Business Writing
    • About
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    1. Browse
    2. Language Learning
    3. Learning English
    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

    English for Effective Business Writing

    This course is part of Business English for Non-Native Speakers Specialization

    Kin Tang
    Delian Gaskell
    Sean McMinn

    Instructors: Kin Tang

    Instructors

    Instructor ratings

    We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.

    4.6 (106 ratings)
    Kin Tang
    Kin Tang
    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    5 Courses•301,259 learners
    Delian Gaskell
    Delian Gaskell
    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    5 Courses•301,259 learners
    Sean McMinn
    Sean McMinn
    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    5 Courses•301,259 learners

    64,482 already enrolled

    Included with Coursera Plus

    •Learn more
    6 modules
    Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
    4.5

    (440 reviews)

    25 hours to complete
    3 weeks at 8 hours a week
    Flexible schedule
    Learn at your own pace
    95%
    Most learners liked this course

    6 modules
    Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
    4.5

    (440 reviews)

    25 hours to complete
    3 weeks at 8 hours a week
    Flexible schedule
    Learn at your own pace
    95%
    Most learners liked this course
    • About
    • Outcomes
    • Modules
    • Recommendations
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews

    Skills you'll gain

    • Business Writing
    • Persuasive Communication
    • Concision
    • Language Competency
    • Writing and Editing
    • Writing
    • Grammar
    • English Language
    • Target Audience
    • Business Communication
    • Vocabulary
    • Business Correspondence

    Details to know

    Shareable certificate

    Add to your LinkedIn profile

    Assessments

    23 assignments

    Taught in English

    See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

    Learn more about Coursera for Business
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    Build your subject-matter expertise

    This course is part of the Business English for Non-Native Speakers Specialization
    When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
    • Learn new concepts from industry experts
    • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
    • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
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    There are 6 modules in 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

    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.

    What's included

    2 videos4 readings2 discussion prompts

    2 videos•Total 5 minutes
    • Introduction to our Specialization•2 minutes•Preview module
    • How this course is organized•2 minutes
    4 readings•Total 40 minutes
    • Objectives and outcomes•10 minutes
    • Learning how to learn•10 minutes
    • Learning vocabulary•10 minutes
    • The HKUST grammar guide•10 minutes
    2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
    • How is this course relevant to you?•10 minutes
    • How do you learn English?•10 minutes

    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.

    What's included

    5 videos5 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt

    5 videos•Total 33 minutes
    • Business writing genres•7 minutes•Preview module
    • Business letters, memos and emails: The basics•8 minutes
    • Report writing•7 minutes
    • The writing process, part 1•7 minutes
    • Challenging grammar: -ing vs. -ed•2 minutes
    5 readings•Total 50 minutes
    • Objectives and outcomes•10 minutes
    • Objectives and outcomes•10 minutes
    • Vocabulary list•10 minutes
    • Commonly confused words•10 minutes
    • Sentence pattern you should know #1•10 minutes
    3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
    • Module 2 Quiz•30 minutes
    • Vocabulary quiz•30 minutes
    • Challenging grammar: -ing vs. -ed•30 minutes
    1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
    • What is style?•10 minutes

    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.

    What's included

    7 videos8 readings8 assignments2 peer reviews2 discussion prompts

    7 videos•Total 37 minutes
    • Effective emailing•5 minutes•Preview module
    • Context and directness•8 minutes
    • Writing to persuade•6 minutes
    • Rhetorical devices•5 minutes
    • The writing process, part 2•2 minutes
    • Paragraphing•6 minutes
    • Challenging grammar: Missing verb 'to be'•3 minutes
    8 readings•Total 80 minutes
    • Objectives and outcomes•10 minutes
    • What do we mean when we say, 'rhetoric'?•10 minutes
    • The concept of kairos•10 minutes
    • Peer-review practice: Sample persuasive email•10 minutes
    • Objectives and outcomes•10 minutes
    • Vocabulary list•10 minutes
    • Sentence pattern you should know #2•10 minutes
    • Peer review practice: Sample email•10 minutes
    8 assignments•Total 240 minutes
    • Module 3 Quiz•30 minutes
    • Using the Direct Approach practice•30 minutes
    • Writing to persuade practice•30 minutes
    • Peer-review practice: Persuasive email•30 minutes
    • Vocabulary quiz•30 minutes
    • How concise are you?•30 minutes
    • Pattern #2 Independent Clause: Appositive•30 minutes
    • Peer review practice•30 minutes
    2 peer reviews•Total 120 minutes
    • Writing a persuasive email•60 minutes
    • Correct the grammar and vocabulary errors and rewrite•60 minutes
    2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
    • How many rhetorical devices do you use?•10 minutes
    • Directness and persuasion•10 minutes

    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.

    What's included

    6 videos8 readings7 assignments2 peer reviews1 discussion prompt

    6 videos•Total 32 minutes
    • Writing memos•2 minutes•Preview module
    • Audience, purpose, tone and style•7 minutes
    • Plain English•6 minutes
    • Gender sensitive language•8 minutes
    • Active and passive voice•3 minutes
    • Challenging grammar: Comma splice•3 minutes
    8 readings•Total 80 minutes
    • Objectives and outcomes•10 minutes
    • Objectives and outcomes•10 minutes
    • Vocabulary list•10 minutes
    • Sentence patterns you should know #3 & #4•10 minutes
    • Reasons to use the passive voice•10 minutes
    • Tone & Style – Avoid using clichés in your writing•10 minutes
    • Peer review practice: Sample memo with errors•10 minutes
    • Peer-review practice: Sample memo•10 minutes
    7 assignments•Total 210 minutes
    • Module 4 Quiz•30 minutes
    • Plain English practice•30 minutes
    • Vocabulary quiz•30 minutes
    • Practising your active and passive voice•30 minutes
    • Tone & Style – Avoid using clichés in your writing•30 minutes
    • Peer review practice quiz for grammar and vocabulary errors•30 minutes
    • Peer-review practice quiz for memo•30 minutes
    2 peer reviews•Total 120 minutes
    • Correct the grammar and vocabulary errors and rewrite memo•60 minutes
    • Writing a memo•60 minutes
    1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
    • Communication styles: Is there a gender influence?•10 minutes

    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.

    What's included

    4 videos10 readings4 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt

    4 videos•Total 21 minutes
    • Elements of an executive summary•8 minutes•Preview module
    • Presenting data•6 minutes
    • Nominalization•3 minutes
    • Challenging grammar: Possessive form•3 minutes
    10 readings•Total 100 minutes
    • Objectives and outcomes•10 minutes
    • General organization of an executive summary•10 minutes
    • Linking ideas•10 minutes
    • Business Case: Sustainable Seafood for a Sustainable Future•10 minutes
    • Objectives and outcomes•10 minutes
    • Vocabulary list•10 minutes
    • Connotation•10 minutes
    • The prepositional of-phrase•10 minutes
    • Sentence patterns you should know #5 & #6•10 minutes
    • Peer-review practice: Sample executive summary•10 minutes
    4 assignments•Total 94 minutes
    • Module 5 Quiz•32 minutes
    • Presenting data•2 minutes
    • Vocabulary quiz•30 minutes
    • Peer-review practice quiz•30 minutes
    1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
    • Executive summary for a proposal•60 minutes
    1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
    • What do these words mean to you?•10 minutes

    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.

    What's included

    1 reading1 assignment

    1 reading•Total 10 minutes
    • Post-course survey•10 minutes
    1 assignment•Total 54 minutes
    • Final exam•54 minutes

    Instructors

    Instructor ratings

    Instructor ratings

    We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.

    4.6 (106 ratings)
    Kin Tang
    Kin Tang
    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    5 Courses•301,259 learners
    Delian Gaskell
    Delian Gaskell
    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    5 Courses•301,259 learners
    Sean McMinn
    Sean McMinn
    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    5 Courses•301,259 learners

    Offered by

    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

    Offered by

    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

    HKUST is a world-class research-intensive university that focuses on science, technology, and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with a global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and innovative thinking.

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      The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

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    Good course for practice however some error in grading section of grammar practice.

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    Frequently asked questions

    Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

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    When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

    If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policyOpens in a new tab.

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