商务英语写作指南

商务英语写作指南(英文版)

Outline：

  Part I Fundamentals  of business writing ；
  Part II Criteria for effective business Writing  ；
  Part III Contents and formations of the book；
  Part IV Problems to be tackled in this course ；
  Part V  Requirements for teachers。

Books that has influence on me：

  Basic Business Communication (1991);
  By Raymond V. Lesikar;
  Business communication ( 1998) ( 2005);
  By Carol M. Lehman ( Thomson publishing house).

Part 1 Fundamentals：

  Theories related to communications;
  Human needs;
  Stroking and Johari window;
  Theory X and Theory Y;
  Marketing concept;

Intercultural knowledge /SRC.

1.1 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs：

商务英语写作指南

Human needs

Lower level needs
physiological
Safety
Social

Higher level needs
Esteem
Self-actualization

1.2 stroking and Johari window
Stroking
Transactional term (相互作用分析） for identifying the way others give recognition to a person
Positive stroke , E.g. receiving congratulatory phone calls or letter
Negative stroke, E.g. receiving hurtful comments

1.2 Trust Leads to Reciprocal Sharing Depicted in Expanded Open Area in Johari Window

商务英语写作指南
1.2 Johari window
1. Free or open area---what we know about ourselves and others about us;

2. blind area--- others know about us , but we don’t know about ourselves;
3. hidden area --- Things we know about ourselves ,other don’t know;
4. unknown area--- things we don’t know and others don’t know about us.

The purpose is to expand the open area , decrease the bind and hidden area , therefore leading to higher level of interpersonal sharing.
Trust is something that must be earned.
Trust and openness lead to better communication between two people
In business we aim at both task –oriented communication and emotional communication

1.3 X theory and Y theory of management styles
Theory X :
traditional style,
meet lower level of human needs, exercise strong control over the employees,
employ external incentives E. G. job and paycheck

Theory Y :
Modern style
Meet higher level needs
Balance control and individual freedom
Lessen the external motivation
E.G empowerment

1.4 Changes in marketing Mix from 4 Ps to 4Cs
Product ---design or production
Price and place –distribution
Promotion--- marketing communication
The 4ps determine how a good or service is made and provided , how much it cost, where it is distributed and how it is presented in all company communication.

4 cs
Customer –focus on customers wants and needs versus product
Cost – what it cost a customer to own a product instead of how to price a product ( e. g. car/ considering the repair cost)
Convenience ---focus how easy it is for customers to acquire the product, rather than how easy for the company to distribute it ( e.g. Coca Cola convince restaurants to offer its products , as well as making them widely available in every type of stores

Communication Traditionally promotion has meant sending brand message and offers customers, using one-way communication. The new way of thinking focuses on opening up opportunities for dialogue, from telling and selling to listening and learning

1.5 The self –reference Criterion
The definition : The unconscious reference to one’s own cultural values
Cultivate culture awareness and culture understanding
Learn to be careful about using our own cultural norms to judge people from other cultures

Part II. Criteria  for Effective Business Writing
2.1 Courtesy --- treating people with respect and concern /employing
  You –view points
  Conversational language
   words of positive effect
   do more than expected
2.2 Correctness -  grammar, punctuation, spelling, , using accurate information
show respect to the receiver of the messages
2.3 Conciseness  write in the fewest possible words without sacrificing completeness and
you-view point –time is money  to the customers
2.4 Clarity –tells the readers exactly what they want and need
  show concern for the  readers
  Short sentence, familiar words
2.5 Concreteness – vivid, specific ,  action verbs
2.6 Completeness –Include all the necessary information and data in the message

Following the six cs standards, you can (1) accomplish your task –get thing done , and (2) maintain goodwill with customers.

2.7 Patterns of Business Writing
Direct order
good news and routine news
Indirect order
bad news and persuasive messages

Part III. Organization of the book
3.1 contents
Principles of business writing ( 1-2)
Letters concerning transactions (3-7)
General letters ( 8-9)
Office communications ( 10-11)
Employment ( 12-14)
Proposal and report ( 15-16)
Business documents and questionnaires( 17-18)

3.2 purpose
To inform
Units 3.4.5.6. 10.11.16
To persuade
Units 7.12.13.14.15.16
To Entertain
Unit 8.

3.3 Organization of each unit
Writing principle
Standard letters ( questions)
Samples for analysis
Language for writing
- notes
- useful sentence patterns
Exercises

Part IV Problems to be tackled business writing teaching
Motivation of students
Teaching materials
Teachers’ professionalism
teaching methods --

4.1 Students motivation for taking the course
Mostly they are pre-experience learner:
1) Prepare for their future working life in business ( motivated)
2) get credits to graduate ( need to be motivated)
3) Pass BEC test

4.2 Teaching materials
No text book is perfect in itself or for a particular teaching learning context
Need to adapt and supplement in some way for particular students and specific teaching contexts
Authentic materials
Case study

4.3 Particular nature of business writing teaching
Is a branch of English for Special purpose
Is more than specialized vocabulary
involves with theories of applied linguistics, socio-linguistics, pragmatics, HR management, psychology, cross-cultural communications

4.4 Teaching method
Substituting
Supplementing
Adapting course book material according to students interests or needs
Pair writing or group writing
planning
drafting

revision
comment

Part V Requirements for teachers
Strong interest  in your teaching
Proficiency in English language
Knowledge of business communications
and of trade and marketing
Understanding of students’ needs and motives
Skill of class management
Extra efforts at evaluating students performance