2. Chapter 5, Slide 2
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Phase 3
• Revision
• Proofreading
• Evaluation
Do I really need to write?
What communication channel is best?
Why am I writing?
How will the reader react?
How can I save my reader’s time?
Phase 2
• Research
• Organization
• Composition
Applying the Writing Process
Phase 1
• Analysis
• Anticipation
• Adaptation
4. Chapter 1, Slide 4
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 5, Slide 4
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Phase 1
• Analysis
• Anticipation
• Adaptation
Phase 3
• Revision
• Proofreading
• Evaluation
Phase 2
• Research
• Organization
• Composition
Check files, gather documentation.
Outline or list points to cover.
Compose first draft; expect to revise.
5. Chapter 1, Slide 5
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 5, Slide 5
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Phase 1
• Analysis
• Anticipation
• Adaptation
Revise for clarity and conciseness.
Proofread for correctness.
Plan for feedback.
Phase 2
• Research
• Organization
• Composition
Phase 3
• Revision
• Proofreading
• Evaluation
6. Chapter 5, Slide 6
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Paper-based
messages
• Business letters
• Interoffice
memos
How Organizations Exchange
Written Messages
Electronic
messages
• E-mail
• Instant messaging
• Text messaging
• Podcasts
• Blogs
• Wikis
8. Chapter 5, Slide 8
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Opening
Frontload main idea immediately.
Avoid reviewing background.
Subject Line
Summarize message clearly and
concisely.
Avoid meaningless one-word headings,
such as "Help" or "Urgent."
Components of E-Mail and Memos
9. Chapter 5, Slide 9
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Body
Organize information and explanations
logically.
Cover just one topic.
Use numbered and bulleted lists.
Consider adding headings for visual
impact.
Components of E-Mail and Memos
10. Chapter 5, Slide 10
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Closing options
End with action information, dates, and
deadlines.
Summarize the message.
Provide a closing thought.
Avoid overused expressions.
Components of E-Mail and Memos
11. Chapter 5, Slide 11
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Formatting E-Mail Messages
Consider keying receiver’s full name with angle
brackets.
To: Ann Jones<ajones@peach.com>
From: Entered automatically
Subject: Meaningful topic summary
Cc: Receiver of copy
Attached:
Guide Words
12. Chapter 5, Slide 12
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
No salutation
Ann, Dear Ann:, Hi, or Good
morning!
Include name
in first line
“Thanks, Ann, for
your help . . .”
Formatting E-Mail Messages
Salutation options
13. Chapter 5, Slide 13
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Cover just one topic.
Use uppercase and lowercase letters.
Use short line length if message might be
forwarded.
Consider a complimentary closing such as Best
or Cheers.
Include your name and full contact identification–
especially for messages to outsiders.
Formatting E-Mail Messages
Body
Closing
14. Chapter 5, Slide 14
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Formatting Hard-Copy Memos
Double-space DATE, TO,
FROM, SUBJECT.
Align all words after the colon
following “Subject.”
Guide Words
15. Chapter 5, Slide 15
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Formatting Hard-Copy Memos
On plain paper set 1-inch top and bottom
margins.
If desired, type the company name 1 inch
from the top.
A double-space below the company name,
type heading “Memo” or “Memorandum.”
Top and Bottom Margins
16. Chapter 5, Slide 16
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Formatting Hard-Copy Memos
Set left and right
margins of 1.25 inches.
Single-space the body.
Side Margins and Spacing
17. Chapter 5, Slide 17
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Formatting E-Mail Messages
Open e-mail
by clicking
icon at right.
18. Chapter 1, Slide 18
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 5, Slide 18
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Formatting E-Mail Messages
Dear Dawn:
To speed telephone installation and improve service within the
main facility, we are starting a new application procedure.
Service request forms will be available at various locations
within the three buildings. When you require telephone service,
pick up a request form at your nearest location. Fill in the
pertinent facts, obtain approval from your division head, and
send the form to Brent White.
Please call me at 451-0593 if you have any questions about this
new procedure.
Best,
Jay Murray, Vice President, Facilities and Operations
Phone: (245) 451-0593 ● Fax: (245) 451-3389
E-Mail: jmurray@pro.com
Use a complimentary
close and include your
contact information.
Include a salutation
for a friendly tone.
Single-space body;
double-space between
paragraphs.
Use angle brackets
for Internet addresses
Write complete
sentences and use
upper and lower-
case letters.
19. Chapter 5, Slide 19
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Model E-Mail Message
Matt:
Two interns will work in your department from September 20
through November 30. As part of their supervision, you should
do the following:
Develop a work plan describing their duties.
To:
From:
Subject:
Cc:
Attached:
Matt Ferranto mferranto@qualcom.com
Brooke Johnson bejohnson@qualcom.com
Supervising Two Assigned Interns
20. Chapter 5, Slide 20
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Supervise their work to ensure positive results.
Assess their professionalism in completing all assigned work.
Please examine the packet we are sending you. It contains forms
and additional information about the two students assigned to
your department. Call me at Ext. 248 if you have questions.
Best,
Brooke
Brooke Johnson
Human Resources & Development
E-mail: bjohnson@telecom.com
Phone: (425) 896-3420
Model E-Mail Message
21. Chapter 5, Slide 21
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Getting Started
Content, Tone, Correctness
Netiquette
Reading and Replying
Personal Use
Other Smart Practices
Using E-Mail Smartly, Safely,
and Professionally
22. Chapter 5, Slide 22
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Consider composing off
line.
Type the receiver’s
address correctly.
Avoid misleading subject
lines.
Apply the top-of-the-
screen test.
Using E-Mail Smartly, Safely,
and Professionally
Getting Started
23. Chapter 5, Slide 23
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Be concise.
Don’t send anything you wouldn’t want
published.
Don’t use e-mail to avoid contact.
Care about correctness and tone.
Resist humor and rage.
Using E-Mail Smartly, Safely,
and Professionally
Content, Tone, Correctness
24. Chapter 5, Slide 24
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Limit any tendency to send blanket copies.
Never send “spam.”
Consider using identifying labels, such as
ACTION, FYI, RE, URGENT.
Use capital letters only for emphasis or for
publication titles.
Seek permission before forwarding and
beware of long threads.
Using E-Mail Smartly, Safely,
and Professionally
Netiquette
25. Chapter 5, Slide 25
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Scan all messages before replying.
Print only when necessary.
Acknowledge receipt.
Don’t automatically return the sender’s
message.
Revise the subject line if the topic changes.
Provide a clear, complete first sentence.
Never respond when you are angry.
Using E-Mail Smartly, Safely,
and Professionally
Reading and Replying
26. Chapter 5, Slide 26
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Don’t use company
computers for
personal matters
unless allowed by
your organization.
Assume that all
e-mail is monitored.
Using E-Mail Smartly, Safely,
and Professionally
28. Chapter 5, Slide 28
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Learn about your
organization’s IM policies.
Are you allowed to use
IM?
Make yourself unavailable
when you need to
complete a project or meet
a deadline.
Organize your contact list
to separate business
contacts from family and
friends.
Best Practices for Using Instant
Messaging Professionally
29. Chapter 5, Slide 29
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Don’t send anything
confidential or sensitive.
Be aware that instant
messages can be saved.
Be careful about what you
write.
Keep personal messaging
to a minimum.
Show patience by not
blasting multiple messages
to coworkers if a response
is not immediate.
Best Practices for Using Instant
Messaging Professionally
30. Chapter 5, Slide 30
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Keep your presence status
up-to-date.
Beware of jargon, slang,
and abbreviations, which
may be confusing and
unprofessional.
Respect your receivers by
using good grammar,
proper spelling, and
careful proofreading.
Best Practices for Using Instant
Messaging Professionally
31. Chapter 5, Slide 31
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
•Summarize the message
content.
Subject
line
Expand the subject line by stating
the main idea concisely in a full
sentence.
Opening
Writing Plan for Information and
Procedure E-Mail Messages and Memos
32. Chapter 5, Slide 32
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Provide background data and
explain the main idea. In describing
a procedure or giving instructions,
use command language (do this,
don't do that).
Body
Request action, summarize the
message, or present a closing
thought.
Closing
Writing Plan for Information and
Procedure E-Mail Messages and Memos
33. Chapter 1, Slide 33
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 5, Slide 33
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Ineffective Information Memo
Date: May 1, 200x
To: Department Managers
From: Waldo Hightower
Subject: Hiring
As summer approaches, we have been thinking about
hiring new employees. This is to inform you that we have
scheduled three employment interviewing sessions. Your
presence is required at these sessions to help us avoid
making poor selections.
Please mark your calendar for the three times. The first
meeting is May 3 in the conference room. The second
meeting is May 9 in Office 22 (the conference room was
scheduled). On May 15 we can finish up in the
conference room. In view of the fact that your projects
need talented new team members, I should not have to
urge you to attend and be well prepared.
Please examine all the candidates' résumés and send me
your ranking lists.
Faults:
1. Starts indirectly with an explanation instead of the main idea.
2. Does not provide helpful subject line.
3. Fails to develop reader benefits.
4. Sounds negative ("avoid making poor selections"; "your
presence required"; "should not have to urge you")
5. Fails to list dates for improved readability.
6. Does not include end date for returning lists.
7. Includes wordy phrases ("This is to inform you," "In view of the
fact that").
34. Chapter 1, Slide 34
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 5, Slide 34
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Improved Information Memo
Date: May 1, 200x
To: Department Managers
From: Waldo Hightower
Subject: Schedule for Employment Interviews
To help you find talented new team members for your
projects, we have scheduled the following three
employment interviewing sessions:
May 3 Conference Room
May 9 Office 22
May 15 Conference Room
Before the meetings, please examine all the candidates’
résumés. Send me your ranking lists before May 1 so
that we can work together to hire the top people you
select.
Improvements:
1. Includes subject line that accurately summarizes memo topic.
2. Opens directly with main idea.
3. Looks at subject from reader's perspective.
4. Eliminates wordy expressions.
5. Lists dates in columns for improved readability.
6. Avoids negativity; achieves positive tone throughout.
7. Concludes with end date and reason.
8. Emphasizes reader's benefits.
35. Chapter 5, Slide 35
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Writing Plan for Requests
Summarize the request and note
the action desired.
Subject
line
Begin with the request or a brief
statement introducing it.
Opening
36. Chapter 5, Slide 36
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Writing Plan for Requests
Provide background, justification,
and details. If asking questions,
list them in parallel form.
Body
Request action by a specific date.
If possible, provide a reason.
Express appreciation, if
appropriate.
Closing
37. Chapter 5, Slide 37
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Writing Plan for Replies
Summarize the main information
from your reply.
Subject
line
Start directly by responding to the
request with a summary
statement.
Opening
38. Chapter 5, Slide 38
Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e
Writing Plan for Replies
Provide additional information
and details in a readable format.
Body
Add a concluding remark,
summary, offer of further
assistance, or request for further
action.
Closing