Written Business Communication in English
Lectured
by
Wang Meiling
School of Economics
Shandong University
Email: meiligw@sdu.edu.cn
1st Lecture Coverage
1. Introduction to the course (teacher’s view)
2. Warming-up exercise (students’ perceived
needs)
3. Self-evalution activity (pre-test and post-test
questionnaire)
4. After-class assignments
Intro to the course
Theme: Discussing the course profile
1. Pre-course requirements:
① Upper-intermediate-level English Proficiency
② Practical Knowledge of International Economy and
Trade
4. Course Objective: to meet the needs of students to learn
about the business world (Learning Business), and also
develop the skills they need to work effectively and
professionally in it (Doing Business).
5. Course Content: basic elements of effective business
writing, and analytical thinking skills
(to be continued: tbc)
Intro to the course (tbc)
6 Course literature
6.1 Set book（指定教材）: 王美玲等编著 (2013). 宫灯院
校国际经济与贸易系列精品规划教材《外贸函电》，
北京：机械工业出版社.
6.2 Recommended Readings:
• Holt, R. & N. Sampson (1998). 国际商业书信. 北京: 外语
教学与研究出版社.
• Guffey, Mary Ellen (1998). 商务英语, 5th Ed. 大连：东北
财经大学出版社.
• 胡鉴明等编著（2004），《商务英语函电》，北京：
中国商务出版社，
• 陆墨珠编著(2005),《国际商务函电》北京：中国商务
出版社.
• Journal of English for Specific Purposes （Elsevier)
• Business Communication Quarterly (EBSCOhost)
• Journal of Business Communication (EBSCOhost)
Intro to the course (tbc)
7. Course delivery method
6.1 Lecture
6.2 mostly student-centred learning activities
8. Course Achievement Evaluation
Components
Weight
Class attendance
20%
Class participation and
assignments
30%
Final term exam (paper50%
based) OR a written report?
Warming-up Exercise
Directions: work in twos or threes answering the
following questions :
Q1: What bizcommu skills do you expect to improve
from the course? (Students’ perceived needs).
Q2: What does business writing include? Name as more
as you can.
(tbc)
The Scope of Business Writing
∵ Not an exhaustive list yet→too broad to cover
∴ need for a narrowed focus: essentials of biz commu
letters, adverts, circular, tags & labels, instructions,
catalog, announcement, sales presentation, poster,
proposals, prospectuses, market survey, business
and financial news, business article, minutes,
agenda, coupon, directory, house organs, policy
statements, press release, program, bulletin, report,
manual, booklet, inquiries, replies to inquiries,
memorandum/agreement/contract, complaint,
wills, orders & order forms, reference, application,
certificate, introduction, resume, invitation
recruitment literature: goodwill literature, Abstract, administrative order, bill enclosure, citation,commemorative literature, Data sheet, directmail ad, divident notice, radio and television commercials, reports, educational literature, employee publications, financial analyses, handbills,
handbooks, laws & by-laws, leaflets, legal briefs, package copy, procedure, research studies, resolutions, review of business books and
articles, sign, specifications, speeches, suggestions, technical paper, training aids
Business letter as a genre: learning focus
Formal
Informal
INSTITUTIONAL
PERSONAL
Dismissal Suspension
Letter
Letter
Resignation
Letter
Reply to
Complaints
Information
Letter
Reference
Letter
Personal
Statements
Order
Letter
Letter to
Editor
Inquiry
Letter
Disciplinary
Love
Letter
Credit
References
Collection
Letter
BUSINESS
Thank You
Letter
Apology
Letter
Sales
Letter
Press
Statements
NEWSPAPER
General
Personal
Professional
Personal
Letter
Fundraising
Letter
Job Application
Condolence
Letter
Letter
Memo
Letter of
Advice
Congratulatory
Letter
Self-evaluation Activity: Pre-test (setbook, pp. 14-15)
Purpose: to learn about your weak points in biz commu
Directions: Complete the following fax, using one word from
the following 20 words. (pls copy them down)
explain, command, possibly, message, possible, number,
other, credit, deliver, delivered, can, able, bill, request,
ones, balance, creditor, order, equal, delivery （tbc)
Dear Ms Deighton
Order No. PK 2173
We received a consignment of light bulbs from you today, against the
above (1). Could you sort out the following points, please?
1.
2.
3.
4 boxes of 100W standard bulbs arrived broken. Could you please
arrange a (2) note and replacement?
You delivered 4 dozen boxes of CFL 13 Compact Fluorescent
Lamps instead of the 14 dozen boxes we ordered. Is this an error or
are you out of stock? The despatch note says 4 dozen boxes. How
soon can we have the (3)?
You delivered 8 boxes of CFB 15 Company Fluorescent Bulbs
which we did not order. Are they in place of the CFB 20s that were
not (4)?
Could you get back to me as soon as (5)?
Regards，
John Jameson
Chief Buyer
Pre-test results report
Q No.
1 order
2 credit
3 balance
4 delivered
5 possible
√ (No.)
×(No.): reflections
Post-test survey: semi-structured
1. Did you find the pre-test
A. extremely difficult
B. above your level but challenging
C. within your level
D. below your level
2. I could have done better if … (hypothetical conditions).
3. Pick out ONE from the following THREE areas in which you
think you need improvement most according to this pre-test
exercise.
A. background knowledge of business practice
B. business terms
C. reading strategies
Survey result
Q1
A (No)
B
C
D
Q2
Q3
A
B
C
Assignments
1. Directions: Preview chapters 1-2 of the setbook
and prepare your answer to the following question:
What makes today’s good business writing?
(suggestion: what have impressed you as standards
or rules of today’s business communication)
2. Written report of Ur findings , e.g. Survey related
textbooks for the course coverage in the 1980s1990s, and the recent few years? Any problems
and your suggestions for solutions?