Chapters 1-4 review the process associated with business writing. Business writing takes many forms

Chapters 1-4 review the process associated with business writing. Business writing takes many forms each suited to a specific purpose. All business writing must be clear and concise with simple, straightforward language. In the business world, poorly written communication is unacceptable. Every letter, memorandum, report, or announcement must be composed for maximum effect and to suit both the purpose and the intended audience. Similar to academic writing, the writing process includes steps:
·       Prepare – define purpose, audience, scope, medium
·       Arrange – create order, structure, layout, design
·       Draft – write first copy from outline
·       Revise – write first copy from outline
·       Proofread – polish final copy
This first assignment is simply to get you putting those steps into motion. Using the prewriting to revision stages of business writing reviewed in Chapters 1-4 write a one-page application letter for a company to which you wish to gain employment. For this assignment, the letter of application is a sales letter in which you market your skills, abilities, and knowledge. As you write your application letter, be sure you complete three tasks: catch the reader’s attention favorably, convince the reader that you are a qualified candidate for the job, and request an interview.
Application letter checklist:
·       Identify the job by title and let the recipient (a specific recipient, either read or fictional) know how you heard about it.
·       Summarize your qualifications for the job, specifically your work experience, activities that show your leadership skills, and your educational background.
·       Ask for an interview, stating where you can be reached and when you will be available
·       If you are applying for a specific job, include any information pertinent to the position that is not included in your resume.
·       To save your reader time and to call attention to your strengths as a candidate, state your objective directly at the beginning of the letter.
·       Use standard professional letter formatting – block style, 12 font, Times New Roman
Writing for a business audience is usually quite different than writing in the humanities, social sciences, or other academic disciplines. Business writing strives to be crisp and succinct rather than evocative or creative; it stresses specificity and accuracy. When you write a business document, you must assume that your audience has limited time in which to read it and is likely to skim. Your readers have an interest in what you say insofar as it affects their working world. They want to know the “bottom line”: the point you are making about a situation or problem and how they should respond. In most cases, as in this one, the business letter will be the first impression that you make on someone. Though business writing has become less formal over time, you should still take great care that your letter’s content is clear and that you have proofread it carefully.