3 What is Good Writing?

For anything to be considered good, it must first meet certain criteria. So, what is “good” writing? First and foremost, it should be easy to follow and comprehend. Even if you believe your message is logically sound, the messy organization of sentences can make it look like gibberish. Any reader will agree that good writing is interesting, yet even that is subjective. If one is not interested in a subject, they will not enjoy reading about that subject. The writer should write to his or her readers’ interests. In WRIT 300 MSB, readers’ interests are determined by the discourse community you are writing for or about.

In my academic career, I have received a lot of praise for my writing style. Despite the compliments, my shortcomings are almost always the same. I tend to split hairs on certain ideas and go down rabbit holes until I forget about the initial premise. I had to recognize this as a curse and a blessing.

When writing lengthy (10+ page) papers, I am (and you will be, too) forced to keep points concise and easy to understand. To combat this habit, I start freewriting all my first drafts; writing everything I have to say just to get it on paper. After I freewrite, I highlight the points that are essential to communicating my message and trim out the ones that aren’t necessary, even if they are informative. I ask myself, “Will they still get my point if I don’t say this?”

Applying this strategy to business writing is particularly important. In most business genres, people do not have the time or inclination to read every word. It is incumbent upon the writer to use section headers to guide the reader through the text. Headers give readers a general idea of what will follow and allow them to choose the information relevant to them. A good writer also must be a voracious reader. Understanding what good writing looks like is the key. In WRIT 300, you will read a lot of documents. Success will entail reading analytically to best understand not only why, but how the writer has communicated key points.

Good Writing is Essential

Writing is the act of skillfully representing one’s ideas and opinions in the form of text. Writing is a vital skill in communicating ideas and opinion. In most discourse communities, professions, and industries, writing is one of the essential methods of communication.

Good writing plays a major role in a person obtaining employment. One’s writing skills (in the resume and cover letter) serve as the first impression a potential employer perceives before he or she is hired.

Developing one’s writing skills makes one stand out, giving a person an extra edge over those who might have more experience. Being able to effectively communicate one’s experience in written form will give an employer a better gauge of skill the applicant’s skill set in comparison to someone with years of experience but poor writing skills. As such, the person with a clearer representation of their skill set would attract the attention of the employer, thus gaining an advantage.

In the same manner, being able to use effective written communication in the workplace gives one an edge over co-workers. This is because being able to effectively communicate one’s thoughts and ideas allows information to be conveyed without confusion or the need for clarification, which in turn can lead to an improved work process. It may also contribute to better relationships between co-workers, superiors, and clients.

From a business perspective, being able to communicate effectively and professionally with one’s clients through writing helps create a good relationship with one’s customers. One should ensure that documents used by the business do not have typographical errors. The presence of typographical errors or incorrect grammar can create a negative image of the business and affect profitability.

In conclusion, irrespective of one’s professional status, whether potential employee, employee, or employer, being a good writer is essential and beneficial to achieving one’s aim professional objectives.

Topical Outline: Business Report Practice

TheBusiness Report Sample and Guide from the English Department Writing Centre at Humber Liberal Arts and Sciences provides a sample as well as a guide for this business writing format. Using the guidance, create an outline of a business report on a business topic you are familiar with.