Learn how to write professional correspondence, resumes, cover letters, critical communications, marketing writing, emails, social media posts, and more – and be prepared with what you'll need in high school and beyond!

Instructor Access (optional grading support) is available for Unlimited Access or Single Access. 

Take "Business Writing 2: Foundations of Journalism" with this course, and earn 16 weeks of business writing credit. 

How to get the most out of Business Writing 1: Professional Business Writing Essentials:

1. Carefully read the course details.

2. Watch the class recording and take notes as you watch it. You may also review the PowerPoint file.

3. Complete the homework in the order that it is listed on the page.

4. Submit assignments for Grading.  Give your assignment to your parent for grading. You may also sign up for Instructor Access. Click the link on this page to enroll in one-on-one mentoring, feedback, and grading via Instructor Access

5. Complete all the classes at your own pace, but it’s recommended that you complete this 8-week course within 10 weeks.

6. Print the Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.
   Fill in the document for your records. You may also copy and paste the descriptive content of the course (located at the top section of the page). Make sure to record your grades; HSC does not provide record-keeping.

Series Description: There are currently two one-semester courses in the Business Writing series. Students can take Business Writing courses in any order.

Total Classes: 8

Duration per class: 55 minutes

Prerequisite: High School Simplified Writing 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-2) Take the prerequisite courses LIVE or through Unlimited Access. Alternative prerequisite: a passing assessment from the Aquinas Writing Advantage Assessment service.

Students should be able to use Microsoft Word competently. Your student will need Word 2007 or a later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-compatible document.

Suggested grade level: 11^th grade; however, all high school students are welcome

Suggested credit: Two-thirds (2/3) semester for writing

Add the composition of your own documents from the coursework to create one (1) full semester’s credit for writing.

Parent Note: To create a full semester credit, students may add compositions of their own documents. For example, to earn full credit, the student may choose to complete two (2) of the following:

1. Create two to three different versions of the same resume.

2. Write an essay on what the student learned in the course and how he/she sees the information applying practically to the future, with examples pertaining to both short-term and long-term goals.

3. Visit an office or business space to interview a person who uses the tools taught in the course, and then write a paper about the experience.

Instructor: Maureen Ryan

Course Description: Learn how to present yourself professionally in multiple areas of writing! Because business writing is distinctive from academic or creative writing, writing powerfully in your dealings with others in any organization, mastering business writing is essential. In this course, you’ll write letters and professional correspondence, create a professional resume, and write pieces critical to getting a job. Whether you plan on entering college, getting a job right out of high school, or building your own business as an entrepreneur right now, this course is for you.

Course Outline:
Class 1: What is business writing? (Business Writing Overview)
Class 2: Writing business reports (business writing vs. academic writing), entrepreneurial writing, and professionalism in writing for business
Class 3: Writing formal letters: letters of complaint, opinion letters/letters to the editor, and letters of request
Class 4: Resumes: What they’re for, who uses them, and why you need one (writing to get a job)
Class 5: Resumes: your resume’s form, structure, and content
Class 6: Cover letters: what they are and how to write them
Class 7: Marketing writing: what it is, who uses it, and an introduction of how to write a text to sell
Class 8: “Little Writing Tasks” that are really big: social media and business; the business email; inter-office communication including the memo, organizational texts, and agendas; and organizational writing to keep on task

Course materials: All materials are provided FREE via the instructor.  All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE

Homework: LIVE and Instructor Access students will have weekly writing assignments with grading and direct feedback from the instructor (parents will grade Recorded students’ work). Expect an estimated two (2) to four (4) hours per week for homework outside of class time, depending on the student’s ability; homework includes reading, writing, and responding to feedback.

Technical Help: If you have any technical trouble or questions about course content, please email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.

©2016-2024 Homeschool Connections and Erin Brown Conroy. All rights reserved.

This course is designed by Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA.

• This material is only to be used for its intended purpose by active subscribers of Homeschool Connections. Any other use without explicit permission is in violation of the seventh commandment (yes, the 7th commandment) and in violation of US and International copyright laws.

• You may print or download to local hard disk extracts for your personal homeschool and non-commercial use only. This is not to be used for homeschool co-ops without express written permission from Homeschool Connections.

Help: If you experience technical difficulty with watching the recorded classes or have a question about course content, please email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.