We offer some links to the most widely read commercial publications on the topic of business and to academic journals. This category also includes links to samples and commentary on traditional business genres such as the memo or proposal—composed in both profit and nonprofit organizational settings.

Commercial Business Writing Publications

Business Week
http://www.businessweek.com/

BusinessWeek’s award-winning Web site www.businessweek.com provides users with daily perspective, unique insights, breaking news, and in-depth analysis of the latest trends in the business world. With continuous coverage of today’s business issues, BusinessWeek Online is the leading full-service Web site for senior-level executives.

The Economist
http://www.economist.com/

Economist.com is the premier online source for the analysis of world business and current affairs, providing authoritative insight and opinion on international news, world politics, business, finance, science and technology, as well as overviews of cultural trends and regular industry, business and country surveys.

Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us

In 1999, The Wall Street Journal Sunday was launched in 10 leading U.S. metropolitan newspapers, representing a total circulation of more than four million. Now, in 2002, Sunday Journal's circulation is 10.8 million and the branded Journal pages appear in 74 newspapers across the U.S.

Washington Post Business
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/business/

The Washington Post Company is a diversified media and education company whose principal operations include newspaper and magazine publishing, television broadcasting, cable television systems, electronic information services, test preparation, and educational and career services.

Business Writing Journals

Journal of Business Communication
http://www.theabc.org/jbc.htm

The Journal of Business Communication (JBC) seeks manuscripts concerning all areas of business communication and, particularly, the areas of business composition/technical writing, information systems, international business communication, management communication, and organizational and corporate communication. JBC seeks to publish a broad, diverse set of research that focuses on business communication in all of its facets. Manuscripts that raise and address diversity issues or present a unique, well-articulated perspective are encouraged.

Business Communication Quarterly
http://www.businesscommunication.org/publications/bcq

Business Communication Quarterly is a refereed journal devoted to the teaching of business communication, which is a broad, interdisciplinary field. It is also international, and thus the journal aims to present the field from that international perspective

Business Writing Genres

Abstracts

The Writing Center Guide to Writing an Abstract

• http://www.gmu.edu/departments/writingcenterhandouts/abstract.html
  The GMU Writing Center provides a concise outline for the development of a professional abstract.

Phil Koopman, Carnegie Mellon University: How to Write an Abstract

• http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/essays/abstract.html
  Because on-line search databases typically contain only abstracts, it is vital to write a complete but concise description of your work to entice potential readers into obtaining a copy of the full paper. This article describes how to write a good computer architecture abstract for both conference and journal papers. Writers should follow a checklist consisting of: motivation, problem statement, approach, results, and conclusions. Following this checklist should increase the chance of people taking the time to obtain and read your complete paper.

LEO: Literacy Education Online
Writing Abstracts

• http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/bizwrite/abstracts.html
  The practice of using key words in an abstract is vital because of today's electronic information retrieval systems. Titles and abstracts are filed electronically, and key words are put in electronic storage. When people search for information, they enter key words related to the subject, and the computer prints out the titles of articles, papers, and reports containing those key words. Thus, an abstract must contain key words about what is essential in an article, paper, or report so that someone else can retrieve information from it.

Business Letters

Colorado State University's Writing Guide:

• http://writing.colostate.edu/references/documents/bletter/
  Writing@CSU supports writers and teachers of writing inside and outside the CSU community. To view our resources, please follow the links below. To learn more about each resource, hover your mouse cursor over its link.

Business Plans

BusinessTown.com

• http://www.businesstown.com/planning/creating.asp
  The hardest part of creating a business plan is getting the energy together to get started. At first it seems like a daunting task. But once you get going you'll find that writing the plan is not as tough as it seems. Start with some of the easy steps first.

Small Business Information with Darrell Zahorsky

• http://sbinformation.about.com/cs/businessplans/
  Before you begin writing a business plan, learn the FAQ's of business planning. Includes common mistakes made when writing a business plan, business plan software and consultants.

Center for Business Planning

• http://www.businessplans.org/
  This library of resources contains links to hundreds of sites offering research materials on every area of planning a business including: venture capital, new products, market analysis, competitive analysis, production management, tax problems, legal issues, financial statements, writing a business plan and much more.

Entrepreneur.com

• http://www.entrepreneur.com/howto/bizplan/0,5971,,00.html
  Writing a business plan is more than just getting facts and figures down on paper. It's also about assessing your objectives and goals. Find out how to go through this preliminary process.

Bplans.com

• http://www.bplans.com/sp/
  Research at Bplans.com and find all you need to know about the multifaceted act of creating a business plan.

Business Plan Software

• http://www.business-plan-software-inc.com/resources.html
  This page offers information to help managers and business owners define, create and write thorough, professional looking business plans that will act as a guide for employees and an influential document for acquiring venture capital.

Brochures

The RMR Marketing Advisor

• http://www.rmr.com/EightSure-FireSteps3.html
  Here are eight techniques guaranteed to put more selling power into your brochures.

CreativePro.com Writing Center

• http://www.printingforless.com/creativepro/superbrochure.html
  Step by Step directions on producing effective brochures.

Sample Brochures Written by Freelance Copywriter Debra Jason of The Write Direction

• http://www.writedirection.com/port/brochures.htm
  Here you are looking for a freelance copywriter. Someone who specializes in writing creative and dynamic content for your marketing materials -- be they Web or print communications. Well, you're heading in The Write Direction.

The Write Concept

• http://www.thewriteconcept.com/tips.html
  Our President and Principal Writer, Linda C. Anger, has over two decades experience in corporate documentation, publication credits, and a strong background in creative writing. She is an active member of Detroit Women Writers, The International Women's Writing Guild, the Greater Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Business and Professionals Association, and Business Network International. The Write Concept also draws on the talents of freelance copywriters, all of whom have significant experience in journalism, public relations and corporate documentation. Most are also published authors.

Executive Summaries

Colorado State University's Writing Guide:

• http://writing.colostate.edu/references/documents/execsum/
  Executive Summaries are much like any other summary in that their main goal is to provide a condensed version of the content of a longer report.

Memos

Memos are brief statements (usually) from one or more members of an organization to other member(s) of that same organization. Standard headings include To, From, Subject, and Date; memos are frequently copied to a wider audience within that organization through the cc: line or (in e-mail form) the bcc: line.

Colorado State University's Writing Guide:

• http://writing.colostate.edu/references/documents/memo/
  When you write a memo in industry or for a class assignment, it is important to have your audience and purpose clearly defined, because this will help you determine what information to include.

Sherron Watkins' Memo to Kenneth Lay at Enron:

Though formatted as a letter, this sample writing falls into the category of the memo because it was originally written for in-house reading. It's now probably the most public memo in U.S. history.

• http://energycommerce.house.gov/107/news/layletter.pdf

Gallaudet University's Tutoring Center

• http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/writing/memowriting.html
  In the office as well as out, your personality is often judged by how you write. Muddled memos can cost you dearly in career advancement. Communication skills are a top priority for business leadership -- often more important than financial, marketing and technical know-how. To keep getting raises and promotions, experts like Van Skiver and Booher say you need to literally write your own ticket. Here's how.

The Writing Center at Rensselaer

• http://www.rpi.edu/dept/llc/writecenter/web/memos.html
  A common form of inter- or intradepartmental communication in business and academia is the memorandum (pl. memorandums or memoranda), usually called a memo. Memos are written by everyone from junior executives and engineers to CEOs. Hence, it is essential to master this basic communication form.

Correspondence: Letters and Memos
Module IV

• http://mie.eng.wayne.edu/faculty/lockledge/Eng102/letter.htm
  Correspondence is carried on daily in the university and the workplace using two kinds of documents: letters and memos. These documents record the communications in an organization; they form a record of conversations and transactions.

Mission Statements

Business Owners Toolkit

• http://www.toolkit.cch.com/text/P03_4001.asp
  The most successful company missions are measurable, definable, and actionable project statements with emotional appeal that everyone knows and can act upon.

What You Need to Know About Management

• http://management.about.com/c/ht/00/07/How_Write_Mission_Statement0962932836.htm?
  terms=mission+statements
  Writing a Mission Statement is a complex activity involving every level of the organization. Here's how to get started.

Internet Nonprofit Center

• http://www.nonprofits.org/npofaq/03/21.html
  The Internet Nonprofit Center is a project of The Evergreen State Society based in Seattle, Washington, USA.
  The Internet Nonprofit Center is the home of the Nonprofit FAQ. The FAQ is based on "frequently asked questions" – and their answers – drawn from the 'Nonprofit' email discussion forum (see http://www.rain.org/mailman/listinfo/nonprofit) and other online resources.

Newsletters

Writing for Business and Pleasure by Dr. Stephen Wilbers

• http://www.wilbers.com/Newsletters.htm
  Dr. Wilbers provides a cogent and insightful essay on the writing of an effective newsletter.

Digital-Women.com

• http://www.digital-women.com/howto20b.htm
  Digital Women ® provides an International online community for women in business, businesswomen, and all women around the world. Inside you will find free business resources and tools including information about grants for women, free business tips, home business ideas, free marketing and sales tips, how to write a mission statement and much more! PLUS...You are invited to join our online community for business women! We have over 15,000 International members waiting to do business with you! We ARE women with their modems running...

Policies and Procedures

Green Office.com

• http://www.green-office.com/info/dyk_writingpandp.htm
  A well-written employee manual lets your employees know what's expected of them and what they can expect of you.

University of California Santa Cruz

• http://www.ucsc.edu/ppmanual/pdf/guide.pdf
  Download this PDF for a step by step manual on the PDF.

Press Releases

Internet Info Scavenger

• http://www.infoscavenger.com/prtips.htm
  Press release tips and pointers show you how to write and distribute releases that get noticed. Learn how to write press releases that get noticed to generate traffic and revenue for your site.

PRW

• http://press-release-writing.com/
  Step by Step advice on writing a quality press release.

The Write Market

• http://www.thewritemarket.com/articledir/press.htm
  Multiple essays on the production of a working press release.

Proposals

Format and Commentary by Roger Munger of ATTW:

• http://www.attw.org/ProfessionalResProposals.asp
  ATTW membership includes subscriptions to the ATTW Bulletin and Technical Communication Quarterly as well as access to special sections of this site. After you register and log on to the site, visit the ATTW Information section to obtain a membership application.

Format and Commentary at Virginia Tech:

• http://fbox.vt.edu/eng/mech/writing/workbooks/proposals.html
  These guidelines are designed to help you, the engineering or science student, perform technical writing assignments in your laboratory, design, and technical communication classes. In these guidelines, you will find discussions of several common documents in engineering writing and scientific writing. For these types of documents, you will find models written by other students.

Business Proposals

Engineering Communication Centre

• http://www.ecf.utoronto.ca/~writing/handbook-proposals.html
  The proposal is one of the most important forms of writing engineers do.  Successful proposals lead to jobs, products and profit.  Unsuccessful proposals lead nowhere.  This document presents the basics of proposals.

Sales Proposals

Sales Proposals.com

• http://www.salesproposals.com/
  SalesProposals.com specializes in automating the proposal production process while enhancing the consultative sales process. This solution is ideal for sales professionals that want to spend more time selling and closing deals and less time authoring documents. If you are tired of searching through old documents for the best content, tired of cutting and pasting, and tired of struggling with formatting problems, then Sales Proposal Builder is the perfect solution for you.

Reports

Report Gallery

• http://www.reportgallery.com/
  The Report Gallery is the most complete and up-to-date listing of Annual Reports and related financial reports online today. Save time and paper by researching your reports online. The Report Gallery currently lists over 2,200 Annual Reports and covers the majority of the fortune 500 companies.

Online Business Learning Gesture

• http://www.ihec.net/businessreport/
  Business reports are used extensively in organisations, and it is valuable for any executive to develop an effective report writing style. Business reports come in many forms, from lengthy formal reports to the shorter variations used within departments. Therefore, the writing style should reflect the nature of the report content.

Workbooks

• http://fbox.vt.edu/eng/mech/writing/workbooks/reports.html
  Engineers and scientists write formal reports for many reasons, including the documentation of experiments and designs. As an engineer or scientist working on the design of an airplane seat, you might write several formal reports.
• http://business.clayton.edu/moon/IntegrativeStudies4500/HandOuts/Writing%
  20Formal%20Reports.htm
  The skeletal outline for a productive formal report.

Progress Reports/Activity Reports

• http://www.engl.niu.edu/wac/progrgd.html
  People write progress reports to keep interested parties informed about what has been done on a project and about what remains to be done. Often the reader is the writer's supervisor. As a result the tone should be serious and respectful. Even though progress reports are often in the form of a memo, the writer should be careful to write formal, standard prose. Progress reports represent not only the writer's work but the writer's organizational and communication skills.

Resumes

Brea Barthel and Amanda Goldrick-Jones's Commentary at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute:

• http://www.rpi.edu/web/writingcenter/resume.html
  This guide, "Preparing a Resume," will be useful if you're writing your first resume or want to analyze the effectiveness of your current one. The Writing Center can also help you draft your resume and cover letters, and can give you sample resumes and related handouts. Simply drop by; no appointment is necessary.

Worksource

• http://www.wa.gov/esd/ws/walla2/resumes/res_write.html
  Worksource provides guidelines for putting a resume together, including some tips on what to include and what to avoid, and how to package everything together.

Rebecca Smith's eResumes and Resources

• http://www.eresumes.com/
  "Rebecca Smith is the expert on electronic resume formats, so if she and I don't agree, I'm going to say go with her. You will also want to check out her book, Electronic Resumes and Online Networking from Career Press." Margaret F. Dikel (aka Margaret F. Riley), MSLIS Creator of The Riley Guide and author of The Guide to Internet Job Searching

Wooster College's Guide to Writing Résumés:

• http://www.wooster.edu/career/resumehandout/write.html
  However much a student learns in college, one more skill must be mastered before he or she begins the serious task of looking for full-time employment. In order to ensure that all those years of schooling and other experiences will pay off in the job hunt, even before contacting employers, one must learn the art of resume writing.

White Papers

Anjana Srikanth's article at Writers Write:

• http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/sep02/srikanth.htm
  Effective Business Writing: The White Paper
  By Anjana Srikanth
  A white paper is considered to be a standard marketing tool today. Statistics show that decision makers in organizations use them as their first external source of information. White papers are an effective medium that educate and inform and, most importantly, influence a prospective customer. A white paper from a company should reinforce why the organization needs to be selected over the competition.

Association
for Business Communication:
businesscommunication.org

Alexander Communications:
alexandercommunications.com/
newsletter.htm

David Beach's
English/School of Management
http://classweb.gmu.edu/
dbeach/somguide/

Prologue Group's
Best Business History Sites:
prologuegroup.com/sites/sites-
index.html

ZPUB’s links to annual reports
http://www.zpub.com/sf/arl/