Successful Writing at Work

by Philip C. Kolin

This respected, market-leading text offers students a comprehensive, practical introduction to workplace writing to prepare them for a range of communication tasks. SUCCESSFUL WRITING AT WORK features an abundance of real-world examples and problems, as well as an accessible writing style and detailed guidelines for planning, drafting, revising, editing, and producing professional documents and graphics.

Students are presented with topics in four logically sequenced sections, beginning with basic business communications, and proceeding to conducting research, documenting sources, and handling more advanced tasks such as reports, proposals, and oral presentations. With each new task, students learn to become effective problem-solvers at work, to understand their audience, and to select the best communication tools to accomplish their goals.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Writing, Textbooks

752 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Elisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the title says, this is a text devoted to teaching people how to write at work. Personally, I can write. And most of the tips I learned in university while conversing with professors and while writing papers. Basically: be respectful, write in full sentences, edit, and don't be insensitive to gender and culture.

This book was largely a waste of my time and it put me to sleep. I made it through maybe 3 of the assigned chapters before I just used it as a reference guide for formatting for assignments--which is why I'm giving it 2 stars. I also learned a couple of new things about formatting emails and writing complaint letters.

If you're a person who's never written a thing in your life outside of high school, this might work for you if you're having issues writing at work.

[Edwin Quist Baeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Successful Writing at Work offers clear strategies for all types of workplace writing. I used it extensively to improve clarity and effectiveness in memos, reports, and professional correspondence. A dependable resource for anyone aiming to communicate confidently at work.

[Devin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a joke on it's own, even if I didn't have a personal vendetta against it. I literally only used it for the formatting guidelines, took it with me to writing center and had my formatting double checked to the book guidelines, and lost points over the formatting this book (that the professor picked) used. When I appealed, she said, "Yes the book does say ____, but honestly in the real world _______ and you should not have done that."

I don't know if she's just a sociopath or if the author has no idea what they're talking about. Either way- all I've got is a whole lot of NOPE.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was required for my professional writing course (10th edition though).
It was well laid out and had a good number of examples. Some of its computer and internet related communications seemed outdated but still good in principle.
It would be especially good for someone looking to work in a large and/or international company, as it spends a lot of time discussing international perspectives and practices.