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Self-Directed Learning

Writing Professional Emails (Learn Module)

Icon for Writting Professional EmailsOne of the main writing tasks in college is to write emails. Because of the formal, academic context in post-secondary education, the emails students send to instructors and program facilitators, even to classmates, need to be professional. Students may not have been taught what a professional email looks like or sounds like. This module will help build the skills needed to send professional emails and effectively communicate a message. 

Questions? Email tutoring@rrc.ca.

 

Use the Module

Module Details

Learning Outcomes

  • Use the PACT (Purpose, Audience, Context, Tone) method to analyze writing for effectiveness. 
  • Identify and effectively include all components of a professional email. 
  • Review and refine emails for formality, clarity, tone and accuracy. 
  • Write different kinds of emails depending on the context, purpose and audience of the email.

Course Content

  • Effectively Communicating via Email
  • Refining Your Emails
  • Different Kinds of Emails

Resources

Each section of the Writing Professional Emails module presents the content in presentation slides, using the online program H5P. Within these slides, students work through strategies for content and structure of professional emails, with a focus on PACT (Purpose, Audience, Context, and Tone) to analyze their writing for effectiveness. There are interactive questions throughout each presentation for students to check their understanding of the material, and opportunities to practice and develop the skill of writing professional emails. Other resources include LinkedIn Learning videos, links to helpful websites, sample texts, and case studies.