School writing focuses on demonstrating knowledge to instructors, while business writing aims to meet organizational needs by providing new information to readers in an accessible format. Business communication considers wider audiences both inside and outside the company, organizes information psychologically for readers, uses a friendly style, and incorporates visual elements like headings and tables to help readers skim documents effectively.

1. Will I Really Have toWill I Really Have to
Write? Why Do IWrite? Why Do I
Have to Write?Have to Write?
I have done enough writingI have done enough writing
exercise at the school level.exercise at the school level.

2. Purpose
– The purpose of the school writing is
usually to show that you have learned
the course material and to demonstrate
your intelligence.
The purpose of business
communication is to meet an
organizational need.

3. Audience
• The audiences for the school writing are
limited.
• The audience for business
communication includes people both
inside and outside the organization.
Real audience pay attention to
messages only if they seem
important, relevant and interesting.

4. Information
• Information in school writing may be new
to you but is rarely new to your instructor.
• Information in business
communication is usually new to
your reader.

5. Organization
• School writing often follows the
traditional essay form.
• Business communication is organized
to meet the psychological needs of
the reader.

6. Style
• The style for the school writing is
often formal.
• The style for business
communication is friendly, not
formal.

7. Document Design
• School writing often rewards long
paragraphs. Papers are often double
spaced with no attention to visual design.
• Business people want to be able to
skim documents. Headings, lists, and
other visual designs are used.

8. Visuals
• Except for maths and engineering etc. few
classes expect writing to contain anything
other than words.
• Business writers are expected to choose
the most effective way to convey
information. Even a one-page memo may
contain a table, graph, or other visuals.