Business Communication: Building Critical Skills

I found this book to be very effective. It's modular format made it easy to adapt to my classes, one on the Internet . . . no more taking page numbers from here and there. The examples were useful, with more on the Website. The students said it was good, too. I've used the old and the new versions. The new version has updated information and some new examples and assignments. I'm glad the "Polishing your Prose" assignments were kept. I assign these to students for self-study and see improvements in their grammar.

Few business writing texts balance salient instruction with an easy-to-read writing style. Business Communication: Building Critical Skills does just that. None of the textbooks I've used scored as highly with the students for effectiveness and easy use as this book. As anyone who teaches writing knows, students frequently complain about the textbook regardless of how good it is. Usually those students are the ones that do poorly in the class. But this book satisfied just about everybody including me. The authors manage to cut all the unnecessary information books of this kind usually are crammed with and get to the point. The exercises are great and have real world application, and the many grammar refreshers helped improve my students' writing. It's especially good for non-native speakers of English. This book seems well designed for teachers and students, and I would recommend it to both groups. The book is also cheaper than many competing books, which makes it even more attractive for students on a tight budget, which is most students today.

One of the better business communication texts available. Students find it easier to read than the competitors'. I like the many supplements that come with it. I also like the module approach. I've taught many business communication classes and students almost always complain about the book. Not this one. I wouldn't recommend it if it didn't work. The cost is reasonable and the examples are good. One minor complaint: The web page for the book calls modules "chapters." Not a big deal compared to the many, many things that work in this book.

I liked this book. It's easy to read and has lots of good examples. The best part is I can actually use what I learned.

Having taught business communications for years, I've been waiting for a textbook that effectively combines business theory with practical approaches for improving students' writing. Using an innovative modular approach, Locker & Kaczmarek's Business Communication-Building Critical Skills (BCS) succeeds in doing both. What I like most about BCS the flexibility it affords. Its modular approach enabled me to design a curriculum that complemented my teaching style. For instance, each module contains a "Polishing your Prose" section-a series of exercises that review topics ranging from grammar to parallel structure. Throughout the semester, I've used these sections to help students improve their writing noticeably. Other texts tend to relegate discussions about grammar and the craft of writing to single chapter or a less-than-adequate appendix. In addition to creating an innovative and flexible text, Locker and Kaczmarek have helped to simplify the instructor's job by providing a wealth of supplementary materials, including an online resource, PowerPoint presentations, transparency masters, a test bank, and a computerized gradebook. Having already used Business Communication-Building Critical Skills, I cannot recommend the text enough. I expect to use it for many semesters to come. I would encourage you to purchase the book (Published by McGraw-Hill) and see for yourself.