本书可以作为本专科英语专业、国际经济与贸易专业、涉外文秘专业、汉语国际教育专业及其他涉外专业的应用文写作教材。本教材同时可以作为企业在职人员培训时使用，以及有志于从事国际商务活动的人士自学之用。
本教材每单元由相关知识与写作指南、示范阅读、注释和交际园地等部分组成。相关知识和写作指南部分详细介绍了与主题相关的知识和写作原则。示范阅读部分主要选取了具有代表性的范例供读者阅读与赏析，在阅读中体味与把握写作原则和要领。注释部分包括一些常用词汇和表达方式，以及对文中一些要点的补充。交际园地部分包括简答题和案例分析。简答题旨在帮助读者进一步理清写作原则与要领，案例部分则给读者提供分析解决实际问题的机会，提高其写作技能和水平。
全书共16个单元，用作全日制学生的教材时，建议一周开设2个课时，每2个或3个课时讲解一个单元。此外，由于本书涵盖内容较广，教师可根据自己学校的专业特点和相关课程开设情况酌情选讲，自行安排讲解课时和顺序。

Unit 1 Memos
1.1 The Layout of Memos
1.2 The Planning of Memos
1.3 The Tone of Memos
1.4 Presentation of Content
1.5 Effective Memo Checklist
1.6 Sample Memos
1.7 Notes
1.8 Communication Laboratory
Unit 2 Notices
2.1 Formats of Notices
2.2 The Layout of Notices
2.3 How to Write a Notice
2.4 Sample Notices
2.5 Notes
2.6 Communication Laboratory
Unit 3 Invitations
3.1 Categories of Invitations
3.2 The Layout of I nvitations
3.3 Sample Invitations
3.4 Notes
3.5 Communication Laboratory
Unit 4 Toasts
4.1 The Layout of Toasts
4.2 The Planning of Toasts
4.3 The Tone of Toasts
4.4 Presentation of Content
4.5 Effective Toast CheckI ist
4.6 Sample Toasts
4.7 Notes
4.8 Communication Laboratory
Unit 5 Minutes
5.1 The Layout of Meeting Minutes
5.2 Do’S and Don’ts in Meeting Minutes Writing
5.3 Sample Minutes
5.4 Notes
5.5 Communication Laboratory
Unit 6 Itineraries
6.1 The Layout of Iti neraries
6.2 The Planning of Itineraries
6.3 The Tone of ltineraries
6.4 Presentation of Itineraries
6.5 Effective Itinerary Checklist
6.6 Sample Itineraries
6.7 Notes
6.8 Communication Laboratory
Unit 7 Forms and D iagrams
7.1 Types of Forms
7.2 Types of Diagrams
7.3 Notes
7.4 Communication Laboratory
Unit 8 Proposals
8.1 Introduction
8.2 The Parts of a Proposal
8.3 Sample Proposals
8.4 Notes
8.5 Communication Laboratory
Unit 9 Reports
9.1 Categories of Reports
9.2 Steps of Report Writing
9.3 The Layout of Reports
9.4 Sample Reports
9.5 Notes
9.6 Communication Laboratory
Unit 10 Articles
10.1 The Format of Business Articles
10.2 Four—Step Approach for Article Writing
10.3 Writing Guide
10.4 Sample Articles
10.5 Notes
10.6 Communication Laboratory
Unit 11 Business Advertisements
11.1 Categories of Advertisements
11.2 Components of Advertisement Copy
11.3 English in Advertising
11.4 Sample Advertisements
11.5 Notes
11.6 Communication Laboratory
Unit 12 Business Profiles
12.1 The Layout of Business Profiles
12.2 Sample Business Profiles
12.3 Notes
12.4 Communication Laboratory
Unit 13 Resumes and Letters of Appl ication
13.1 Resumes
13.2 Letters of Application
13.3 Nores
13.4 Communication Laboratory
Unit 14 Certificates and Credentials
14.1 The Layout of Certificates and Credentials
14.2 Sample Certificates and Credentials
14.3 Notes
14.4 Communication Laboratory
Unit 15 Public Signs
15.1 The Layout of Public Signs
15.2 The Planning of Public Signs
15.3 The Tone of Public Signs
15.4 Presentation of Public Signs
15.5 Effective Public Sign CheckIist
15.6 Sample Public Signs
15.7 Notes
15.8 Communication Laboratory
Unit 16 Questionnai res
16.1 The Steps Required to Design and Administer a Questionnaire
16.2 Points Considered when Writing and Interpreting Questionnaires
16.3 Sample Questionnaires
16.4 Notes
16.5 Communication Laboratory
References