Purpose
Assisting you with developing the ability to use library materials to work on various forms of business writing, this guide covers information on companies, industries, and topical issues to help with your business communication and writing plan, proposals, and reports assignments.
Business Communication by 
The Essential Guide to Business Communication for Finance Professionals by 
Fundamentals of Writing for Marketing and Public Relations by 
How to Write Effective Business English by 
How to Write Effective Business English by 
Producing Written and Oral Business Reports by 
Report Writing for Business by 
Research Methods for Business and Management by 
Teaching business, technical and academic writing online and onsite : a writing pedagogy sourcebook by 
Writing for Peer Reviewed Journals by Journal Title OneSearch - Use OneSearch to see if QCL owns the title you need and how to access it if you already have citation information about the articles you need, or you just want to browse a specific journal title.
Article Types - It's important for any research to evaluate information sources and learn the difference among different types of articles, such as Academic/Scholarly, Popular, and Trade journal articles.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) has been used for industries in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico since 1997. You can use the classification codes to identify companies to learn their business.
Accounting and Taxation
Accounting Review
CPA Journal
Journal of Accountancy
Journal of Accounting Research
Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations
Journal of Advertising
Journal of Advertising Research
Journal of Consumer Marketing
Journal of Consumer Research
Journal of Marketing
Journal of Marketing Research
Public Relations Review
Business (General)
Business Horizons
Journal of Business Research
Journal of Retailing
Journal of World Business
Review of Business
Business (Small Business)
Journal of Business Venturing
Journal of Small Business Management
Economics
Cambridge Journal of Economics
International Economic Review
Journal of Econometrics
Journal of Economic Literature
Journal of Economic Perspectives
Journal of Economic Theory
Journal of Monetary Economics
Review of Economic Studies
Finance
Financial Analysts Journal
Institutional Investor
Journal of Finance
Management, Administration, and Human Resources
Academy of Management Journal
Journal of Human Resources
Journal of Management
Journal of Organizational Behavior
Real Estate
Journal of Real Estate Research
Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics
Real Estate Economics
Use business databases to find Business Articles in business journals and magazines.
The collection includes key business and economics periodicals such as The Economist and Sloan Management Review that focuses on global business trends.
Catalogue Link: OneSearch.
Newspaper Articles -- Use Business Newspaper databases to find newspaper articles.
Note: Local newspapers are an ideal source of information on local companies, industries, and issues that you would not find in business journals and magazines written at the national and international level.
Other Useful Sources -- Some topical research may not be specifically business related and may require looking at other types of article databases.
Academic Search Complete is a multidisciplinary database of scholarly journals, magazines, and news sources. It is a good starting point for research in all areas of study.
Catalogue Link: OneSearch.
A robust database that provides full-text, indexing, and abstracts for many top communication journals covering all related disciplines, including media studies, linguistics, rhetoric, and discourse.
Catalogue Link: OneSearch.
Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints is the premier online resource covering today's hottest social issues, from capital punishment to immigration to marijuana.
Founded in 2004, Globethics is to equip individuals and institutions for ethical thinking, decision-making and action through higher education and policy engagement from cross-cultural and global perspectives.
Weekly reports on a topic that is either newsworthy or an issue of broad interest in the public policy sphere; from the Washington reporting service Congressional Quarterly Inc.
Catalogue Link: OneSearch
It is important to know if a company is private or public. There is limited financial information available on private companies. If the company is a division or subsidiary of a public company, you will probably have to look under the parent company's name to find any financials.
Nexis Uni - Company Dossier
Nexis Uni offers intuitive searching for all levels of research experience, empowering students to Access discipline-focused pages with curated news, featured publications, and relevant court cases for Political Science, Business, and Criminal Justice majors.
Catalogue Link: OneSearch.
Mergent Online offers a wealth of detail on items including business description, history, property, subsidiaries, officers and directors, long-term debt, and capital stock. The database provides extensive details for both public and private companies that can show you what a given organization truly looks like from every angle.
Catalogue Link: OneSearch.
Find background information on the major industries:
Gale Industry Encyclopedias in
Detailed company and industry profiles including SWOT reports, market share reports, and financial reports.
Catalogue Link: OneSearch
Click on the Industry Analysis tab of Mergent Online database. Use the search form options to select the desired industry and region.
Mergent Online offers a wealth of detail on items including business description, history, property, subsidiaries, officers and directors, long-term debt, and capital stock. The database provides extensive details for both public and private companies that can show you what a given organization truly looks like from every angle.
Catalogue Link: OneSearch.
Generally, business reports can be written to inform, solve a problem or make a proposal. They carry information and analyze it. Sometimes you can analyze applying a theoretical framework (e.g., SWOT, PESTLE, Porter's diamond etc.). Sometimes you have to devise your own analytical questions, breaking down the issue into its components, studying them closely, and seeing how they interact with (influence/ are influenced by) other components.
What’s the Best Business Proposal Format? - goes over the basics of writing a business proposal
Write Your Way to a Win: Business Proposal 101 - how to develop a sound, clear, and precise business proposal
*Project Planner - This tool is designed to guide you through your research project in different stages, including Overview, Philosophy of Research, Defining a Topic, Reviewing the Literature, Developing a Researchable Question, Research Design, Planning and Practicalities, Research Ethics, Data Collection, Data Analysis and Interpretation, Writing Up, and Dissemination.
Analysing Quantitative Data for Business and Management Students by 
Designing and Managing a Research Project by Research Methods for Business and Management by 
Publication Manual (OFFICIAL) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association by 
Style Guide for Business Writing by APA Formatting (The OWL at Purdue)
The OWL resources will help you learn how to use the American Psychological Association (APA) citation and format style. This section contains resources on in-text citation and the References page, as well as APA sample papers, slide presentations, and the APA classroom poster.
Similar to your essays, a report still requires a bibliography of all the published resources you have referenced within your report. Check your module handbook for the referencing style you should use as there are different styles depending on your degree. If it is the standard Westminster Harvard Referencing style, then follow these guidelines and remember to be consistent.
