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Writing Documents in Plain Talk
VERSION: 2.0 (September, 2008)
This course covers the general principles and seven guidelines of Plain Talk as it applies to writing instructions, announcements, publications, and other documents.
As a writer or editor for a federal, state, or municipal agency, you should write and design your document so a customer can read once and understand it. Writing in Plain Talk gives people easy access to their government and allows government to excel at what it does best, serve the people.
We encourage corporations to adopt these same principles. Join the plain talk movement... save time AND money.
Key Benefits
- Learn how to write any sized document in plain English to ensure correct customer use.
- Review how to write in plain English to guarantee readability at the 8th to 11th grade, depending on what your organization requires as a reading level.
- Learn how to write documents in plain English for more successful translation work.
- Learn writing skills that improve internal reports, curriculum, and Internet documents.
Style of Instruction
Onsite: Taught by one of our instructors in a training room, using audio/visual presentations and in-class exercises.
Online: You will download text materials and instructional movies to view. You will view the materials and complete assignments at your own pace, then submit them electronically to your instructor. You may opt to meet your instructor at regular intervals in a live audio/video conference room to discuss your work. The Online video narrator is Dr. Sharon Bridwell.
Who Should Take this Course?
All public sector and private employees who are directed to write readable documents.
Objective
You will learn to write any customer or employee document in plain English, following the general and specific guidelines of Plain Talk.
Course Contents
- Plain Talk principles, an introduction.
- Writing in a common language.
- Writing in a logical sequence.
- Using words your customers use.
- Writing in active voice.
- Using personal pronouns.
- Keeping sentences and paragraphs short.
- How to layout and design clear pages.
Text
Onsite participants will use handouts written by Dr. Sharon Bridwell.
Online participants will download their materials.
Prerequisites
To profit from this course you need to:
- Write documents in understandable English.
- Slowly review the material and complete all exercises and assignments without the help of others.
- Navigate a Web site using hypertext links (online course only).
- Send and reply to e-mail messages (online course only).
What we require of you
For the onsite class, you must show up for class on time and remain until it is completed (approximately 7-8 hours each day). You will interact with other learners. Ask questions when confused.
For the online class, you will take this course at your own pace. Although we estimate you can complete this course in 9 hours, you have up to ten weeks. If you are new to self-directed learning, you may find this style of learning fresh—and a bit frightening. You learn by doing. Ask questions when confused. That means you must have the drive and discipline to see the course through.
Before you start
- Review your own schedule to make sure you have the time to give to this learning process.
- For the onsite class you have no pre-class readings or activities.
- For the online class you need to review this document, the terms and conditions, and technical requirements to make sure that you meet all of them (see links below).
- After reading this entire description, proceed to the Register page when you are ready to sign up.
Instructor
Write Words, American Writing Services provides all instructors. For more information on our instructors, click here.
This page contains important details we do not want you to miss. If you find
reading from paper easier, we encourage you to print it by clicking
the “print” command in your browser.
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