Clear Thinking, Clear Writing

Clear Thinking, Clear Writing is a two-day workshop designed to help office professionals with the challenge of preparing professional, productive and powerful correspondence and reports.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• Any office professional who communicates in writing either internally or externally

YOU WILL LEARN TO:

• Understand the differences between clear writing and plain language writing
• Determine the reader’s needs
• Deliver clear, concise messages
• Adopt the appropriate tone
• Avoid the grammar errors that rob writing of its professionalism
• Prepare effective letters and emails
• Prepare easy-to-read reports
• Reduce writing time

COURSE OUTLINE

Introduction

• How business and academic writing differ
• What today’s readers want in a business document
• Clear writing versus plain language writing
• Three steps for effective writing

Writing Style

• Myths surrounding writing
• Opening lines
• Sentence length
• Word choice and jargon
• Smothered verbs
• Active versus passive voice
• Connecting words
• Tone

Organizing Letters and Emails

• Four questions for organizing letters and emails
• Organizational patterns
• Effective subject lines and powerful opening lines
• Clichés to avoid

Software Assistance

• Readability stats feature
• Writing tools available on Word

Grammar

• The importance of grammar rules
• Why the rules change
• Sentence structure
• Punctuation
• Five most common grammar errors that detract from key messages

Getting Started

• Identify the problems associated with report writing
• Understand how a report projects an image
• Review the characteristics of successful reports
• Learn the 6 steps for report writing
• Write effective opening lines

Pre-writing

• Identify the readers’ needs and backgrounds
• Pinpoint your purpose in writing
• Use a proven tool to determine essential details
• Learn a technique for avoiding writer’s block

Writing/Editing

• Identify design techniques
• Prepare “talking” heads
• Understand the questions for successful editing

Organizing/Blueprinting

• Produce effective executive summaries
• Use blueprints to organize information
• Arrange ideas into proven organizational structures: information, bad news, recommendation
• Write powerful introductions

METHODS TO BE USED:

Participants will be actively involved in exercises and activities designed to develop and improve their writing skills.