Learn how to create clear, concise, and correct technical government-related documents. Whether you prepare standard operating procedures, white papers, Federal Register notices, or other government documents, make sure you know how to analyze each writing situation and focus on its stakeholders, audience, purpose, form, and topic. Obtain and use a model document and your agency's style guide to support your writing. Learn effective research strategies and develop a writing style that conveys complex information in a direct and easy-to-follow manner. Create powerful first drafts; then revise, edit, and design them to reinforce your main points and get stakeholder buy-in.
Target Audience
All federal employees and government contractors who need to produce concise and accurate technical documents that convey complex information clearly.
What You'll Learn at a Glance
- Define government technical writing and identify types of government technical documents.
- Apply the seven traits of writing to evaluate and improve your writing.
- Conduct a comprehensive audience analysis for technical communication.
- Use the technical writing process to plan and complete a technical writing project, using checklists and other job aids.
- Collaborate effectively with others in producing government technical documents.
- Organize, structure, and format according to the document's purpose.
- Design document specifications from sentence to paragraph to the full-document level.
- Use graphics and visual aids when appropriate.
- Reason and write logically to construct effective arguments.
- Write effective technical definitions and descriptions.
- Communicate findings, conclusions, and recommendations by employing critical thinking and problem-solving techniques.
- Avoid common technical writing pitfalls.
- Use readability formulas and other editing techniques to improve document readability.
- Revise, refine, and proofread documents for effectiveness.
- Use state-of-the-art production and revision methods for soft and hard copy.
Course Syllabus
Module 1: Understanding Government Technical Writing
- Define government technical writing and its types.
- Apply the seven traits of writing to improve technical documents.
- Understand the technical writing process and audience analysis techniques.
- Collaborate effectively with others to produce quality technical documents.
Module 2: Organizing Government Technical Documents
- Develop an information plan for technical documents.
- Research efficiently to support the main ideas in your document.
- Use inductive and deductive approaches to organize information logically.
- Outline effectively for both formal and informal writing projects.
Module 3: Writing with Clear Technical Formats
- Identify and draft technical emails, memos, and letters in various formats.
- Use page design and formatting for clarity and readability.
- Apply graphics and visual aids to support technical content.
- Write clear, concise instructions and procedures for various audiences.
Module 4: Drafting Specific Technical Documents
- Identify formats for formal reports and proposals.
- Organize formal reports for readability and audience needs.
- Write formal technical definitions and process descriptions.
- Apply organization patterns and calculate readability for drafting.
Module 5: Revising for Content and Readability
- Revise documents for clarity and readability using parallel structures and transitions.
- Assess and refine your workplace project for effective communication.
Module 6: Refining for Accuracy and Correctness
- Provide effective feedback to improve document accuracy.
- Proofread and correct documents for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Use modern revision methods for both digital and printed documents.
