Writing Essentials Course

Module 1: The Foundations

• Define the Seven Traits of effective writing.
• Identify the four steps in the writing process.
• Highlight the importance of using all four steps for effective writing.

Module 2: Write With Purpose

• Examine tasks in step one of the writing process: analyze the writing situation, determine the writing purpose, and outline your work.
• Apply step one of the writing process to a practice document.

Module 3: Tell Them What You’re Going to Tell Them

• Define the three-part structure: open, middle, and close.
• Examine the role of each part in the structure.
• Identify other techniques for clear organization: headings, subheadings, and lists.

Module 4: The Plain Writing Act of 2010

• Define the Plain Writing Act of 2010 and its importance.
• Review the Federal Plain Language Guidelines and how to apply them.
• Learn to use the PLAIN website for resources and support.

Module 5: Applying the Federal Plain Language Guidelines

• Use the guidelines to clarify and declutter your writing.
• Write in conversational language using the Plain Language techniques.

Module 6: Achieving Clarity Through Correctness

• Identify and practice key grammatical rules and punctuation.
• Ensure correct sentence structure and grammar usage in professional writing.

Module 7: Accessibility and Readability

• Implement accessibility features to ensure readability.
• Practice design techniques to enhance the clarity of your writing.

Module 8: Flawless Final Drafts

• Review the two-step editing process: revise for content-level improvements and refine sentence-level improvements.
• Apply the Seven Traits checklist as an editing tool.