Class Details

What is the course overview?
The Plain Writing Act requires consumer outreach documents to be in plain language. This course provides participants with a variety of effective strategies for planning, drafting, and reviewing documents in plain language. The course allows ample opportunity for practice and feedback from the trainers. Advanced training in selected topics enables participants to become more effective in the workplace through clear, organized, and efficient communication to meet plain language standards.

Who should take this course?
This course is recommended for EPA staffers who are interested in further improving their writing and review skills with an emphasis on plain language. The Basic Reader-Focused writing course is strongly recommended prerequisite.

What are the course learning objectives?
Participants who complete this course will gain skills on how to:

• Review documents more efficiently and effectively;
• Give and receive effective plain language feedback on documents; and
• Analyze, write, rewrite, and reorganize clear, reader-focused materials using plain language techniques.

What are the logistics?
In this two-day course, participants first get a refresher in the writing process focusing on the roles of both the assigner and the writer in planning, drafting, and self-reviewing documents. Participants learn more about external review and get hands-on experience in reviewing other’s writing with plain language techniques. Participants then receive training in advanced writing techniques, including tone, approach, organizational strategies, and more. This course also includes exercises in drafting and self-reviewing EPA documents, improving grammar, and developing proofreading abilities. Recommended course size is 10-20 participants.

Kleimann Communication Group (KCG) professionals teach this course. KCG is nationally acclaimed for its trainers, public speakers, consultants, and authors, specializing in written and spoken communication in the workplace.

Is there available background material?
There is no recommended background material.