Writing to Persuade
Hone Your Persuasive Writing Skills

This is the second course in our 2-course Word Workshop, offered throughout the year. The first course is Writing for Government and Business: Critical Thinking and Writing.

Designed for advocates, attorneys, lobbyists, public affairs professionals, and anyone who must persuade others using the written word.

Do you suffer from "writer's block" when you are asked to draft a one-page document, such as a position paper, in a clear, cogent, yet persuasive manner? If your answer is "yes", this one-day program is for you. Our faculty will give you a practical framework for persuasive writing and specific strategies for writing persuasive documents through instruction and hands-on exercises.

Our writing courses are designed for anyone who wants to improve their writing, including agency staff who want to improve their writing and comply with the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (H.R. 946) and Executive Orders 12866, 12988, and 13563.

This program will help you better write any document where you must persuade others.

Our writing courses have been described as "really about how to get better job reviews and get promoted" because they help you improve one of your most important, and visible, job skills: written communication.

 

More Information
Agenda	When	Where	Related Training	Policies	Related Resources

The leadership competencies for this course include:

• Influencing/Negotiating
• Interpersonal Skills
• Strategic Thinking
• Written Communication
• Political Savvy

Bring this course to your site. This course and any combination of its topics are available as custom on-site training for your organization. We have tailored this course for attorneys, program analysts, administrative assistants, scientists, and others in agencies, and think tanks.  For more information about how this training can help your members and staff, please contact our client liaison.

This is an elective course for the Certificate in Communication and Advocacy.

Space is limited. 
 

Agenda	Writing To Persuade 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (lunch on your own)   Introduction and Frameworks Discussion: How Persuasion Works Persuasion as identification Substance and style Networks: purposes, activities, documents Research for Persuasive Writing Researching the audience Developing persuasive strategies Writing One-Pagers How one-pagers are read and used Getting it down to the essentials Visual design Action Alerts that Prompt Effective Letters How letters are read, used, and responded to Writing effective letters Designing the alert White Papers How white papers are read and used Internal and external audiences for whitepapers Developing main points and structuring the position Techniques for sharpening or softening your message Comments Multiple audiences of comments Structure, clarity, precision, and data Testimony How testimony is heard Telling a persuasive story Writing for the ear Integrating Persuasion into Your Web Site Website audiences Applying persuasive strategies to your web presence  For a printable course description, agenda with dates, and registration form, click here. (pdf)    Do you need a training course we don't offer or coverage of an additional topic in this course? If you have suggestions for courses or topics you would like to see us offer, please contact us or complete our online suggestion form.
Suggested Prerequisites	This course is designed for all staff who need to hone their persuasive writing skills. Suggested prerequisite: Writing for Government and Business: Critical Thinking and Writing. If you need help deciding which courses you should take based on your work experience or training, please contact us via email or phone: 703-739-3790.
Time and Dates	9:00 am to 4:00 pm Th, April 19, 2012 F, November 9, 2012
Location	April 19, 2012: DC Bar Conference Center, 1101 K Street NW, Suite 200 (12th and K Streets NW), Washington, DC (McPherson Square station) Our map | Google Map   Other dates:  Location in Washington, DC will be announced before course.  Our courses are held at these Washington, DC, locations.
Course Materials	A 50-plus page course manual included.
Certificate of Training and CEUs	A Certificate of Training is available for this course. To get a Certificate of Training, your registration fee must be paid in full, and you must attend the entire course. This is an elective course for the Certificate in Communication and Advocacy. This course is approved for .6 CEUs from George Mason University.
Related Training	Advanced Media Relations Workshop Drafting Federal Legislation and Amendments Effective Executive Briefings Media Relations for Public Affairs Professionals Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony Speechwriting: Preparing Speeches and Oral Presentations Writing for Government and Business: Critical Thinking and Writing
Policies	For this course, cancellations and transfers must be submitted in writing to us.  Substitutions must be submitted in writing - include substitute's name, phone and email. Our transfer and cancellation fees are outlined below. Transfer and Cancellation Fee Time Before Course Substitutions Allowed Transfer Fee Cancellation Fee More than 4 weeks No charge None None 2 to 4 weeks No charge 10% of tuition 25% of tuition 3 days to 2 weeks No charge 20% of tuition 50% of tuition 1 to 2 days No charge 30% of tuition 75% of tuition day of program (no refunds to no-shows) No charge No refund No refund No refunds for no shows. We reserve the right to change this fee and time period.  Cancellation, Substitution and Transfer Policy  Weather Policy TCN reserves the right to cancel any course in the event of insufficient registrations. All statements and discussion at all of our courses, workshops and seminars, public and custom, are off the record and not for attribution, unless specified otherwise. The resulting confidentiality ensures a frank and free exchange of views.
FAQs	FAQs about our training including suggested attire.
Register	$295  Payment methods we accept include checks, EFT/ACH, and Intuit Payment Network (IPN).   Click here for a registration form (pdf) Fax or Mail: Print out and complete the registration form (in Adobe pdf). The completed form should include your method of payment.    Fax the completed form to us at 703-739-1195.    Mail the completed form to us at TheCapitol.Net, Inc., PO Box 25706, Alexandria, VA  22313-5706
Related Resources	Capitol Learning Audio Courses: Communication and Advocacy TM Common Sense Rules of Advocacy Essential Washington and Hill Web Sites Legislative Drafter's Deskbook Quick DC Links - Washington Essentials Testifying Before Congress The Business Writer's Handbook
Educational Tracks	Communication and Advocacy
Available as custom, on-site training?	Yes.  This program can be tailored for on-site agency, association and corporate training.  When customized for government agencies, materials can include government correspondence manuals and style guides. We have also developed a custom "Writing Congressional Correspondence" program for federal agencies. Please call 703-739-3790 for information.
Need more information?	Phone: 703-739-3790 Email: registrar -at- TheCapitol.Net Complete our online information request.
Non-Partisan	TheCapitol.Net is a non-partisan firm, and the opinions of its faculty, authors, clients and the owners and operators of its vendors are their own and do not represent those of TheCapitol.Net.

 

 

URLs: www.TheCapitol.Net/PublicPrograms/WritingToPersuade.html
WritingToPersuade.com
WritingToPersaude.com
WriteToPersaude.com
WriteAndPersuade.com
WriteAndPersaude.com
TCNWW.com
 

Next Course
April 19, 2012
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location (below)
$295 

   
Approved for .6 CEUs from George Mason University.

All of our courses and workshops include extensive interaction with our faculty, making our courses and workshops both educational and mini-consulting sessions with substantive experts.

Rave Reviews

"Good set of tips & resources I can use going forward--appreciate the real-life examples."
-- Course Attendee

"The practical exercises were the best part-they helped crystallize the material."
-- Course Attendee

"Both instructors were great! I really enjoyed and learned a lot in this class."
-- Course Attendee

See testimonials about our training.

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