Custom Training Information

Lunch and breaks scheduled as appropriate

Welcome

Discussion: Critical Thinking and the Writing Process
- The four keys to effective communication
- The five-step writing process
- Exercise: Communicating with Clear English

Your workplace writing responsibilities and problems
- Clear communication in sentences and paragraphs
- Exercise: Editing sentences and paragraphs to improve clarity

Writing Reports - with Style
- Style Guides
- Writing reports
- Exercise: Using critical thinking to plan your report
- Exercise: Editing a short report

Writing Short Documents
- Letters
- Memos
- Exercise: Applying critical thinking to letters and memos

Additional Resources
This session recommends available books and resources on writing, and discusses techniques for maintaining writing skills
 

Other Modules Available
Course Sponsors can also select from the following modules. Each module can range from 30 to 90 minutes, depending upon the amount of faculty discussion and hands-on exercises.

Writing Clear Prose
Techniques for producing clear, understandable prose in plain language

Condensing Information
Strategies for reducing large amounts of information

Editing for Conciseness
Editing your work to get rid of deadwood that dulls the message

Softening and Sharpening Prose
How to turn the volume up or down on your prose, making its meaning softer or making it "pop"

Writing about Statistics
Report numerical data so readers can easily process the numbers and get the point

Communicating Technical Concepts to General Audiences
How to introduce technical concepts to non-expert readers

Using Visual Design to Reinforce Content
Simple, easy-to-implement guidelines for creating a format that helps readers process your message

Writing for the Ear
Tips for writing that will be heard, not read

Understanding Persuasion in Writing
How persuasion works with content, style, and design; and strategies for maximizing credibility and building relationships with readers

Types of writing
Short reports and memos
Reports
One pagers
White papers
News digests
Oral testimony
Action alerts
Social media - blogs, Twitter  

All custom training is tailored for each organization and audience. Topics from this program can be combined with topics from our other programs and with topics from your existing training programs.
 

Sample agendas of different versions of this program tailored for previous custom clients are available in Adobe PDF.

• 1 hour tax writing incorporated into a longer program for a national association - Shifting Politics and Budget Priorities

• 1-day for federal agency - Critical Thinking and Writing

See our Sample Agendas page for more.
 

Our selected client list includes clients who have purchased custom training, sent staff to our public programs and who have purchased our publications.
 

Requires 1 to 2 days.  

This program is usually held in Washington, DC. It can be presented anywhere in the United States and in many foreign countries, and online. 
 

The program fee includes pre-program development and design, materials for your internal marketing and promotion, all course materials, and faculty chosen for your topic and your audience at the time and location you choose.

Our custom program clients provide the classroom/meeting space, all audio visual equipment, any food and beverages, all registration functions, and travel arrangements for attendees. When the program is held outside the Washington, DC metro area, travel arrangements for faculty can be made by the client or by us. 

We can also provide meeting space or the online venue, audio visual equipment, food and beverage, registration, and travel arrangements, though this affects program cost.
 

• Advanced Media Relations

• Drafting Effective Federal Legislation and Amendments

• Effective Executive Briefings

• Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony

• Preparing for Congressional Oversight and Investigation

• Speechwriting: Preparing Speeches and Oral Presentations

• Technical Writing

• Writing Congressional Correspondence

• Writing To Persuade
   

FEIN: 54-1917701     DUNS: 04-273-5071      CAGE: 1K5S4
 

• Capitol Learning Audio Courses: Advocacy and Communication ^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

• Phone: 202-678-1600

• Email: custom -at- TheCapitol.Net

• Complete our online custom program information request.