Writing for Government and Business: Critical Thinking and Writing
How to Compose Clear and Effective Reports, Letters, Email, and Memos

Do you need to improve your writing skills? This intensive one-day course helps you, and your staff, understand the three dimensions of professional writing: organization, format and style.

Our writing courses are designed for those who want 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.

In addition to reviewing and teaching specific writing techniques, our faculty show you how to:

• Apply critical thinking to the writing process
• Use plain English and the active voice
• Be concise
• Develop an effective writing style

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.

Communication skills are the key to efficient and effective operations in business and government. New employees should brush-up on their basic written communication and plain English skills, while experienced professionals, burdened by the additional workload caused by downsizing and budget cuts, can also benefit from this refresher course.

Lessons focus on writing as a process and ways to apply that process to everyday assignments. Previous attendees include all staff levels including program managers, scientists and engineers, administrative assistants, legislative and budget analysts, vice presidents, paralegals, executive directors and attorneys.

More Information
Agenda	When	Where	Related Training	Policies

The leadership competencies for this course include:

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

This is a Congressional Fellows and Presidential Management Fellows Training course.

Tailor this course for your organization. This course and any combination of its topics are available as custom training, on-site and online, 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.

 

Space is limited. 

Agenda	Writing for Government and Business: Critical Thinking and Writing 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (lunch on your own)   Welcome and Introductions   Discussion: Critical Thinking and the Writing Process Keys to effective communication The 5-step writing process Characteristics of Good Business Communication The Writing Process in Your Office Rediscovering Plain English Sentences and Paragraphs Sentence Style Active and Passive Voice Journalist's Checklist for Clear Communication Choose the Best Word and Eliminate the Redundancies Exercise   Managing the Writing Project Project Planning Manager's Toolkit: Punctuation Primer Manager's Toolkit: Usage Guide   Creating and Using Style Guides Popular Style Guides Manager's Toolkit: Abbreviated Style Guide   Writing Reports Project Planning and Reports Organizing Elements Transitions Exercise   Writing Letters, Email, Memos and Executive Summaries Qualities of a Good Letter or Memo Clarity with Topic Sentences Bad News Letters Memos Buffers Negatives Exercise   Additional Resources For More Information Free Newsletters Final Revision Checklist This course is available as a sponsored course, and as a custom program, including as a 2-day custom program. We have also developed a custom "Writing Congressional Correspondence" program for federal agencies. 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 a writing refresher: it focuses on writing as a process and how to apply that process to everyday writing assignments. Previous attendees include all staff levels including program managers, scientists and engineers, administrative assistants, legislative and budget analysts, vice presidents, paralegals, executive directors and attorneys. If you need help deciding which courses you should take based on your work experience or training, please contact us via email or phone: 202-678-1600.
Time and Dates	9:00 am to 4:00 pm No public course scheduled - Contact us for a custom course
Location	No public course scheduled:  Online We use Adobe Connect and Zoom for our live online courses. You need a computer or laptop with a camera and microphone and Internet access. You will be sent a course URL and password before the course date. We encourage you to test the connectivity of your computer/laptop prior to the course. Other dates: Online via Adobe Connect or Zoom. If in-person, location in Washington, DC will be announced 4 to 8 weeks before course. Our live in-person courses are held at these Washington, DC, locations. This live course, when held in-person, is often held at Hall of the States, 444 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC (1 1/2 blocks from the Union Station Metro stop)  (You must come inside and sign in, and then you will be directed to the training room.) Our map | Google Map
Course Materials	Materials include a 70-plus page writing manual that includes a basic style guide.
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 a Congressional Fellows and Presidential Management Fellows Training course. This course is approved for CEUs from George Mason University.
Related Training	Drafting Federal Legislation and Amendments Editing Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony Speechwriting: Preparing Speeches and Oral Presentations Technical Writing Writing to Persuade
Policies	See https://www.thecapitol.net/PublicPrograms/CoursePolicies.html 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	$325    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 202-688-2424.    Mail the completed form to us at the address on the registration form.
Available as custom, on-site training?	Yes. This program can be tailored for agency, association and corporate training, on-site and online. 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 202-678-1600 for information.
Need more information?	Phone: 202-678-1600 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/write.html
WritingRefresher.com
WordWorkshop.com
TCNWW.com
 

Next Course
No Public Course Scheduled
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location (below - click)
$325 

   
Approved for 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

"I dreaded coming and I'm so pleasantly surprised. Great advice. Very worthwhile." 

"I called my boss during break to tell him this was a great course for clerical staff as well as professional staff in our office." 
-- Legislative Specialist, DOL

"Excellent job of explaining the materials and different techniques." 
-- CFO, AAHRPP

"Excellent communicator and instructor." 
-- VP, Government Relations, CRN

"I gave 5s all around because the presentation was great, the information was useful and I enjoyed the teaching."

"Wonderful instructor! Clear, concise and humorous. I didn't think that I would gain as much from this course since I work for a private, non-profit, however, I couldn't have been more wrong. Within the first hour, I was totally intrigued! This was a great 'refresher' course that helped me regain my confidence with writing. Very satisfied." 
-- Educational Advisor, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

"Great instructor--good pace and very personable." 
-- Manager of Government Affairs, Western Energy Alliance

"[Faculty] outstanding--engaging, helpful, and terrific at facilitating learning."
-- Management Analyst, federal agency

"Great refresher ... with concise tips for improvement." 
-- Unit Chief, FBI

"I am glad that I took this class. This will be a benefit to me for years to come." 
-- Legislative Analyst, Williams & Jensen

"Great tips for correcting passive writing." 
-- Budget Analyst, Dept. of Treasury

"One of the best training courses and instructors I've taken thus far. Will allow me to re-focus on the writing process when I experience writer's block." 
-- Course Attendee

"Covered all materials and explained all the topics clearly." 
-- Supervisory Paralegal Specialist, FBI

See more testimonials about this course.

Bob McLean

Jula Kinnaird

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