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

This is the first course in our 3-course Word Workshop. The second course is Writing to Persuade, and the third course is Editing.

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.

 

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This sponsored course is tailored for your group's specific needs.

The program fee for sponsored courses includes program development, faculty, materials, and classroom space in the DC area for up to 20 attendees (the program fee also includes AV, breaks and lunch). *  We will contact you after we receive your registration to finalize details.

See the FAQs About Sponsored Courses for more information, including Wait Lists.  

Government agencies: please see the GSA Schedule for our GSA contract pricing.

TheCapitol.Net, Inc.
Contract GS02F0192X  

Bring this course to your location. 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. Not enough people for a sponsored or custom course? See these Capital Learning Audio CoursesTM Capitol Learning Advocacy and Communication Audio Courses Business Etiquette: Keys to Professional Success Keys to Effective Presentations: Invigorate Your Delivery and Increase Your Confidence Effectively Using Persuasion in Your Oral Presentations: A Trial Lawyer's Perspective

  

Course Details

Sample 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 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  This course is available 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 sponsor based on your staff's work experience or training, please contact us via email or phone: 202-678-1600.
Time and Dates	9:00 am to 4:00 pm This Sponsored Course Requires One (1) Day
Location	This course can be presented at your location in Washington, DC, or at a location in Washington, DC, that we provide.  * For a map with a brief list of hotels near the Capitol, click here. When we arrange space, we use these Washington, DC, locations.
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. Approved for .6 CEUs from George Mason University.
Related Training	Drafting Federal Legislation and Amendments Editing Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony Speechwriting: Preparing Speeches and Oral Presentations Writing to Persuade
Policies	See https://www.thecapitol.net/PublicPrograms/CoursePolicies_Sponsored.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 sponsored courses including suggested attire.
Program Fee and Registration	$7,750 - for up to 20 attendees *  The program fee includes program development, faculty, materials, and classroom space in the DC area for up to 20 attendees (the program fee also includes AV, breaks and lunch). We will contact you after we receive your registration to finalize details. Registration and payment at least 3 weeks before the course is required so the program can be customized for your specific needs. For more information see FAQs About Our Sponsored Courses. * = There is a discount if you provide classroom space in the DC area, AV, breaks and lunch. This course can be also presented outside the DC area. Contact us for details.    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 TheCapitol.Net, Inc., PO Box 25706, Alexandria, VA  22313-5706
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 202-678-1600 for information. Government agencies: please see the GSA Schedule for our GSA contract pricing. TheCapitol.Net, Inc. Contract GS02F0192X
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_SPONSORED.html
WritingRefresher.com
WordWorkshop.com
WritingProfessionalCorrespondence.com
ProfessionalCorrespondence.com
WritingExecutiveCorrespondence.com
ExecutiveCorrespondence.com
TCNWW.com
 

This Sponsored Course Requires One Day
9:00 am to 4:00 pm

   
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

"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

Susan Lawrence

Douglas Eyman