COMM055 - How to Improve Your Writing: Impact, Grammar and Editing

Course Description

Today, many of us find we are talking through our fingers on keyboards and touch-screens more than we are talking face-to-face and on the phone. This increased need for writing, both in and out of the workplace, requires us to improve our writing skills. Strong writing skills lead to smoother communications and fewer misunderstandings. Whether you write letters, emails, reports, promotional materials, or personal blog and social media posts, the skills and techniques you’ll learn in this course will help you to improve your writing to get your message across.

Course Outline

• How adults read

• The difference between reading on-screen and in print

• Writing for all devices (computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones)

• The 5 Cs of effective writing: correct, clear, concise, coherent, and consistent

• Plain language principles

• Get to the point and keep it simple

• Writing styles—formal, informal, texting

• Write in the active voice and keep it positive

• Avoid jargon/technical terms and redundancy

• Avoid fragments and run-on sentences

• Editing writing – yours and other’s

• Repurposing your message for email, blogs, and social media

• The writing process (emails, blog posts, articles)

• Seven steps to writing effective emails

Learner Outcomes

• Discover the benefits of plain language writing

• Become familiar with and practice the key principles of plain language writing

• Be able to identify key grammar and punctuation errors in your writing, and correct them

• Acquire new skills for editing and revising for maximum impact

• Develop confidence in your writing and editing abilities

• Have greater clarity and impact—guaranteed!