* this course is also available in an on campus, 1 day version in November 2009
PAPA2007 or April 2010
PAPA2008This three-week online course combines the content of How to Improve your Writing and Advanced Techniques to Improve Your Writing. It is perfect for people who want to improve their writing but who don’t have the option of coming to Royal Roads for the full-day writing workshops. Whether you write letters, emails, reports, promotional materials, briefing notes or instructions, the skills and techniques you’ll learn in this course will help you to improve your writing and get your message across.
Who Should Attend?
- For those who write in their work and require improvement
- Those who cannot join the face to face sessions or live outside of Victoria or prefer an online learning platform
Topics:
- Know your audience
- Identify the purpose for your message
- Get to the point and keep it simple
- Adopt the ‘you’ perspective
- Write in the active voice and keep it positive
- Avoid jargon/technical terms and redundancy
- Test the message
- Improve your word power
- Learn the parts of speech
- Master sentences types
- Untangle your modifiers
- Seek agreement
- Find and match the antecedents
- Avoid fragments and run-on sentences
- Punctuate with passion
- Which, that and who – which one do I use?
- Editing writing – yours and other’s
- Rewriting in plain language
- Making your case (presenting an argument)
- Writing to persuade
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn by reading about writing techniques, completing online writing assignments and participating in online discussions (synchronous and/or asynchronous)
- Discover the benefits of plain language writing.
- Become familiar with and practice the key principles of plain language writing.
- Have greater clarity and impact—guaranteed!
- Be able to identify key grammar and punctuation errors in your writing, and correct them Demystify grammar and punctuation rules
- Acquire new skills for editing and revising your writing and the writing of others; and, learn how to present an effective argument in writing
Plus:
- Receive longer writing exercises designed to apply the skills and techniques from parts one and two.
- Through the instructor’s feedback in all units, receive individual attention and develop confidence in your writing ability
Recommended Reading (not required):
- STYLE: The basics of clarity and grace by Joseph M. Williams
- Eats Shoots & Leaves: The zero tolerance approach to punctuation by Lynne Truss
Computer Requirements: A week prior to the course start date you will receive an email from us with information on how to access the online course. At that time you will be encouraged to visit a short orientation website to familiarize yourself with our online learning platform. You will find the computer requirements for this course through this link:
Requirements
Facilitator: Fiona Prince has been delivering communications-related training to groups and individuals for over fifteen years in both the public and private sector. Fiona helps people increase their productivity by helping them to understand how miscommunication gets in the way of getting important things done. She does this with proven communication tools such as customized workshops, team-building sessions, individual coaching and personality assessments. She has Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Victoria, a Masters of Arts in Applied Communication from Royal Roads University, and a Keirsey Temperament Theory Certification from Synergy Leaders, LLC