Clear and Effective Municipal Documents

Our courses fly by in just four weeks! Capped at six participants, we cover the principles and techniques they need to improve their writing on the job, using plenty of examples and exercises to start practicing right away. Synchronous learning generates discussion and shared problem-solving; homework assignments and a customized workbook make it real. Each 75-minute module includes theory, practical application, in-class writing exercises, current examples, and group discussion.

Foundation modules include one of the following:

1. Fundamentals of Plain Language
2. Clear and Effective Municipal Documents
3. Communicating Technical Content
4. Persuasive and Defensible Documents

Supplementary modules for the final three weeks are built on the foundation module, and include a choice of topics such as effective emails and memos; reports that get results; public letters and notices with impact; copy editing 101; and more.

Course participants complete homework on their own time (up to 2 hours per week), and submit assignments for review, personalized feedback, and group discussion. Materials include a course workbook and tip sheets; webinar recordings; and slide PDFs.

Foundation Module 2: Clear and Effective Municipal Documents

This course introduces planners who work in local government to the principles, techniques, and best practices involved in preparing clear and effective documents that help staff, officials, and councillors make good decisions. Unlike other civil servants, you probably didn’t take classes in public administration. We’ll focus on documents like briefings and council reports to help you build confidence and the skills you need to advance your projects and be heard!

Topics include:

1. Strategic considerations in a local government environment
2. Creating a compelling storyline that’s relevant and engaging from your reader’s perspective
3. Showcasing your research and analysis for non-experts
4. Readability, accessibility, and inclusion to support civic clarity
5. Writing and editing as a team.