Persuasive and Defensible 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 4: Persuasive and Defensible Documents

How to win people over to your way of thinking, based on your professional expertise, is a common challenge. Persuasive writing techniques can help to clarify your own thinking and communicate more effectively with diverse audiences to improve your results and reach your project goals. This module presents persuasive writing techniques to help your expertise influence decision making on important projects.

Topics include:

1. What persuasive writing and why it matters in planning
2. Why some people are persuasive and others are not
3. How to develop and put forward the best possible case
4. Building – and presenting – your ideas and analysis
5. Defending your project in different forums.