Dive into Plain Language

Writing for Understanding Level 1 is an intensive 3-part training series that teaches participants how to communicate in more actionable and inclusive ways. 

When + Where

We'll meet 3 times on Zoom:

Session 1: Thursday, September 4 from 10 am - 12 pm CT

Session 2: Thursday, September 11 from 10 am - 12 pm CT 

Session 3: Thursday, September 18 from 10 am - 12 pm CT 

You will receive a link to the self-paced pre-work and a Zoom link for all three sessions after you complete your registration.

Who should join?

Writing for Understanding Level 1 is for folks who are relatively new to plain language and want to communicate more effectively with their community, colleagues, or other professionals. 

Joining a cohort can help you:

✅ Develop your knowledge of plain language and information design practices 
✅ Identify ways to prioritize cultural humility, accessibility, and inclusivity in writing 
✅ Review your own public-facing or internal documents in a supportive space
✅ Connect with others, including other professionals who are passionate about systems change
 

Participants work in a variety of sectors and roles, from marketing to programming and administration. Whether you're creating content on a daily basis, or just want to advance social justice in communication, this training could be a great fit!

What will I learn?

Each session covers specific topics related to plain language. 
 

Week 1: Audience + Purpose

In this session you will: 

・Identify what plain language is and isn’t

・Apply Trauma-Informed practices to our writing 

・Examine how clear communication aligns with social justice

・Reflect on an audience you write to and where there are opportunities to better connect with them

Week 2: Layout + Design

In this session you will:

・Define accessibility and inclusion 

・Explore strategies for making our writing more accessible and inclusive 

・Explain how format & organization impact readability and usability

・Practice strategies for purposeful planning and organization

Week 3: Words, Grammar, + Tone

In this session you will:

・Identify jargon and technical language in our writing

・Explore how grammar, tone, and style can make texts more difficult to understand

・Practice plain language strategies for rewriting content more effectively for our audiences

How long is this course?

In order to receive a certificate of completion for Writing for Understanding Level 1, participants complete roughly 9 hours of work:

Pre-Work: about 1 hour

📕 Before the first live session, complete a self-paced introductory course: Plain Language: What It Is And Why It Matters In Equity-Driven Work. 

Training Sessions: 6 hours 

💻 Participate in 3 live training sessions on Zoom. Each session is 2 hours. 

Homework: about 1 hour

📝 Complete about 30 minutes of reflection and application activities between sessions.  

Coaching: 1 hour

💻 Join 1 hour of one-on-one plain language coaching. This is your chance to showcase what you’ve learned and receive individualized feedback. 

Training Cost

We have sliding scale options for this training. When you register, you can pick from the options below.

Here’s the most important thing to know about these rates: 

We want you to attend this training, so choose what’s best for your situation. These recommendations are guidelines. We don’t review who pays what, and we won’t follow up with any questions. 

Picking the highest rate you or your organization can reasonably afford allows us to offer free and reduced fees for those who need it most, increasing access for everyone.

Training Rates

Redistribution Rate: $450
We recommend this rate if either:

・Your organization has an annual budget of $5 million or more, or

・You feel like you can afford this rate and want to help keep reduced rates available.    

Full Rate: $325
We recommend this rate if either: 

・Your organization has an annual budget between $1 million - $5 million, or

・You’re paying for this training yourself, and you can comfortably afford this price.

Solidarity Rate: $200
We recommend this rate if either: 

・Your organization has an annual budget below $1 million, or

・You’re paying for this training yourself, and you can comfortably afford this price.

Reduced Rate: $75
We recommend this rate if either: 

・Your organization has an annual budget below $200,000 and focuses on social justice or advocacy work, or

・You’re paying for this training yourself and are a full-time student or earn a limited income.

Accessibility + Other Questions 

We strive to make Writing for Understanding Level 1 as inclusive as possible. We run all training materials through accessibility checkers and share content in advance. We use auto-generated Zoom captions in virtual trainings. Each session includes a 5-10 minute break. If you'd like to share your accessibility needs, or ask questions about this training, contact Sarah at sarah@litworks.org.