Take your plain language to the next level

Writing for Understanding 2 is an intensive workshop-based course designed to build on what you learned in level 1.  

This course uses a mix of asynchronous and live Virtual classes to give participants significant time to practice and apply plain language strategies in a supportive setting. 

By the end of this class, participants will not only feel confident applying plain language strategies to their own work, but also have the tools to provide feedback to others and support plain language initiatives within their organization.
 

Who should join?

If you enjoyed level 1 of Writing for Understanding and want to expand your plain language skills, this course is for you.  
 
Level 2 will focus on more advanced writing and grammar concepts, applying plain language to long-form documents, making hands-on revisions, and systems change strategies. 

Joining a cohort can help you:

✅ Reflect on where your communication is meeting your audiences’ needs and where there are gaps  
✅ Hone your skills applying plain language strategies to materials from your work 
✅ Build confidence providing plain language feedback to others 
✅ Develop plain language strategies for your organization

We ask that participants complete Level 1 of Writing for Understanding or an equivalent course before registering for Level 2. Not sure if you meet this requirement? Email Sarah at sarah@litworks.org. 

What will I learn?

Each session builds on the topics covered the previous week.

Week 1: Audience + Ideas

In this session you will: 

・Practice tailoring content to meet the needs of various audiences 
・Discuss strategies for testing content, getting audience feedback, and fostering collaboration
・Identify and revise complex grammar and ideas to better meet audience needs

Week 2: Layout + Design

In this session you will:

・Identify specific uses and considerations for various mediums
・Practice adapting content to different formats
・Explore ways to improve layout and organization of long-form documents
・Get real time feedback on a project from your work 

Week 3: Visual Support + Systems Change

In this session you will:

・Explore strategies for writing about data + numbers
・Identify ways to effectively use visuals to support content
・Identify ways to support plain language initiatives within your organization
・Reflect on and share a revised document from your work 

How long is this course?

In order to receive a certificate of completion for Writing for Understanding 2, participants complete about 10 hours of work:

Pre-Work: about 1 hour

📕 Before the first live session, complete a review of concepts from Level 1. You’ll start with a quiz to identify what you remember. From there, you can focus on the areas where you need the most review. 
 

Training Sessions: 6 hours 

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

Homework: about 2 hours total

📝 Between sessions, you’ll have time to work on a project from your work. We’ll ask you to share a before and after version outlining the plain language changes you made. You’ll get to review the work of others in your cohort and share feedback with each other.   

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. 

When + Where 

Session 1: Thursday, October 24 from 2:00-4:00 pm CST

Session 2: Thursday, November 7 from 2:00-4:00 pm CST

Session 3: Thursday, November 21 from 2:00-4:00 pm CST

You will receive a link to the self-paced pre-work and a Zoom link for all three sessions at least 4 weeks before the training starts.

Scholarships, Accessibility + Other Questions 

We strive to make Writing for Understanding as inclusive as possible. Scholarships are available by request. We'll share the slides in advance and live captions are available via Zoom. If you'd like to request a scholarship, share accessibility needs, or ask questions about this training, contact Sarah at sarah@litworks.org.