Session1 pl online_course_19_may2011
- 1. Write Great Web Content: Plain Language in Action Session 1: May 19, 2011
- 2. Course topics for Session 1 Part 1: Course overview Part 2: Plain language overview Part 3: Review pre-course assignment Part 4: Write task-oriented web content Part 5: Session 1 wrap-up Part 6: Session 1 homework – writing assignment and reading assignment
- 3. Course topics for Session 1 Part 1: Course overview Part 2: Plain language overview Part 3: Review pre-course assignment Part 4: Write task-oriented web content Part 5: Session 1 wrap-up Part 6: Session 1 homework – writing assignment and reading assignment
- 4. Part 1: Course overview Four online course meetings (live webinars) on May 19, 26, 31 and June 6 Pre-course writing assignment Brief web writing practices during the online course meetings Remember to print the PPT and other files before each meeting Readings and web writing homework after each course meeting Course text: Letting Go of the Words , by Ginny Redish
- 5. Course topics for Session 1 Part 1: Course overview Part 2: Plain language overview Part 3: Review pre-course assignment Part 4: Write task-oriented web content Part 5: Session 1 wrap-up Part 6: Session 1 homework – writing assignment and reading assignment
- 6. What is plain language?
- 7. Plain language is a communication philosophy “ Plain language…is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it.” “ A communication is in plain language if the…audience for that communication can quickly and easily find what they need understand what they find act appropriately on that understanding”
- 8. Plain language is a community Organizations Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) Center for Plain Language Clarity Many federal agencies have plain language programs (partial list) U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau of Land Management Environmental Protection Agency Federal Aviation Administration Fish and Wildlife Service Health Resources and Services Administration National Institutes of Health Office of the Federal Register Securities and Exchange Commission Plain language awards Center for Plain Language’s ClearMark Award Legal Writing Institute’s Golden Pen Award NIH’s Plain Language/Clear Communication Award
- 9. Plain language: It’s the law
- 10. Final guidance on implementing the Plain Writing Act of 2010
- 11. Plain language shapes writers’ decisions at every stage of the writing process Planning stage Does this content meet an actual need? Have the writers anticipated readers’ questions? Does it have a clear message? Will it enable readers to take action? Drafting stage Is the content broken into logical units or chunks? Does the content offer the right amount and type of information; does it answer readers’ questions? Does it include headings that will enable readers to scan? Reviewing stage Is the writing concise? Is the wording concrete? Will readers understand the jargon or acronyms? Are the sentences written in active voice?
- 12. Plain language: We know it when we see it
- 13. Not plain language Local Veterans Employment Representatives conduct outreach to employers to engage in advocacy efforts with hiring executives to increase employment opportunities for veterans, encourage the hiring of disabled veterans and generally assist veterans to gain and retain employment.
- 14. Why is this not plain? Local Veterans Employment Representatives conduct outreach to employers to engage in advocacy efforts with hiring executives to increase employment opportunities for veterans, encourage the hiring of disabled veterans and generally assist veterans to gain and retain employment.
- 15. Plain language rewrite Local Veterans Employment Representatives contact employers to encourage them to hire veterans, including disabled veterans, and generally assist veterans in finding and keeping jobs.
- 16. Does plain language = web writing?
- 17. Course topics for Session 1 Part 1: Course overview Part 2: Plain language overview Part 3: Review pre-course assignment Part 4: Write task-oriented web content Part 5: Session 1 wrap-up Part 6: Session 1 homework – writing assignment and reading assignment
- 18. Part 3: Review pre-course writing assignment and look at course text
- 19. Course topics for Session 1 Part 1: Course overview Part 2: Plain language overview Part 3: Review pre-course assignment Part 4: Write task-oriented web content Part 5: Session 1 wrap-up Part 6: Session 1 homework – writing assignment and reading assignment
- 20. Part 4: Write task-oriented web content Helping people do things online (complete tasks) is web content’s highest calling Some web writing helps people know Some web writing helps people do Best practice: focus on top tasks
- 21. Six guidelines for writing task-oriented web content Name the task clearly and provide an overview. Identify the outcome of the task. Make the task scannable as users may bookmark it and return frequently. Provide an example, illustration, or screenshot when necessary. Link to background info instead of including it in the task. Make the web content substantive; don’t lock all the info about the task into the PDF form.
- 22. Name the task clearly and provide an overview
- 23. Identify the outcome of the task
- 24. Identify the outcome of the task
- 25. Make the task scannable
- 26. Provide an example, illustration, or screenshot - when necessary
- 27. Link to background info instead of including it in the task
- 28. Make the web content substantive; Don’t lock all the info in a PDF
- 29. Course topics for Session 1 Part 1: Course overview Part 2: Plain language overview Part 3: Review pre-course assignment Part 4: Write task-oriented web content Part 5: Session 1 wrap-up Part 6: Session 1 homework – writing assignment and reading assignment
- 30. Part 5: Session 1 wrap-up Questions? Web pages to look at again? Plain language writing practices to review? Guidelines for writing task-oriented web content to review?
- 31. Course topics for Session 1 Part 1: Course overview Part 2: Plain language overview Part 3: Review pre-course assignment Part 4: Write task-oriented web content Part 5: Session 1 wrap-up Part 6: Session 1 homework – writing assignment and reading assignment
- 32. Part 6: Writing and reading homework for Session 1 By Tuesday, May 24: Rewrite a task page Read Chapter 2, “People! People! People!”
- 33. Resource
- 34. Evaluation
Editor's Notes
- #8: http://www.plainlanguage.gov/whatisPL/index.cfm http://www.centerforplainlanguage.org/
- #9: http://centerforplainlanguage.org/ http://www.plainlanguage.gov/ http://www.clarity-international.net/
- #10: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h946enr.txt.pdf
- #11: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/2011/m11-15.pdf
- #14: http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/empserv/employment_services_fs.htm
- #23: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
- #24: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/
- #25: http://www.ginniemae.gov/2_prequal/intro_questions.asp?section=YPTH
- #26: http://www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=183505,00.html
- #27: http://www.fws.gov/jobs/howtoapply.html
- #28: http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/eligibility.asp
- #29: http://buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/howto.html
- #34: http://www.usa.gov/webcontent/managing_content/focusing_top_tasks.shtml