The purpose of the module is to provide competency
based training in the communication skills needed to
write
and edit documents in plain English and to advocate
the use of plain English.
These
resources will assist you in finding appropriate online
material to help broaden your understanding of the concepts
involved and to complete assessment events for the module.
They are meant to complement the work done in a classroom
with a teacher.
For
each learning outcome there are activities to lead you to
some key sites, some background reading and some additional
sites to explore if you choose.
Compile an investigative report/case study on the management of
communication for a change process in an organisation with
recommendations for improving the change process. The report should
be 1500 words long.
The activities on this website will help give you ideas and case
studies you can use in preparing your report.
Business benefits from Plain Language
part of The Plain Language
Centre by Cheryl Stephens.
Plain English Policy
University
of Technology
Sydney
policy which outlines the need for plain English and how
it can be implemented.
Plain Language Commission
UK site promoting the use of Plain English. See the Books
section to download (free) Twenty-five years of battling
Gobbledygook.
Learning Outcome 2
- Outcome - Plan and write workplace documents in plain
English
Activity
7
Go to
http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/plainenglishguide.html and make notes on
how to write in plain English. How many or the points are also covered in
the AskOxford.com guide to plain English?
Activity
8
Conduct a search on
readability indexes. Which ones seem to be the most popular? What things
do they measure?
Activity 9
Plan
the chapter headings for an induction manual for newly
hired workers in your workplace. Follow the steps outlined
in
Planning Guidelines.
Background Reading
Plain Language
Example Library
Contains examples of Plain Language documents compiled
from a variety of sources, including the Federal
government, State governments, private sources in the
United States, and material from outside the United
States. We have divided the examples into regulations,
letters, forms, manuals, and other.
Other Useful Websites
Planning Guideliness on Cheryl Stephens Articles and
Information on Plain Language
Legal
writing in Plain English Model legal documents that
demonstrate the power of plain English organized under
fifty principles.
Learning Outcome 3
- Outcome - Edit others' writing according to the principles
of plain English
guidelines
Activity 10
Go to
the
Stylewriter site and look at
the examples of passages re-written in plain English style.
Activity 11
Bullfighter is
free software that runs in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, within
Microsoft Windows 2000, 2003 or XP. It works a lot like the
spelling and grammar checker in those applications, but
focuses on jargon and readability.
If you are working on
your own computer you can download the software from the
Fight the bull
website, install it and trial it on some documents.
Activity
12
How readable is your draft? Take a draft document and assess
it using the
Clear Language and Design
reading effectiveness tool.
Activity
13
Go to the
Clear Language and Design Makeover page and compare the
original versions with the plain language versions.
Background Reading
Improving Readability
- Robin Williams discusses which fonts and typefaces
make text most readable.
E-Newsletter Layout - Add White Space to Improve
readability - Richard Cunningham explains the importance of white space.
How
users Read on the Web - Explains how the principles of
plain English are essential in web design.
Other Useful Websites
Readability - A presentation of layout and good design. May be a
little slow to load.
Overview of
types of Visual Aids - A PowerPoint presentation on how to use
plain English and good layout to produce effective visual aids.
Last
updated:
17 January, 2007
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