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Updated March 2017
Plain Language Training
Online Lessons
Improve your plain language skills online. Start with either option:
- Transcend’s CALI Author® Lessons
- Transcend’s Training Video
CALI Author® Lessons
Transcend and LawNY, Inc. used CALI Author® to create three 25-minute plain language lessons. Here is what you will learn:
- Lesson 1: Evaluate for Readability
Evaluate the readability of print materials, and apply readability guidelines to your own document. - Lesson 2: Reading Theory
Learn about reading theory and how you can use it to improve your work. - Lesson 3: Case Study
Apply what you learned in Lessons 1 and 2 to create a document.
Transcend Training Video
Watch Transcend’s fun and informative training video on the visual aspects of plain language. These six 3-minute tips help you write documents that your clients will want to read.
Classes
Transcend offers the following webinars. Each webinar is 1 hour and can be scheduled to meet your needs.
Students Feedback
“I thought the class was very informative, and made me look at my writing in a different way.”
“The class materials were awesome. Thanks!”
“I thought it was an excellent class! I hope to get a chance to participate in another one.”
Why Plain Language? An overview of plain language, including economic advantages, relative effectiveness, and compliance with regulations.
Register: Working words & glue; legalese and brevity; measuring and understanding reading grade level
Looks Matter: Visual accessibility, including: page real estate, fonts and text enhancement, chunking and white space, reading interest & persistence, Case Study Review
Usability: Characteristics of usable websites; why field test; types of field testing; how to field test
Reading Critically: How to critically analyze your/someone else’s writing; tools for analysis – checklists, WORD functions, using color; LawNY’s Write Clearly gadget, developed by Brad Reiss.
Writing Situations: How to draft a readable info sheet, form, and letter
Cultural Competency: The most effective documents are written for their audience. Our writing is best when we know about the people we write for, including: educational level, English proficiency, ethnicities, age, gender, disabilities, and other characteristics
Plain Language for Health Care – Online and In-person Training: Rebecca Gholson, MSEd, renowned health literacy instructor and the Executive Director for the Center for Plain Language, will teach you how to:
- Evaluate and improve your written documents and web content,
- Speak to patients in plain language,
- Improve communication for special populations, including children, elders, and minority populations, and
- Test content for understandability.
Or ask Maria Mindlin at me@transcend.net to tailor a class to your organization's needs.
For more information about our webinars and live training, please contact the senior instructor, Susan Holmes at susan@transcend.net.
Other Services:
Cultural Competency
Emergency Preparedness
Plain Language
Plain Language Training
Translation
Voice Talent
Web Accessibility
