Professional writing is a highly desired skill in today's workplace. 

Validation 

The Government of Canada considers writing as one of the country's nine foundational Skills for Success. Being able to write well is a big part of most jobs, plus it also allows for “more rapid acquisition of other skills and knowledge”.

The Government of British Columbia, among other provincial governments, has embraced Plain Language. "Plain language makes information easier to find, read and understand. When people understand what they read, they need fewer explanations and make fewer mistakes. It saves people and government time and money and improves the accessibility of your content.' Follow their Plain Language Checklist.

Businesses across Canada uphold professional writing as a crucial skill in the workplace -- and life in general -- as it "enhances communication, builds trust, and reflects professionalism, ultimately contributing to organizational success," says the Career Reload team in their article, Why Professional Writing Skills Matter In The Workplace.

What you will learn

This course will introduce you to professional writing basics and gradually introduce methods and a range of common documents -- from one-page letters and briefs to multi-page plans and reports -- that will prepare you for success at work in today's business or government sectors. You will learn -

• How to gather information, plan, organize and write content using The Writing Process*. 
• How to identify and effectively complete typical workplace documents. 
• How to use and follow Plain Language and Canadian Press Style guidelines. 
• The ability to think strategically about message, purpose, and audience in your writing.
• Learners choose their own topics for assignments and use as work samples for their portfolios. 

How you will learn

Our courses are designed to promote cognitive engagement which involves mental effort, persistence and strategic thinking. Learners engage and grow by applying critical thinking skills, self-regulation and by  connecting new information to prior knowledge.

Strategies to promote a deep desire to learn include providing choices, using collaborative, open-ended projects and creating tasks that require critical thinking rather than simple recall.

Here’s how we encourage cognitive engagement in our courses -

1. You will receive a course plan with details on each learning module for each week.
2. You will also receive a link to the Open Textbook for the course you have selected.
3. Each course comes with a storyboard that maps out each step in the learning process.
4. Learning modules follow this process so you'll always know where you're at.
5. Learning resources include videos, slide decks, visual and editorial samples from various sources.
6. Your course plan will also indicate textbook chapters and pages to be read each week.
7. A live meeting is held once each week to discuss key elements of each module.
8. A social media networking resource is where you can discuss and learn from other learners.
9. Assignments are also discussed in detail at the weekly sessions.

After you enroll, an email address is provided so you can connect with your instructor if you have questions, get stuck or need more time to complete. 
 

Learning objectives  

• Learn what Professional Writing is all about and why this skill is so valuable. 
• Explore theories, models, frameworks, styles and resources to guide your efforts. 
• Your approach and final drafts are organized, coherent, concise and complete.  
• Your writing is legible, fact-based and conforms to standards and style conventions. 
• You get to the point quickly, so your writing is compelling, easy to read and understand. 

Free and open resources

• This course draws from the Business Writing for Everyone open textbook written  by Arley Cruthers, who worked as an instructor with Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey, BC. Published May 2020. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License, unless otherwise noted. 

Prerequisites

Before enrolling, take a moment to assess your readiness.

Technical skills  

• Keyboarding - accuracy, speed, correct posture.
• Computer familiarity.
• Ability to search online.
• Solid reading and writing ability.
• Literacy skills: read, write, speak, listen, think critically.  

 Tools and equipment 

• Familiar with spell-check tool.
• Know how to use a calculator. 
• Ability to use a dictionary and thesaurus. 

Also helpful

• Access to a second set of eyes (someone willing to proofread your work). 
• Experience in the workplace provides another level of understanding.
• Minimum education: high school completion.
• Time commitments - 10 hours per week for six weeks.

 The one-year membership package is recommended

• You get so much more and pay half the price.
• Gain access to all six-week certificate courses and the free two-week micro course on Career Planning.
• Instructor feedback and support is included.
• Learn at your own pace but go easy. We don't want you getting stressed out.
• Free resources and open texts are provided. You keep all of it at no extra cost.
• Your assignments -- three per course -- double as work samples for your portfolio.

Certificates, letters of assessment and a reference from your instructor are yours upon completion.

Key takeaways for members

• After one year of successful studies as a member, you will have six certificates for the six professional skills you studied and completed. 
• You will have a career plan to guide you to the right job market in your search for the kind of work you want to do. 
• You will have built a portfolio website showing your professional work samples. 
• You will have six storyboards outlining the process you followed within each course. You know those steps by heart. 
• You will have ten quality Open Textbooks and a series of learning resources that guided you through your studies. Keep them handy for when you’re challenged at work or in future studies. 
• You will have a resume and a draft cover letter ready to update for future job applications.  
• You will have an assessment letter written by your instructor who will also serve as a reference. 
• You are prepared to succeed! Congratulations!