This course builds on Introduction to Writing for Government (GRAD7910) to promote concise writing that conveys meaning that readers will grasp in one reading. It provides public sector workers with an applied understanding of the underlying structures and mechanisms of written English, so that they may write more simply, clearly and effectively at work, and so be more fully and properly understood.

Topics include:

• how sentence elements are related and work together to convey meaning
• how the relationship between sentence elements can become distant, broken or illogical
• knowing when certain words and word groups are essential, incidental or unnecessary
• words that writers confuse with other similar words
• how passive voice can cloud meaning
• the role of punctuation in linking and separating sentence elements
• the role of punctuation in clarifying meaning
• the features of a well-structured paragraph.

On completing this course, students should be able to:

• make sensible decisions about English usage and punctuation
• distinguish between words that sound or look alike but have different meanings
• distinguish between good English usage and pedantry
• understand which words link ideas
• avoid vague, inaccurate and illogical links between ideas
• achieve harmony between sentence elements
• understand the principles of agreement, parallelism, voice, modification and ambiguity
• progress beyond hit-and-miss punctuation based on speaking and breathing patterns
• construct coherent, logical sentences and paragraphs
• write more concisely
• express clear thoughts in clear sentences
• write with more confidence and influence
• provide better quality information to decision makers

Weekly exercises (in-class or homework) based on class learning 5 x 8%       40%

Correction/improvement exercises based on authentic writing samples from students' individual workplaces  (min. 500 words each )                                                                                                                           40%

Class attendance and participation                                                                  10%

Online discussion group participation                                                               10%

One three hour session per week for 5 weeks, plus homework exercises and online discussion group participation.(3 - 6pm  Mondays 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 August 2009.)

Participants must be enrolled in an ANU Certificate or Diploma of Graduate Studies, or Master of Studies, to undertake this course.

Students need to become active with ANU's WebCT or its agreed equivalent.