Workshop Calendar

Writing Briefing Notes that Inform (WRI012)

Overview of the Workshop:

What is your goal when writing a briefing note? Ultimately, it will be to create a document that is comprehensive, well-organized, and easy to follow so your readers can work through it effectively, without the need for clarification and without confusion.

When you write a briefing note, you are informing on paper. From a language perspective, this approach to inform is more challenging than being in front of the person explaining the information. When presenting your content on paper, the language and organization of ideas are the means by which you communicate to your readers. But the written content is only a means to an end, not an end in itself. Communication doesn’t take place until the information has been received and clearly understood. Your readers are relying on you to make the language work for them.

This 2 day workshop provides participants with the key strategies for creating effective briefing notes. The key strategies include organizational strategies for briefing notes, clarity and conciseness through plain language, powerful sentence and paragraph structure, and editorial skills for correct grammar and usage.

This program includes a comprehensive course manual that participants can use as an ongoing reference to reinforce their learning. The content of the manual reflects the writing environment of the Provincial Government. It also includes a reference section on Business Grammar and Usage.

Course Requirements

Participants are required to bring a sample briefing note. The briefing note can be one they created or simply any copy of a briefing note. The participants will have the opportunity to assess the briefing note to see clearly where they are doing well and where they may still need to make adjustments.

This program focuses on...

• applying specific planning and organizing techniques to briefing notes
  
  
• focusing the message on the reader's needs and perspectives
  
  
• using the basic concepts of plain language
  
  
• using high-energy, impact language to achieve results
  
  
• writing structurally strong sentences and paragraphs
  
  
• writing effective and accurate briefings that that present a professional image
  
  
• using editing techniques to ensure correctness in grammar and usage

Facilitator:

• Eclectic Communications

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