Clear Writing™
for
The Public Service
18 Years of Praise
5 Features & 12 benefits
2 Day Training Agenda
Your American Facilitator
How’s it’s Different
Public officers regularly communicate with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Clear, well-structured writing and speaking are essential for conveying information accurately, managing expectations, and supporting effective workplace outcomes.
This programme equips participants with practical techniques to communicate clearly and purposefully in public service contexts. Through guided practice and realistic examples, participants learn how to structure messages, choose appropriate language, and adapt communication to different audiences.
The skills taught are immediately applicable to daily work and support clearer, more effective workplace communication.
Features & Benefits
What You Will Learn
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Learn practical communication frameworks developed and refined by an experienced facilitator from Harvard Business School with extensive background in executive and professional education.
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Adopt a clear and efficient writing methodology to replace time-consuming and ineffective writing habits.
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Use structured questioning techniques to better understand audience needs and context, enabling clearer and more relevant communication at the workplace.
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Strengthen listening and interpretation skills to better anticipate how messages may be received by different audiences.
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Draw on personal experience and context to develop a clear and authentic writing style appropriate for Singapore’s professional environment.
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Apply a structured and logical writing framework that can be used immediately to communicate clearly and effectively across a wide range of workplace situations.
Key Benefits
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Write with clear purpose, so ideas are communicated accurately and effectively.
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Develop structured narratives that help readers understand key messages and context.
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Apply persuasive writing techniques to communicate messages in a clear, respectful and audience-appropriate manner.
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Present complex information clearly and concisely for workplace audiences.
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Analyse messages from the reader’s perspective to highlight relevant benefits and considerations.
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Strengthen listening and interpretation skills to better understand stakeholder viewpoints.
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Read complex documents efficiently and identify the most important information.
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Use structured brainstorming techniques to generate ideas and improve clarity of thought.
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Recognise and avoid common reasoning errors that weaken written arguments.
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Write effective email subject lines that accurately reflect content and improve readability.
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Apply practical editing techniques to improve clarity, flow and conciseness.
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Identify and avoid commonly used business jargon that reduces clarity.
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Participate in practical exercises that reinforce key writing and communication techniques.
2 Day Training Agenda
Training Day 1
Day 1
Session 1: Clear Writing and Speaking Essentials
Participants are introduced to foundational principles of clear workplace communication. Emphasis is placed on purpose, audience awareness and message clarity.
Key topics include:
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Reading and writing with clear purpose
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Identifying essential information
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Defining objectives and expected outcomes
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Understanding different audience perspectives
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Structuring messages for clarity
Session 2: Analytical Thinking for Clear Communication
Participants learn how to plan and organise messages before writing, reducing inefficiency and improving effectiveness.
Tools covered include:
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A structured plan-write-revise-edit process
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Analytical questioning techniques
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Brainstorming and outlining methods
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Organising ideas logically for workplace documents
Session 3: Analysis and Practice Exercises
Participants apply techniques through guided exercises.
Focus areas include:
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Identifying reader needs and concerns
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Clarifying objectives
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Avoiding jargon and unclear language
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Improving clarity and structure
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Addressing common communication challenges
Training Day 2
Day 2
Session 4: Practical Writing Assignment
Participants analyse a given workplace scenario, develop key points and produce a structured outline for a clear written response.
Session 5: Persuasive Workplace Writing
Participants learn how to structure documents that clearly present information, rationale and recommendations.
Topics include:
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Structuring arguments logically
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Presenting facts clearly
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Writing effective openings and conclusions
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Communicating complex information concisely
Session 6: Grammar and Mechanics for Clarity
Focus on sentence and paragraph clarity, tone and readability.
Topics include:
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Sentence and paragraph structure
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Tone and style for workplace communication
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Revision and editing techniques
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Improving clarity through practical examples
Session 7: Applied Writing Exercise
Participants produce a short workplace document based on a defined purpose, audience and expected outcome, applying techniques learned throughout the programme.
Session 8: Facilitated Review and Discussion
Participants review approaches, reflect on learning points and consolidate techniques for workplace application.
Your American Facilitator
Experienced professional trainer in workplace writing and communication
John Sturtevant developed a highly acclaimed Business Writing curriculum at Harvard Business School (HBS) where his course was a requirement for Harvard MBA Students. He also created a Communications Program as Professor of Business Communication at The European School of Economics in Rome, Italy.
John has extensive experience delivering professional communication programmes for adult learners internationally. He has designed and facilitated workplace writing programmes for executives and professionals across multiple sectors, including facilitation of the Clear Writing Program for Public Officers in Singapore for 18 consecutive years.
He brings a practical, application-focused approach to training, emphasising clarity, structure and relevance to daily work.
(Trainer is engaged on a programme basis and briefed on local public-sector context prior to delivery.)
18 Years Of Praise
“This course will benefit public officers who has to write or say anything to anyone“
“Valuable workshop to un-learn bad habits and re-learn skills
A very engaging session. Learn how to make your writing effective and relatable to any audience you are communicating with.
I can definitely recommend The Clear Writing Course to everyone as John Sturtevant made the skills needed in clear writing come alive!
“Everyone should at least attend this workshop once”
“John is Incredible! Attending this program will give you abilities you can use forever.”
“Great, Amazing, Beautiful!”
“I look forward to apply this back at work tomorrow.”