Course Overview
Your draft has the right facts, and it still does not read well. Something in the structure or the sentences is working against you, and you cannot say what.
A typo can sink a job application, and an unclear plan can leave a team guessing. “Troubleshooting Your Writing” is a self-paced online course that guides learners through the writing process, from brainstorming content to polishing the final draft. It offers tips for speeding up the process and for sending out error-free writing. Topics include time management, structure, writing complex and clear sentences, and troubleshooting common grammar errors. Learners will study effective strategies for revision, write well-organized paragraphs, identify unnecessary words and phrases, and revise choppy sentences into complex ones.
Finding and Fixing Problems in a Draft
Most drafts fail in one of a few places. The structure does not follow the reader’s questions, the claims are vague where they should be specific, the paragraphs wander, or the sentences are choppy or padded. A writer who can tell which problem is present can repair it quickly. A writer who cannot rewrites everything and hopes.
A writing assistant can speed up a first draft, and it does not tell you whether the draft is organized for your reader or whether a paragraph says anything specific. The course teaches those checks: structure, specificity, and revision.
Who Should Take This Course?
You write regularly, and you know your drafts could be better without knowing how. The course suits anyone who revises, whether the first draft was written by hand or produced with a tool.
Use Cases
The Paragraph That Goes Nowhere. You read it twice and cannot find the point. The course teaches the importance of structure and how to write well-organized paragraphs.
The Report Full of Filler. Every sentence is correct, and the whole is padded. The course helps you identify unnecessary words and phrases.
The Staccato Memo. Short sentence follows short sentence, and the reader tires. The course shows how to revise choppy sentences into complex ones.
Learning Objectives
- Identify effective strategies for revision.
- Describe the importance of structure in writing.
- Identify key structural components of effective writing.
- Understand the importance of specificity in writing.
- Write well-organized paragraphs.
- Identify unnecessary words and phrases.
- Revise choppy sentences into complex sentences.
Course Details
Estimated time to complete: 3 hours
Access time: 90 days
Price: $95 per learner
Credits
- 3 ATD CI Credits.
- 0.30 IACET CEU Credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the course cover the whole writing process?
Yes. It guides learners from brainstorming content to polishing the final draft.
Does the course teach revision?
Yes. It identifies effective strategies for revision, including finding unnecessary words and revising choppy sentences.
Does the course include a case study?
Reviewers mention a case-study question that they found challenging and useful.
Who is this writing skills course for?
People who write for work or study and want to find and fix the weak points in their drafts.
What professional credit does this online course offer?
The course offers credit from ATD CI and IACET. The amounts appear under Credits.
Will I receive a certificate?
After logging in, learners can download and print a PDF certificate of completion from their course records page. The certificate remains available after access to the course ends.
Does the course include an assessment?
The course includes an assessment.
What do I need to take the course?
A current browser with cookies and JavaScript enabled, and a broadband connection. Some ad blockers keep course videos from appearing, so turn yours off if a video does not load.