Our Training
Quantum principal donalee Moulton is a professional educator. She has taught communications and writing-related courses at Dalhousie, Saint Mary’s, and Mount Saint Vincent universities in Halifax. She has led training workshops for all levels of government, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations in Canada and the United States. Below is a description of some of the workshops and courses Quantum can provide.
Business Writing
Writing well is one of the most important skills anyone can develop. The majority of professional jobs today require above-average writing skills. This class will help you understand the principles of effective writing and, most importantly, put what you learn to the test.
You’ll learn:
the elements of effective writing (e.g., clarity, simplicity and coherence)
four-step process for writing messages targeted to the reader
practical guidelines to sharpen and refine your writing
how to organize ideas and information logically
how to examine your writing with a critical eye
Editing Written Materials
Good editing, whether it’s for your own work or someone else’s, is an important skill to hone. This class will help you to develop your editing and proofreading skills so you can review documents and make or suggest changes that will improve the writing and ensure correct and consistent punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
You’ll learn:
to edit and proofread documents effectively
about the editing process and how editors work with writers
how to recognize commonly missed editing errors
ways to handle a lack of clarity or conciseness in documents
Grammar, Punctuation, and Proofreading
Grammatical and proofreading errors call into question your ability and your organization’s credibility. Getting it right builds confidence — for you and your reader. This class will help enhance your use and understanding of the rules of grammar and punctuation.
You’ll learn:
common grammatical mistakes and how to avoid them
accurate use of punctuation and why readers care
style versus rules
techniques to proofread effectively
Implementing Policy and Managing Change — Communications
New or amended policies must be implemented fully and strategically to be effective. This class will help you learn how to ensure that new and amended policies are communicated consistently and confidently.
You’ll learn:
components of a communications action plan
how to engage users in policy development and implementation
how to plant the seeds to develop a policy culture
Plain Language Writing
The most powerful language is also the simplest. This class will help you create documents that your intended audiences can read, understand, and confidently act on — the first time they read it. You’ll get opportunities throughout the class to apply what you’ve learned to real-life examples.
You’ll learn:
what plain language is, what it isn’t, and why you should use it
how to write in plain language
ways to create reader-focused content
how organization and design can contribute to plain language
about tools that can help you evaluate readability
Working Effectively — and Strategically — With the Media
Serving as spokesperson for government, organizations, and companies is an important responsibility. You must present key information, communicate with authority, and position your organization as a credible source. This class will help you to confidently interact with the media and accurately represent your organization and the issues you grapple with.
You’ll learn:
the news cycle and what the media is looking for
how to build a relationship with your local media
how to come across as professional and in control
to get your message out clearly and avoid being misquoted
to prepare for and manage difficult interviews and questions
Writing Effective Policies and Procedures
Well-written policy documents guide an organization’s decision-making and help bring consistency to those decisions. They also provide much needed direction for employees, customers, and others. This class will help you decipher the often legalistic, dense, and complex language of your organization’s policies and procedures.
You’ll learn:
policy-writing challenges and how to address them
what policy users are looking for in a policy document
how to develop a template for policy preparation
how to write effective and clear policy documents
different writing approaches required for policies vs. procedures
how to organize ideas and information using mind mapping and policy-specific formatting
Writing To Persuade
To write persuasively is to move readers to action. This class will help you learn how to use the fundamentals of persuasive writing to successfully sell your ideas, build consensus, and have your ideas and proposals adopted.
You’ll learn:
to write persuasively and target your content for specific audiences
to craft language that engages readers and increases their understanding
to organize information for the greatest impact
to avoid common errors and issues