Training

The main goal of our training is to help working adults improve the writing skills they actually need and use in their jobs. Here's how we do it.

Assess.
Before class starts, we review pertinent writing samples to gauge individual and group skill levels. When it's appropriate, we give a pre-course survey of grammar and punctuation usage.

Adapt.
Based on our own assessments (or your organization's), we adapt the goals and content of the workshop to match (and improve) the skill levels of the participants.

Work-related.
Participants practice on their actual writing assignments, or on realistic exercises we design.

Relevant.
Our punctuation and grammar reviews cover rules and principles that we know (from years of supervising writers and editors) are needed most.

Feedback
In extended (i.e., more than one day) writing workshops, we read participants' writing, and make written suggestions for continued improvement.

Process. We teach writing as a process, and help participants develop processes that are appropriate to the kind of writing they do.

Customization.
We can incorporate your organization's style manuals and formats.

Enjoyment.
People learn best when they're having fun, so we make sure participants are involved and active. We don't tell when we can show; we don't show when they can discover. We encourage work in pairs or groups, and we value the knowledge our participants bring to class.

Typical Formats

Writing Workshops. Two to five days, Strong focus on writing practice. grammar and punctuation points reviewed only as needed. Participants receive a copy of The Landa List: Grammar Guidelines, Proofreading Practices, Punctuation Principles.

Grammar and Punctuation Review. One to two days. Intensive review of most-troublesome points of grammar and punctuation usage, with frequent exercises. Also includes The Landa List: Grammar Guidelines, Proofreading Practices, Punctuation Principles.

Vocabulary. One to two days. Emphasis on words and word-pairs most frequently misused by educated adults. See sample materials in The Dirty Thirty: Words Even Smart People Misuse.