# Business Writing Certificate Program (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/certificates/business-writing-certificate-self-paced>

## Overview

Strong writing drives mission success. Every policy memo, technical report, and public-facing letter shapes how decisions are made, how stakeholders respond, and how the public perceives your work. When writing is unclear, the mission slows down. When it is clear, concise, and credible, the mission moves forward. The Business Writing Certificate Program is built for government professionals who want to consistently produce writing that meets the highest federal standards. Through four courses, you will build skills from the ground up—starting with the foundations of clear, structured writing, then moving into the day-to-day correspondence that keeps your agency running, the critical thinking that sharpens persuasive arguments, and the grammar and editing precision that separates good drafts from polished final products.

This program combines the Federal Plain Language Guidelines, the Plain Writing Act of 2010, and proven writing frameworks with hands-on practice in the documents you actually create at work—emails, memos, letters, reports, and analytical writing. You will leave able to plan faster, draft with purpose, revise with confidence, and deliver writing that readers can act on the first time.

## What you'll learn

- Apply a repeatable, four-step writing process (prewrite, draft, revise, refine) to produce clear, organized, and reader-focused documents in less time.
- Write government emails, memos, and letters that meet audience needs, follow federal correspondence conventions, and comply with the Plain Writing Act of 2010 and Federal Plain Language Guidelines.
- Use critical thinking to analyze problems, structure logical arguments, and craft persuasive writing that connects with decision-makers and even resistant readers.
- Demonstrate command of grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, verb forms, and pronoun agreement to produce error-free professional documents.
- Apply a two-step editing approach—revising for content and refining at the sentence level—using the Seven Traits of Good Writing as a quality checklist.
- Strengthen accessibility, readability, and tone across all forms of government writing so messages are understood clearly by diverse audiences on the first read.

## Curriculum
1. **Writing Essentials Course (Self-Paced)**
2. **Effective Government Correspondence Course (Self-Paced)**
3. **Clear Expression through Critical Thought Course (Self-Paced)**
4. **Grammar and Editing Essentials Course (Self-Paced)**
5. **AI for Government Writing & Briefings (Self-Paced)**

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $3695