20 & 21 APRIL, 2026
JEN Singapore
9AM – 5PM
S$ 2095 NETT
How It’s Different & Why It Works.
When we write in the service, we typically want convince others to do something. The fact is, people read only what is of interest to them – whether it’s a campaign, brochure, email, report, or proposal. That’s why your writing needs to be active, relevant, and compelling to your reader. However, most business writing programs are passive & do not do this.
Clear Writing For The Public Service is based on a highly-acclaimed business writing course John taught at Harvard Business School for first-year MBA candidates. Since 2008, this has become an top rated citizen & stakeholder engagement class attended by officers from every Ministry & Statutory Board as well as officers from Singapore’s Health & Education Services. John is flown into Singapore from the United States once a year to conduct this course.
Clear Writing is the result of Clear Thinking. This top-rated program provides an uncomplicated and yet profoundly effective methodology, (not found in any other business writing course today), that allows you to quickly shed ineffective writing habits and communicate significantly better across every conceivable platform of business communication – and face-to-face communication. You will learn and practice insightful and practical methods for capturing your reader’s attention, and persuading people to actually take desired action toward your objectives.
Your Expert Trainer From the United States.
John Sturtevant
Based in the United States, 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 an award winning Communications Program as Professor of Business Communication at The European School of Economics in Rome, Italy.
For 30 years since, John has helped executives around the world learn to think analytically and communicate their ideas clearly and persuasively. He received an “International Association of Business Communicators Star Speaker” and is a top-rated facilitator of his Clear Writing Program for Public Officers in Singapore for 15 consecutive years.
The Trainer will be flown to Singapore from the United States for 1 week to deliver this class
High Praise. Every time. All The Time
Clear Benefits
Unique Features
Gain a powerful and effective communications methodology that helps you discard tedious, time-consuming writing habits you’ve developed since childhood.
Obtain analytical thinking techniques developed at Harvard Business School that facilitate clear, citizen-focused communication.
Ask probing, insightful questions that will uncover public citizens perceptions, empowering your writing to speak directly to the average Singaporean’s needs and wants.
Gain active-listening skills to let you focus on how public citizens interpret your words.
Learn of fresh ways to tap into your own experiences and perspective as a Singaporean to develop a unique voice that resonates with Singaporeans.
Take back a structured & logical writing template so dynamic, you can apply your writing skills right-away and communicate clearly & effectively to any audience, in any scenario.
Write with intention so your words don’t obscure your ideas.
Develop a compelling story that will engage your target citizens
Use persuasive writing techniques to produce sincere and empathetic proposals, emails and more.
Articulate complex information clearly and concisely.
Read complex documents and recognize the highest value take-aways.
Identify and avert common logical fallacies
Experience thought-provoking exercises that help you remember key writing techniques
Take back multiple intelligence strategies that let you tap into your reader’s learning style.
2 Day Training Agenda
2 Day Training Agenda
Session 1 Clear Writing Essentials
The key to clear writing is to lose bad writing habits and embrace a new approach that focuses on the principles of Persuasive Writing. Participants read a business case study and begin the analytical thinking process.
Principles you’ll learn:
• How to read with purpose to uncover essential facts.
• Identify what is important and what to ignore.
• How to develop a clear, focused message for your reader
• The Clarity Principle. The single most important point in writing.
• Four ways to define a clear objective
– How to define expected outcome
• Identify four typical audience types
• How to write to each reader’s perspective
Session 2 Analytical Thinking
The most common mistake business people make is to begin writing without planning. In many companies, business focuses getting things done quickly, rather than getting things done effectively.
Unfortunately, this approach nearly always leads to poor communication & unproductive relationships between managers, staff, clients, and colleagues.
Workshop participants will learn how to examine their messages and topics, analyze options, choose a reader-focused strategy, organize their ideas, and communicate powerfully and persuasively.
You’ll learn to use these thinking tools:
• Plan, write, revise, edit – a 4-step process to help participants think clearly, organize their ideas, focus on their objectives, take less time writing.
• Analytical questions – 29 questions to help you look beyond the obvious.
• Brainstorming – Generate ideas and form logical connections.
• Outlining – Organize your ideas and structure a persuasive document.
Session 3 Analysis Exercises
Participants complete a series of exercises designed to help them examine a situation thoroughly, and ask insightful questions.
Techniques you will learn:
• A 4-step process that’s guaranteed to improve your efficiency.
• Why most writers struggle with writing—and how to avoid struggling.
• Ways to identify and answer your reader’s objections.
• How to tune into what every reader wants to know.
• Practical ways to uncover your real objectives for writing.
• How to keep your words from obscuring your ideas.
• How to address the 4 most common reader attitudes.
• Ways to avoid jargon, clichés and pompous language.
• How to motivate your reader through clear, persuasive writing.
Session 4
Practical On-Site Assignment
Participants will read a given assignment and accompanying article. They will analyze a given scenario, develop ideas, and produce an effective outline.
Session 5 Persuasive Writing
Participants learn the essential skills of persuasive writing. These skills help them plan, structure, and write documents that achieve their desired outcome.
Skills you will learn:
• Four ways to position yourself in the reader’s mind.
• How to write for your reader’s perspective.
• Strategies for communicating complex information clearly and concisely.
• How to develop your own business writing style.
• Persuasive techniques for developing powerful writing• How to create an effective opening statement, purpose, and compelling closing statement.
Argument structure
Participants will learn how to structure an argument, introduce facts, support claims, and make clear recommendations – all essential to persuasive business writing. Argument Exercise
Participants analyze a given business situation and structure an outline for an effective argument.
Techniques you will learn:
• How to identify key issues and problems to be resolved.
• The 5 most common mistakes writers make – & how to avoid them.
• The step-by-step process that guarantees a convincing presentation.
• Insightful questions to help them think and write analytically.
Session 6 Grammar & Mechanics
Now that participants understand how to plan their writing, they’ll learn how to create clear, persuasive ideas and eliminate embarrassing and costly writing mistakes.
Sentences & Paragraphs
The Sentence – People use them every day, but don’t know what they are.
The Paragraph – The document’s rhythm section.
Quantity vs. Quality – How to know when enough is enough.
Style – How to set the right tone for your audience and purpose.
Clarity – What’s clear for the writer is often confusing for the reader
Revision exercises
We’ll look at good and bad examples of style, structure, word choice, and clarity, and we’ll practice transforming confusing writing into clear writing.
Session 7 Analysis Exercises
Each participant will determine purpose, audience, and expected outcome, and write a persuasive document with a clear recommendation. John will walk you through the writing process and help you apply what you learned.
Session 8
Professional Critiques & Q&A
We’ll read the papers and talk about how each participant approached the assignment. Participants will reinforce their skills and help each other through peer critiques