Writing With Purpose
How to Write Effective Policies and Procedures
Distinguish policy from process, sequence steps clearly, and check that readers understand and can follow your documents.
Standard version
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This course focuses on usable policies and procedures. Participants learn to distinguish policy from process, sequence steps, and check comprehension, using a policy or procedure draft to organize their next steps.
What you'll learn
- Identify differences between policies and procedures and their role in governing organizational operations and behavior
- Explore techniques for writing documents to enhance comprehension and compliance
- Discover ways to ensure alignment with organizational goals and compliance requirements
- Use course methods to distinguish policy from process, sequence steps, and check comprehension in a workplace scenario.
- Develop a policy or procedure draft aligned to a relevant work need.
What you'll be able to do
- Identify a workplace need connected to usable policies and procedures.
- Select an appropriate way to distinguish policy from process, sequence steps, and check comprehension.
- Explain the reasoning behind that choice and identify its limitations.
- Produce a policy or procedure draft that addresses a relevant work need.
- Set review points for a policy or procedure draft and identify one adjustment.
Clear policies and procedures help agencies operate consistently and in compliance with law and regulation. This course teaches federal employees how to distinguish policy from procedure, organize steps logically, and write documents people can follow. It reflects federal plain language expectations and supports OPM's emphasis on the rule of law.
What you'll learn
- Differentiate between policies and procedures and their roles in agency operations.
- Apply plain language techniques to improve readability.
- Organize procedures in clear, logical steps.
- Align documents with legal requirements and agency guidance.
- Develop a draft policy or procedure for a current need.
What you'll be able to do
- Write policies and procedures that are clear and usable.
- Use plain language to reduce confusion and errors.
- Structure documents for easy reference.
- Ensure documents reflect current requirements.
- Review and update documents on a regular schedule.