Preparing Workers for the 21st Century: Written Communication in the Workplace
This resource supports the teaching of specific education and training content that can be implemented by classroom instructors in the context of a particular career cluster.
Written Communication in the Workplace is a writing workbook with units correlated to the National Work Readiness Credential (NWRC) skills. This resource includes a teacher’s guide, a student workbook, and ancillary materials including student worksheets and links to additional resources. The writing skill material for this project is organized into four units with each unit featuring targeted EFF Work Readiness Profile skills. Unit 1 focuses on the ability to “Work with Others and Serve Clients”; Unit 2 is organized around various aspects of workplace “Responsibility”; Unit 3 emphasizes workplace conduct and scenarios are placed in the context of “Monitor and Correct Performance”; Unit 4 features scenarios on personal integrity and problem solving as well as “Use of Technology and Systems”.
The activities in the student workbook are aligned with NWRC standards of success for new workers in entry level jobs. The readings and associated activities address grammar and include direct instruction on actual workplace writing. Some titles emphasize the form of the communication, for example, “Customer Service – Answering Complaints” and “Writing a Letter of Customer Appreciation”. Other titles feature the grammar rule to be covered. Examples of grammar-based titles include “They May Sound the Same, But They Don’t Have the Same Meaning” and “Writing Complete Ideas That Don’t Go On Forever”. Additional topics covered include informal writing as well as email etiquette. Individual lessons within this literacy curriculum can be integrated into other ABE courses or offered individually as time permits.
This resource was reviewed and vetted through the Designing Instruction for Career Pathways initiative of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education under Contract No. ED-CFO-10-A-0072/0001.
