Clear Writing Lab 日本語

Small Skills Studio ・ Communicate

Main point, evidence and request: messages people can act on.

Revise reports, requests and proposals so readers see the main point, the evidence and the next action

  • 12lectures
  • 32minof lessons
  • 2try-it tools
  • 257lines of course audio

Clear Workplace Writing

What changes with this skill

  • Reorganize a long message into the main point, evidence and request
  • Decide what the reader needs and separate facts from opinions
  • Give each sentence one main point and replace vague words with specific ones
  • Write reports, requests, refusals and proposals for each situation
  • Review from the reader's perspective and compare before-and-after versions

What the course covers

From structure to real situations

First, you turn a long message into a main point, evidence and a request, decide what the reader needs to know and separate facts from opinions. Next, you give each sentence one main point, make vague requests specific and check the link between evidence and conclusions. Then you practice with a progress-report email, requests and refusals, and a proposal that compares options fairly. In the final section, you organize a long message into three parts, review it from the reader's perspective and compare your before-and-after versions.

Try it first

Put the message in a clear order

Rearrange a long request so the reader can decide quickly. Tap the cards in the order you would send them.

    Make vague words specific

    Which is clearer for the reader? Choose the more specific sentence.

    All 12 lectures, chapter by chapter

    Open a lecture to read its key points. Press “▶ A line from this lecture” to hear one sentence of the course audio.

    Chapter 1

    The structure of an explanation

    1.1Main point, evidence and request
    1. Today's GoalOrganize long explanations / into main point, evidence, and request
    2. Consultation Before OrganizationCircumstances continue / The request is not visible until the end
    3. Placing the Conclusion FirstChange submission from Thursday to Friday / I would like to make a change
    4. Basis Should Be Specific FactsTwo additional items to check / Half a day needed for final confirmation
    5. Make the Request an ActionIs submission at noon on Friday okay? / Please confirm by this evening
    6. Small ExercisePlease look at the materials / What, by when, and how to reply?
    7. Takeaway for TodayPurpose -> Reason -> Next Action / If these three are clear, it is easy to understand

    1.2Write for the reader’s next action
    1. Write for the reader’s next actionWrite for the reader’s next action / Revise a fictional example, then practice
    2. Consider the Purpose of ReadingThe Person Making Decisions / The Person Doing the Work
    3. Place the Main Point FirstI Want to Delay Submission by One Day / The Reason Will Be Explained Next
    4. Select Necessary ConditionsScope of Impact / Alternative Proposal
    5. Separate Unnecessary InformationDo Not List All Background Details / Supplementary Notes Go Elsewhere
    6. ExerciseReport the Same Thing to Two People / Change the Necessary Information
    7. Answer and VerificationDeadline Change for Decision-Making / Remaining Tasks for Handover

    1.3Separate facts from opinions
    1. Separate facts from opinionsSeparate facts from opinions / Revise a fictional example, then practice
    2. Observation and EvaluationWhat happened / How it was thought about
    3. Separating Ambiguous ExamplesReply is late / Replied on the afternoon of the next day
    4. Marking SpeculationsThere is a possibility / Not yet confirmed
    5. Adding EvidenceNumerical conditions / Whose evaluation it is
    6. ExerciseTwo review items have been added / Absolutely will not make it in time
    7. Answer and VerificationVerify the estimate / Consult on changes

    Chapter 2

    Refine your sentences

    2.1Give each sentence one main point
    1. Give each sentence one main pointGive each sentence one main point / Revise a fictional example, then practice
    2. The Role of a SentenceOne central point / Keep relationships intact
    3. Reading Long SentencesProgress, reason, and request / Conjunctions overlap
    4. Separate by RoleConclusion / Reason / Request
    5. Verify the SubjectWho confirms? / Who replies?
    6. ExercisePreparation, confirmation, and request / Split into two or more sentences
    7. Answer and VerificationCompile materials / Also supplement the scope of confirmation

    2.2Make vague requests specific
    1. Make vague requests specificMake vague requests specific / Revise a fictional example, then practice
    2. Finding AmbiguityAs soon as possible / Thoroughly check
    3. Concretizing the DeadlineEarly / By noon tomorrow
    4. Concretizing the TaskLook at the document / Confirm the conclusion and evidence
    5. Concretizing the ResultPoints of concern / Comment on sections needing revision
    6. ExerciseFix it nicely / Replace with completion conditions
    7. Answer and VerificationTwo specific tasks / Specify the reply method

    2.3Connect evidence and conclusions
    1. Connect evidence and conclusionsConnect evidence and conclusions / Revise a fictional example, then practice
    2. Distance to the ConclusionThe range supported by evidence / Look for overstatements
    3. Hidden PremisesAre the two people representative? / Are other conditions the same?
    4. Narrowing the ConclusionExpand to everyone / Widen the scope and test
    5. Looking for CounterexamplesConditions where it fails / Show disadvantages too
    6. ExerciseFinished one day early / Can it be shortened every time?
    7. Answer and ConfirmationConfirm volume and difficulty / Test under the same conditions

    Chapter 3

    Practice by situation

    3.1Revise a progress-report email
    1. Revise a progress-report emailRevise a progress-report email / Revise a fictional example, then practice
    2. Purpose of a ReportSituation and Impact / Next Decision
    3. Reading the Pre-Revision TextWorking since yesterday / Situation is unclear
    4. Fixing the OpeningConsultation on changing the submission date / Current progress
    5. Countermeasures and RequestsSubmit the main part first / Request a decision by today
    6. Editing ExerciseSubject, Opening, Request / Fix these three points
    7. Answer and VerificationRead the structure of the body / Consistency with attachments

    3.2Make requests and decline clearly
    1. Make requests and decline clearlyMake requests and decline clearly / Revise a fictional example, then practice
    2. Conditions for a RequestTask, deadline, and method of return / Do not downplay the burden
    3. Example of a Completed RequestVerify the conclusion and its evidence / Reply with comments
    4. Structure of a RefusalScope of what can be handled / Reason and alternative proposal
    5. Points of Caution for RefusalsDo not add new promises / Do not evaluate the other person
    6. ExerciseI want you to review everything today / If only part, tomorrow is possible
    7. Answer and VerificationFull confirmation today is not possible / Propose partial confirmation tomorrow

    3.3Compare options fairly
    1. Compare options fairlyCompare options fairly / Revise a fictional example, then practice
    2. Aligning the Criteria for JudgmentCompare using the same items / Do not embellish only your own proposal
    3. Two ProposalsMain parts on Thursday / Entirety on Friday
    4. Adding a RecommendationReasons that match the purpose / Conditional conclusions
    5. Clarifying the RequestWhich option to choose / When to reply by
    6. ExerciseCompare two proposals / One sentence for the reason for recommendation
    7. Answer and VerificationShare the outline first / Clearly state incomplete areas

    Chapter 4

    Improvement exercises

    4.1Organize a long message into three parts
    1. Organize a long message into three partsOrganize a long message into three parts / Revise a fictional example, then practice
    2. First, Gather the MaterialsSubject / Reason / Request
    3. Example of Long TextThe history of the work is long / The deadline change is buried
    4. Creating the First LineThe deadline I want to change / State the subject first
    5. The Second and Third LinesHalf a day needed for additional verification / Request a reply by this evening
    6. ExerciseRemove redundancies / Do not drop conditions
    7. Answer and VerificationThe summary preserves meaning / Leads to the next decision

    4.2Review from the reader’s perspective
    1. Review from the reader’s perspectiveReview from the reader’s perspective / Revise a fictional example, then practice
    2. Assume You Are Reading It for the First TimeFor someone who does not know the context / Check demonstrative pronouns
    3. Three QuestionsWhat is being said? / Why? / What should be done?
    4. Look for Differences in InterpretationWhen does 'by today' mean? / What is the scope of confirmation?
    5. Read AloudSentences that leave you breathless / Changes in the subject
    6. ExerciseIdentify two ambiguous parts / Write the reader's questions
    7. Answer and VerificationMaterials, Scope, Deadline / Show the form of the answer

    4.3Complete a report, request and proposal
    1. Complete a report, request and proposalComplete a report, request and proposal / Revise a fictional example, then practice
    2. Final AssignmentReport, Request, Proposal / Rewrite All Three
    3. Report CheckFacts and Forecasts / Impact and Response
    4. Request CheckTask and Deadline / Response Method
    5. Proposal CheckAlign Comparison Criteria / Reason for Recommendation
    6. Completion and SavingKeep Text Before and After / One-Sentence Reason for Improvement
    7. Course SummaryMain point, evidence, request / Review Based on Recipient's Actions

    From the course audio

    Lines from the course audio, one sentence at a time. Press to listen (in random order).

      Udemy course

      Clear Workplace Writing

      Revise reports, requests and proposals so readers see the main point, the evidence and the next action

      Who this course is for

      • Beginners who want to make everyday workplace messages clearer
      • Anyone whose emails lead to long back-and-forth exchanges
      • Professionals who write requests, refusals or proposals
      • Learners who prefer fictional examples and short exercises

      Requirements

      • A text editor or paper for fictional writing exercises
      • No background in formal logic is required
      Course page coming soon

      Free preview lectures

      1. Main point, evidence and request
      2. Write for the reader’s next action
      3. Separate facts from opinions

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      Frequently asked questions

      What is this course about?

      This beginner course is for anyone whose emails and reports lead to long back-and-forth exchanges. You will learn to revise a report, a request and a proposal so the reader can see the main point, the evidence and the next action.

      How long is the course?

      Twelve lectures, about 32 minutes in total. Each lecture moves through explanation, examples, a short exercise and a review.

      Who is it for?

      Beginners who want to make everyday workplace messages clearer / Anyone whose emails lead to long back-and-forth exchanges / Professionals who write requests, refusals or proposals / Learners who prefer fictional examples and short exercises

      What do I need before starting?

      A text editor or paper for fictional writing exercises / No background in formal logic is required

      About the audio, illustrations and examples

      The narration uses AI-generated voices, and the illustrations were created with generative AI. All examples, numbers and people are fictional; you never need to enter or submit real personal or workplace information.

      The other six skills

      CommunicateOne-Page Proposal LabCommunicateWorkplace Numbers LabCreateShort Video WorkshopCreateAudio Creation WorkshopRechargeSmall Routine LabRechargeGentle Meditation Week

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