FCAC Clear Language and Presentation Research Paper 2009

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Table of Contents

Background and Objective of the Project

Section I: Current Clear Language Commitments in Canada

• Commitments to clear language in Canada

Section II: Summary of Research

• Methodology
• Clear language initiatives around the world
  
  • United States (U.S.)
  • Australia
  • United Kingdom (U.K.)
  • Sweden
  • European Commission
• Canadian clear language initiatives
  
  • Translation Bureau
  • Communication Canada
  • Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)
  • British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC)
• Lessons learned
• Rationale for proposed principles overall
• Rationale for individual principles
  
  • Proposed language and presentation principles
  • Know your audience
  • Make your material understandable by planning your text
  • Write clearly
  • Use the visual presentation to enhance your text
  • Test your material

Section III: Clear Language and Presentation Guidelines for FCAC Internal Use

• Know your audience
  • A. Who is the target audience?
  • B. Determine your audience's literacy level
  • C. Focus on the reader's needs
  • Additional tools and guides for help with knowing your audience
• Make your material understandable by planning your text
  
  • A. Structure
  • B. Accessibility
  • C. Relevance
  • D. Consistency
  • Additional tools and guides for help with making your material understandable
• Write clearly
  
  • A. Language
  • B. Layout
  • C. Format
  • Additional tools and guides for help with writing clearly
• Use the visual presentation to enhance your text
  
  • A. Overall appearance
  • B. Tables and charts
  • C. Icons, photos, pictures
  • D. Colour
  • Additional tools and guides for help with the visual presentation
• Test your material

Summary of Appendices ^*

• Appendix 1: Literacy Levels
• Appendix 2: Plain Language Resource Comparison Table
• Appendix 3: Detailed Source Overview
• Appendix 4: A Step-by-step Guide to Becoming a Plain English Organization
• Appendix 5: Detailed Review of Clear Language Initiatives in Canada and Abroad
• Appendix 6: Comparison of CBA and FCAC Clear Language Principles

^* Contact FCAC if you wish to get a copy of the background research (Appendices) that served to develop FCAC's internal clear language and presentation principles.