After taking this course, you should be able to:

• Edit your own writing.
• Improve sentence structure.
• Build powerful paragraphs.
• Write more effective reports.

An introductory page describes how to use the course's tutorials, tools, and additional resources. The tutorials include extensive help files. Users can also contact CDI directly via e-mail with questions about specific tutorials. The tutorials are organized into four modules: "Edit Yourself," "Stunning Sentences," "Powerful Paragraphs," and "Riveting Reports." Each module contains between four and ten tutorials.

Each tutorial describes a technique that learners can use to improve their writing. For example, in "Edit Yourself," the course describes how to eliminate superfluous nouns, attach dangling participles, and switch from passive to active voice. In "Powerful Paragraphs," the course describes how to emphasize key ideas and join details using conjunctions. CDI effectively pairs instruction with examples and practice opportunities, so that users should have no trouble absorbing CDI's techniques and applying them to their own writing.

CDI uses learning objects, which means that the tutorials can be taken in any order. This is particularly effective for more experienced writers who want to target specific areas of their writing. However, the tutorials do present cumulative knowledge. The introduction to "Stunning Sentences," for example, suggests that learners return to the previous module if they have specific questions about trimming the fat from sentences or organizing them into more digestible bits.

While the first three modules focus on the micro-aspects of writing, "Riveting Reports" applies the user's newfound knowledge to drafting and formatting reports. "Riveting Reports" breaks the writing process down into easily-understood steps such as defining audience, choosing main messages, and making strong points in each paragraph. The final tutorial in this module offers particularly useful advice on choosing headers, refining arguments, and balancing paragraphs.

With the exception of "Riveting Reports," all of the tutorials include short revision exercises that have users circle, underline, or cross out parts of sentences and paragraphs. For example, in "Edit Yourself," the course asks users to delete superfluous nouns, verbs, and articles from sentences. In "Powerful Paragraphs," the course asks learners to circle subjects and underline the main points of sentences. "ClearWriter" excels by pairing instruction with immediate opportunities to practice skills. CDI's revision exercises are robust, meaningful, and plentiful.

Additional resources enhance the value of this course. A tips sheet summarizes the course's main points for easy reference. CDI's "ClearEdits" Microsoft Word plug-in can be customized to catch a user's most common mistakes. ("ClearEdits" is also available separate from the course.) Other resources include planning and style sheets that can be customized to the user's needs.