3. For question #2, explain how your new post successfully addresses the three main objectives of Plain English writing as discussed in class. Provide a detailed breakdown of each objective. (9 Marks)
a. Describe one specific technique you used to improve readability in your revised version and explain why it is effective. (4 Marks)
Plain English writing is built around clarity, conciseness, and accessibility, making sure content is easy to read, straightforward, and is structured for fast comprehension (Briscoe, W8 – A – Plain Language Writing, Slide 5). My new post fixes all the issues from the original by applying these principles to deliver the message quickly, and make it more effortless for readers to take action.
The first major improvement was clarity. In the original, the main idea was buried under too much wording, which made it hard to get the point right away. Now, the headline is strong, short, and instantly tells readers what the product does. This way, even if someone doesn’t read the full post, they immediately understand what’s being offered (Briscoe, W8 – A – Plain Language Writing, Slide 8).
Conciseness was another major fix. The old version dragged on and explained things that could have been said in half the words. Now, the entire message is stripped down to the essentials, cutting out fluff while keeping the impact. For example, instead of long sentences explaining product benefits, I broke them into scannable bullet points. (Briscoe, W8 – B – Plain Language Writing Tips, Slide 4)
Accessibility was the final focus, and the biggest improvement came from structuring the content using the F-pattern. In my last assignment I thought I applied the F pattern properly when in reality it was still a block of text. So I made sure the most important details were actually placed where users naturally look first (Briscoe, W8 – Writing Website Copy, Slide 6). This is especially important for mobile users, who don’t have time to scroll through long paragraphs. The headline, key benefits, and CTA are placed strategically so that even if someone skims the page, they still absorb the main message.
By implementing these new changes, my revised post follows the core principles of Plain English writing while making sure it works for real online users who don’t have time to dig through excess text.
b. What was the most challenging aspect of applying the F-Pattern and Plain English writing principles? How did you overcome it? (5 Marks)
The hardest part of revising this post was cutting down the content while keeping it persuasive and engaging. At first, it felt like removing details would make the post lose impact, but web users don’t read they skim. The challenge was figuring out how to make every word count without making the post feel incomplete. (Briscoe, W8 – Writing Website Copy & Plain Language Writing, Slide 12).
To fix this I front loaded the most important details so they appeared exactly where readers naturally look first. Instead of burying information in long paragraphs, I moved it into the first few lines and structured it using bullet points, making it impossible to miss. This ensured that even if someone barely skimmed, they would still know the product’s core benefits. Ensuring that they are really able to “find what they need, understand it, and use it to fulfill their purpose.” (Briscoe, W8 – A – Plain Language Writing, Slide 18).
Another challenge was making the CTA feel natural and well placed. The original CTA was hidden at the bottom which meant readers could finish the post without knowing what to do next. To fix this, I positioned it immediately after the benefits so as soon as someone sees why the product is useful, they know exactly where to go next. A final challenge was finding the balance between simplicity and engagement. Plain English writing is about being clear, but there’s a difference between making something easy to read and making it feel too basic. I overcame this by keeping the tone conversational and direct, so the post still feels engaging while being straight to the point (Briscoe, W8 – A – Plain Language Writing, Slide 16).
By tackling these issues, I made sure my post wasn’t just easier to read, it was also more persuasive and designed to keep readers engaged without wasting their time.
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