Effectiveness of Plain Language in environmental policy documentation for the general public

Abstract

Several government agencies have been calling for the improvement of the quality of environmental policy documents through the implementation of principles drawn from Plain Language guidelines. Many of the writers who have been tasked with implementing such principles have expressed ongoing doubts about the guidelines' effectiveness in making documents easier for the public to comprehend and trust.Our research seeks to discover whether implementing some specific Plain Language guidelines influences the comprehension and perceptions of readers of environmental policy documents.

5. Confronting Methodological Stasis: Re-Examining Approaches to Technical Communication Pedagogical Frameworks

“…Indeed, plain language has become a critical and highly relevant site where students can grapple with technical communication's theories, practices, and effects in organizations, governments, and various other field contexts. Over the past decade, technical and professional communication (TPC) researchers have considered empirically whether plain-language communication benefits readers and their attitudes in the areas of health literacies (Grene & Marcus-Quinn, 2017), environmental texts (Derthick et al, 2009;Jones et al, 2012), and in city governments (Dreher, 2017). Other scholars have worked to theorize and interrogate the ethical Willerton, 2015) and social justice (Cheung, 2017;Jones & Williams, 2017; work that plain language does-or does not-do in TPC.…”

8. Creating the �Through-Line� by Engaging Industry Certification Standards in SLO Redesign for a Core Curriculum Technical Writing Course

“…Indeed, plain language has become a critical and highly relevant site where students can grapple with technical communication's theories, practices, and effects in organizations, governments, and various other field contexts. Over the past decade, technical and professional communication (TPC) researchers have considered empirically whether plain-language communication benefits readers and their attitudes in the areas of health literacies (Grene & Marcus-Quinn, 2017), environmental texts (Derthick et al, 2009;Jones et al, 2012), and in city governments (Dreher, 2017). Other scholars have worked to theorize and interrogate the ethical and social justice (Cheung, 2017;Jones & Williams, 2017; work that plain language does-or does not-do in TPC.…”

12. Preparing Future Professionals in and for a Global Context: A Case for Telecollaborative Educational Initiatives

“…Indeed, plain language has become a critical and highly relevant site where students can grapple with technical communication's theories, practices, and effects in organizations, governments, and various other field contexts. Over the past decade, technical and professional communication (TPC) researchers have considered empirically whether plain-language communication benefits readers and their attitudes in the areas of health literacies (Grene & Marcus-Quinn, 2017), environmental texts (Derthick et al, 2009;Jones et al, 2012), and in city governments (Dreher, 2017). Other scholars have worked to theorize and interrogate the ethical and social justice (Cheung, 2017;Jones & Williams, 2017; work that plain language does-or does not-do in TPC.…”