1. Who can benefit from the To The Point writing course?
A: To The Point can benefit any tax professional (both accountants and attorneys). Moreover, although the course uses tax-specific examples and exercises, attorneys and other professionals who do not practice tax law also may find the course useful as the writing principles and grammar rules it teaches have universal applicability. Professionals who do not practice tax should read Issue 1, available for free through a link on the homepage, to assess whether the course could meet their needs.
2. Why should I take this course?
A: This course will teach you to be a clear, effective, and empowered writer. Through reading the issues and completing the exercises you will learn to apply many writing principles and grammar rules in your everyday writing. The course is a departure from traditional writing seminars and how-to-books in that when taking this course you learn one writing principle or grammar rule at a time and ingrain that principle or rule into your writing before you read about the next principle or rule. In other words, the course's design reflects the fact that no one becomes a good writer in a day or a week; becoming a good writer takes time. The course materials will be there for you as you improve your writing over time.
3. I'm already a good writer, what added value does this course offer?
A: Even if you already are a good writer, this course can teach you how to become a teacher yourself by giving you the tools and vocabulary necessary to correct your subordinates' writing styles. Moreover, the course teaches many sophisticated writing principles, which may help you take your writing to an even higher level.
4. What are writing principles?
A: Writing principles refer to writing style; they essentially are style guidelines. When you break a writing principle, your writing may be grammatically correct, but it likely will not be as clear or persuasive as it would have been if you had followed the writing principle.
5. Does the course emphasize writing principles or grammar rules?
A: This course primarily is a course about writing principles. A few of the issues explore grammar rules, but grammar rules are not the focus of this course.
6. What are the topics in Part 1?
A: The issues in Part 1 analyze several parts of speech -- verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions. Knowing how to effectively use parts of speech is the first step to becoming a good writer. Subsequent parts of the course focus on sentence and paragraph structure. The topics in Part 1, in order, are as follows:
  • • Issue 1: Preferring the active voice to the passive voice
  • • Issue 2: Applying the exceptions to the active voice rule
  • • Issue 3: Turning nominalizations (verbs masquerading as nouns) into verbs
  • • Issue 4: Avoiding compound prepositions (short phrases that begin and end with a preposition)
  • • Issue 5: Limiting common prepositions that create verbosity and other style problems
  • • Issue 6: Spotting and avoiding vague nouns and verbs
  • • Issue 7: Spotting adjectives and adverbs that undermine an argument
  • • Issue 8: Using adjectives and adverbs to eliminate prepositional and other phrases
  • • Issue 9: Avoiding the “floating this” problem
  • • Issue 10: Understanding the difference between that and which
  • • Issue 11: Eliminating unnecessary that clauses
  • • Issue 12: Explaining what an authority does rather than what it provides or states
7. How much does the course cost?
A: A one-time cost of $95 grants you access to the 12 issues of Part 1 and related exercises for nine months. Part 2 costs $95 and will be available in June 2009. Part 3 also costs $95 and will be available in September 2009. If you purchase one part, you are not obligated to purchase other parts. Although you will lose access to a part after nine months, you can print the course materials for your own continued use after your subscription period expires.
8. Why should I read the blog?
A: The To The Point web site also includes the To the Point Blog! The blog discusses writing principles and grammar rules that do not require detailed explanations and practice. Posts include lessons you can absorb quickly, items relating to bluebooking rules, and examples of good and bad writing. If pertinent, the blog will tie in the appropriate To The Point issue, so you can relate the blog's post to the detailed explanation in the issue. The blog is free.
9. What are "parts," "issues," and "exercises"?
A: This course consists of three parts, each containing 12 issues. Each issue explains and illustrates a writing principle or grammar rule. Most issues contain exercises, but additional exercises accompany all issues. The additional exercises provide further opportunities for you to practice applying the writing principles and grammar rules you learned in the issues.
10. At what pace should I proceed through the course materials?
A: The pace is entirely up to you. Access to each part is for nine months, although you can print the materials for continued use after this nine-month period. We recommend reading one issue and completing the related exercises every one to two weeks. By taking one to two weeks to look for the related style problem in your writing and the writing of others before reading the next issue, you will ingrain the issue’s principle in your writing. The exact length of time you should take between issues will depend on how quickly you learn to spot and correct the style problem an issue addresses.
11. What should I expect after I complete Part 1?
A: While Part 1 focuses on parts of speech, Parts 2 and 3 teach you how to write effective sentences and paragraphs. We recommend completing all three parts of the course to truly learn how to write clearly and effectively. Part 2 will be available in June 2009, and Part 3 will be available in September 2009.
12. I think this course would be a great tool for my group at work. Who should I contact?
A: Groups of 11 or more are eligible for discounts. Contact To the Point Publications, LLC at contact@tothepointpubs.com for more information on group rates.