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Friday, 10/18/2024

Our topic this week—writing with plain language—pertains to Fostering a Sense of Belonging and Lowering Barriers to Success, the first and third principles in the Evolving Framework for Inclusive and Equitable Pedagogy.

We've probably all encountered writing that's so obscure and riddled with discipline-specific jargon that it's incomprehensible to readers who aren't content-experts. For many students, this is a case of linguistic inaccessibility. When they encounter complex language like this, before it's been introduced or scaffolded into their learning, they may feel lost and alienated from both the subject matter and the class itself.

The benefits of using plain language are that it...

• Promotes inclusivity – Plain language gives everyone access, including students who have cognitive disabilities or students from diverse cultural, linguistic, and educational backgrounds.
• Improves comprehension and reduces cognitive load – Instead of exerting themselves just to parse or decipher dense language, students can focus on the subject matter itself.
• Facilitates critical thinking – When concepts are explained clearly, and not obscured by complex language, students can more easily find connections between ideas and exercise critical analysis.
• Encourages engagement – It creates a more approachable learning environment, where students feel comfortable enough to ask questions, participate in discussions, and engage with the content.

A few guidelines about writing in plain language:

• Be concise. Eliminate unneeded words or phrases; keep sentences and paragraphs short.
• Use consistent labels and terminology.
• Try to avoid jargon, but when specialized terms are necessary, be sure to define them simply.
• Clarify complex concepts by giving examples or analogies that students can relate to.
• Present key points at the beginning rather than burying them deep in the text.

Check out the sites below for more info about how plain language can help make communications transparent and accessible to every student.

Additional Readings and Resources:

• The UVM Center for Disability and Inclusion offers plain language resources including toolkits and a checklist.
• Applied Cognitive Psychology Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective of necessity: Problems with using long words needlessly (log in with UVM NetID and click link to PDF] by Daniel M. Oppenheimer
• Inside Higher Ed Plain Language is Key to DEI in Academe by Shawna Shapiro and Laura Aull
• Federal plain language guidelines - In 2010, the U.S. House and Senate passed the Plain Writing Act that pertains to government communications; however, the guidelines are germane to writers in virtually all fields.

Center for Teaching & Learning
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