Course Catalog / BMU 060 / Syllabus

BMU 060 Writing That Works: Course Syllabus

About 5 minutes to read. Last updated October 29, 2026. Keep this page as your map for the course.

Welcome. You are an adult with a full life, and this course is built for that. This page shows what you will learn, why it matters, what you will do, and how to succeed. Come back to it any time you wonder what is next.

Why this course matters

Short messages decide a lot: whether you get the shift off, the handout, or the refund. This course shows you how to lead with your point, write emails that get answers, match your tone to a boss, a teacher, a company, or family, write a complaint that gets results, and check a message before you send it. You finish with three real messages, checked and sent. Tips come from government plain language guides, a university writing lab, official consumer pages, and published research. Every person and message in the course is made up.

This course is for you if:

• You want your emails and texts to get faster, better answers
• You need to write to a boss, a teacher, a company, or an office
• You want a calm, clear way to complain about a bill or a product

What success looks like

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

1. Put the main point in the first sentence of a message.
2. Write a clear subject line and a short email with a specific request.
3. Match tone to the reader (boss, teacher, company, family).
4. Write a complaint that states the problem, the proof, and the fix wanted.
5. Check a message for errors using read aloud and a spelling tool.

You will know you got there in two ways. First, you pass the Posttest with 80% or higher. Second, your course project passes every automatic check on the Course project page.

Your next step

Start with the Pretest. It takes about 10 minutes and is not graded. Then open Lesson 1: Lead with the point.

Here is the full path through the course:

1. Pretest: 12 questions, plus 5 quick confidence questions. Not graded. You take it once.
2. The lessons, in order: 5 lessons, from Lesson 1: Lead with the point to Lesson 5: Check it before you send it (capstone).
3. Posttest: 12 questions. Pass with 80%. Retake as often as you need.
4. Course survey: about 2 minutes, optional and anonymous.
5. Your certificate: type your name and print it.
6. A 30 day check in, if you opt in.

Your dates. BMU sets no deadlines. You choose them. Pick a start date and a target finish date now, and put both on your calendar. Each lesson's action step also says when to do it, such as tomorrow or this week.

Getting started

Welcome from BMU Learning. Thank you for starting Writing That Works. This course is built to help you do one real task on your own, step by step, at your own pace.

About this course

• There is no instructor. BMU Learning wrote and checked the lessons, and every person in the examples is made up.
• The lessons are text you read. If a page has audio, the narration is an AI voice, not a real person. Your phone or computer can also read any page aloud.
• Support: BMU Learner Support answers questions by the contact form in the Help Center. See Getting help below.

Prerequisites

None. If you can open a link and scroll on a phone or computer, you can start.

How to move through the course

1. This syllabus first. It says what you will do, how long it takes, and how you finish.
2. Pretest: a short check that is not graded. It shows where to start.
3. Lessons, in order: Lesson 1: Lead with the point; Lesson 2: Emails that get answers; Lesson 3: Texts and messages at work and school; Lesson 4: Complaints that get results; Lesson 5: Check it before you send it (capstone).
4. Each lesson has the same order: why it matters and what you will learn, the steps, a worked example, practice with feedback, a Try it step, a self check with feedback, and a short summary. Use Next up at the bottom of each lesson to go on.
5. Course project after Lesson 5, on the Course project page: build it in the guided builder and press Check my project. Each rubric row is checked for you, with a note on what to fix.
6. Posttest after Lesson 5. Score 80% or higher. With your course project done, that earns your certificate.
7. Keep and use: the job aid, the glossary of key words, and the follow up plan.

Technology you need

A phone, tablet, or computer with internet and a current browser. See What you need below for the full list.

How to finish

Your Certificate of Completion needs both of these:

• Pass the Posttest with 80% or higher. Retakes are unlimited.
• Finish your course project (the capstone) on the Course project page after Lesson 5. Build it in the guided builder and press Check my project. The page checks each rubric row automatically and tells you what to fix. When every row passes, download or print it. It is what you keep and use.

Your certificate will say you passed its Posttest and completed the course project. The checks run in your browser; no person grades the project.

Common questions

I fell behind. What now?

Nothing is late. Open the lesson you stopped on and read its quick review. If a week went by, redo that lesson's self check before you go on.

I am stuck on a lesson.

Read the worked example again, then try the practice and open its feedback. Still stuck? Write to BMU Learner Support with the lesson name and the step.

I did not pass the Posttest.

Look at which questions you missed. Each one names the lesson to review. Review it, then take the Posttest again. There is no limit on tries.

Who checks my capstone?

The Course project page checks it for you, automatically, in your browser. You build the project in guided boxes, tables, and choices, then press Check my project. Each rubric row says Passed or Not yet, with a note on what to fix. Fix it and check again as often as you need. You do not grade yourself, and no person grades it.

Where is my progress saved?

In this browser only, like your lesson badges and Posttest score. If you switch devices or clear your browser, redo the course project step.

Course schedule

Every lesson has the same parts, so you always know what is coming. You get a short read, a Try it action step you do in real life, and, in most lessons, a quick check. Times come from each lesson page.

Suggested pace

Two lessons a week. That is about three weeks. Write each draft the week you take the lesson. Go faster or slower if your life calls for it.

How much time it takes

• Each lesson: 12 to 15 minutes to read, in one sitting.
• Each action step: 20 to 40 minutes, done in your real life within the window the lesson gives.
• At the suggested pace: up to about 87 minutes a week.
• The whole course: about 4 hours and 1 minutes, including the tests and the survey.

What you will do and why

Each task below practices or checks one of the outcomes above. Nothing here is busywork.

Your capstone rubric checks these parts:

• Point first
• Email request
• Tone
• Complaint
• Checked
• Sent and private

How the course checks each goal

Each goal below is taught in a lesson, tested on the Posttest, and, where it can be, built and checked in your course project.

Goal	Lessons	Posttest questions	Course project rows
Put the main point in the first sentence of a message.	1, 5	1, 2, 3	Point first
Write a clear subject line and a short email with a specific request.	2, 5	4, 5, 6	Email request
Match tone to the reader (boss, teacher, company, family).	3, 5	7, 8	Tone
Write a complaint that states the problem, the proof, and the fix wanted.	4, 5	9, 10	Complaint
Check a message for errors using read aloud and a spelling tool.	5	11, 12	Checked, Sent and private

Grading and your certificate

• Pretest: not graded. You take it once. It is fine to miss questions. They show where to start.
• Posttest: you need 80% or higher. You can retake it as many times as you need. Your first try is the one BMU uses to see how much the course helped, so there is no need to rush it.
• Course project (capstone): you start it in Lesson 5 and build it on the Course project page. The page checks each rubric row for you and says exactly what to fix. Fix it and check again as often as you need. A row that says Not yet just shows you where to look next.
• Certificate of Completion: it unlocks when you do two things: pass the Posttest with 80% or higher, and pass every automatic check on your course project. The survey is optional and never blocks it. Type your name on the certificate page and print it.

Your Certificate of Completion lists the skills under What success looks like, the course time (about 4 hours), and the standard you met: you passed its Posttest and completed the course project.

BMU is a learning community, not an accredited college. This certificate does not carry college credit. It is not a degree, diploma, license, or professional certification.

What you need

• Cost: Lesson 1 is free. The rest of the course is part of BMU All Access. Sign up free as a Founding Member to keep going.
• Device: a phone, tablet, or computer with internet and a current version of Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox.
• Skills: you can open links, type in a box, and scroll. Printing is optional. You can also save pages as a PDF.
• A phone or computer with email or texting
• Three real messages you need to send (Lesson 1 helps you pick them)
• Job aids and tools: Message Check Card (printable).

How this course works

This course is self paced and online. There are no live classes, no group posts, and no one checks when you log in. Taking part means three things:

• Read each lesson in order, in one sitting if you can.
• Do the Try it step in your real life. That is where the learning happens.
• Be honest with yourself on the self checks and the end of course self check. Your reflections are private, and you never have to share them.

Policies and flexibility

• Pace: go at your own speed. There are no late penalties. If you miss a week, pick up where you left off.
• Retakes: lesson checks and the Posttest have no limit on tries.
• Your progress: lessons, notes, and test scores are saved in this browser on this device. They are not tied to your name. If you clear your browser data, use private browsing, or switch devices, your progress will not follow you.
• Honest work: take the Pretest and Posttest on your own, without notes, other people, or AI. Please do not share test answers. Your certificate says you passed, so let the score show what you can do.
• Using AI: You may use AI to brainstorm, explain an idea in simpler words, or practice. If AI helps you draft your capstone, check every fact and make it sound like you. Never paste passwords, account numbers, or medical details into an AI tool.
• Keep it accurate: This course is general education about everyday writing. It is not legal advice. For serious money or legal problems, Lesson 4 points to your local consumer protection office and free legal help. Your messages stay with you; BMU does not collect them. Every example person, message, and company is made up.
• Changes: if BMU changes this course, the date at the top of this page will change, and we will say what changed here.

Getting help

This course is self paced, so there is no live instructor. You are not on your own, though. Here is where to go:

• Quick answers: the BMU Help Center covers progress, certificates, billing, and technical problems.
• Ask a person: use the Contact BMU support form and pick a topic. We read every message and reply as soon as we can. Please do not send card numbers or passwords.
• Something not working: refresh the page and try a current browser. If it still fails, contact support, choose Technical problem, and tell us the page, your device, and your browser.

BMU support cannot respond to emergencies. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.

Accessibility

We want every page to work with a keyboard, a screen reader, and zoom. Tables scroll on small screens, and answers open with a tap. If anything gets in your way, or you need a lesson in another format, tell us on the contact form. Choose Technical problem, say it is an accessibility issue, and describe the page. We will work to fix it or get you the content another way.

Check your understanding of this syllabus

Can you answer these three questions? If so, you are ready to start.

1. What does success look like in this course?

You can do the 5 things listed under What success looks like. You pass the Posttest with 80% or higher, and your capstone rubric shows Ready to use.

2. What is your next step?

Take the Pretest, then start Lesson 1: Lead with the point. Put your own start and finish dates on your calendar.

3. Where do you get help?

Try the Help Center first. Then use the contact form. We read every message and reply as soon as we can.

Recap

• Start with the Pretest. It is not graded.
• Do one lesson at a time, and do each Try it step in real life.
• Pass the Posttest with 80% and finish your course project to earn your certificate. Retakes are unlimited.
• Need help? Use the Help Center or the contact form.