Effective Writing

This workshop will provide a clear grounding in style, organization and format. It is particularly useful for updating supervisors, department heads and professionals who have been promoted beyond the scope of their initial writing training.

Workshop material will provide continual basis for discussion of recent changes in grammar, style and format. Participants will develop skill to edit and improve their own work. Frequent practice will train participants to deal with various levels of readership, hostile audiences and sensitive issues.

Day One:

Developing an Uncluttered Style
Removing Ambiguous Wording
Correcting Faulty Constructions
Renovating Outdated Style
Replacing Jargon with Clear Wording
Dispelling the Fog in Writing
Applying Objective Tests of Good Style
Accentuating the Positive

Day Two :

Organizing Data for Clarity and Impact
Macrostructure: Parallel Constructions
Infrastructure: Paragraph Patterns
Microstructure: Logic Words
Opening and Closing Letters with Directness
Selecting Formats by Function
Structuring for Good and Bad News
Defining Good Functional Style

Participants will revise considerable material throughout the two days, and will compose at least one complete letter for appraisal. Participants should bring samples of their own memos, letters, and short reports for discussion with the workshop leader. Preferably, these samples will be sent in advance.