This one-day workshop will revitalize the style and format skills of professionally-educated scientists and technologists. Skill in plain language for writing to the public, refreshed logical skills for presenting and analyzing data, and awareness of current uses of format to appeal to various audiences will result in reduced managerial editing and improved writing confidence.

Morning Session:

Prefatory Material

• Workshop Objectives
• Your Workshop Objectives
• Thinking Ahead

Fundamentals Review

• Using Singular & Plural Subjects, Foreign Plurals
• Clarifying Pronouns
• Clarifying Pronoun References
• Arranging Sentences Clearly
• Selecting Accurate Wording

Standard Components of Technical Style

• Dispelling Fog in Readers' Minds
• Determining Readership Levels
• Scientific vs. Business Style
• Passive Prose - Conversion Practice
• Jargon: Plan A: Removing Jargon
•              Plan B: Explaining Jargon & Terms

Afternoon Session:

Advanced Components of Technical Style

• Writing in Parallel Construction
• Adding Parallel Construction - Exercise
• Paragraphing for Logic and Impact
• Isolating Paragraphs for Unity
• Linking Ideas with Transitionals
• Signalling Logic with Transitionals
• Using Paragraphing and Transitionals

Using Report Elements for Clarity

• Titling Reports
• Signalling and Lightening with Sub-titles
• Drawing Crisp Conclusions
• Summarizing Accurately
• Visuals: Increasing Interest With Visuals
•              Using The Appendix Effectively
•              Adapting Format To The Public