Learning outcomes
Objectives
By the end of the workshop, participants should be able to:
• structure their documents effectively;
• write in a tone that is appropriate to the reader;
• keep documents as brief as possible;
• use active sentence construction wherever possible.
A short workbook will be provided for the participants to use during the workshop, and to keep for reference afterwards. They will be encouraged to complete a rolling action plan throughout the workshop, noting useful tips and personal development needs.
Introduction
• A review of the course objectives and the participants personal needs from the workshop.
Planning
• What is the message/objective of the document?
• Who is it for and what’s in it for them?
• Three stage approach to structure – case study to critique structure, content and tone - exercise in pairs followed by a group discussion
• Linking sections and paragraphs seamlessly
• Incorporating statistics and tables.
Writing Professionally
• AIDA approach to marketing material (Attention, Desire, Interest, Action)
• The ‘you’ approach – writing with the reader in mind – in pairs reword a document that is written for ‘us and ‘they’
• Keeping it brief – individual activity to reduce the number of words in a document whilst still maintaining the sense
• Using active verbs and simple language – in pairs rewrite over-formal and passive sentences.
Final Review
• Write a brief summary document (content to be supplied SGC) individual exercise - to be reviewed by the trainer and a colleague against a checklist of points covered within workshop
• Complete rolling action plan.