Writing for the reader

2-day Workshop outline

This is a sample outline only. We tailor each workshop to meet the needs of clients.

2 presenters will facilitate the workshop.

Online adaptable

We have adapted this workshop to run online in shorter sessions over several days, please contact us for details.

Objectives

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Understand how to write clearly and concisely, applying plain English principles

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Be able to identify your readers and their needs

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Develop some skills in writing well to meet both your readers’ needs and your objectives

Preparation

We liaise with participants about venue details and other related arrangements.

We email each workshop participant in advance asking them what aspect(s) of writing they would like to be better at, and requesting a recent or current (work in progress) sample of their writing.

Evaluation

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Reaction based

We give you a feedback sheet to fill out at the end of workshop. We collate the results (we don’t edit them) and return them to the commissioning organisation. 

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Learning

We assess your learning on an individual basis throughout the workshop and give both oral and written feedback.

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Behavioural

We give you individual feedback as you practise the skills in the workshop. We also provide individual feedback forms.

WRITING SCIENCE

Program outline

Day 1

Start

Introduction, objectives of workshop 

The elements of good and bad writing

Discussion

Short exercises

Executive panel discussion

What do your executives need? What do you need to do differently?

Identifying readers and messages

The principles of message design

Lunch

Exercise (readers and messages continued)

Structuring your document

Characteristics of different formats (summary, policy brief, fact sheet, feature story, media release)

Choosing the format

Selecting and arranging the content

Exercise – write a summary

Recap on Day 1

Close

Day 2

Start

Recap on Day 1

Writing in plain English

What plain English is and isn’t

4 sentence-level techniques that will bring your writing to life

Short exercises

Policy panel discussion or Writing journal articles

Lunch

Injecting the right tone

Exercise

Using headings and sub-headings

Exercise

Being concise

Exercises

Editing / reviewing your work

Q & A

Recap on the 2 days

Evaluation of workshop

Close