Course on writing
4-day course on writing and editing for researchers on socio-economic development
Course approach
Presentations PowerPoints as intro to discussions
Discussions On topics and writing problems
Exercises Short editing exercises
One-on-one writing clinics Participants bring a manuscript they are working on Facilitator helps them revise this manuscript during the
course
Example course timetable
This example based on course in the Netherlands, 2009
Content and order can be adapted as required
Assumes participants are writing case-type materials (eg, book chapter or working paper)
Day 1: What to write, and who for?Topic Presentation
Introduction
Audiences and objectives 002 Audiences
Matching words to readers 009 Matching words to readers (+exercise)
Anatomy of manuscript 094 Case chapter anatomy083 Case anatomy
Types of feature stories 079 Feature types
Steps in writing cases 080 Cases
Gathering information 081 Collecting info
Day 2: Structure and content
Topic Presentation
Finding the story 077 Finding the story
Focus of your story 085 3-sentence story
Organizing information: outlining
031 Outlining086 Ordering
The lead 082 Leads
The title and recommendations
033 Titles and recommendations046 Titles and authors
Day 3: Writing style
Topic Presentation
Writing problems 008 Writing (+exercises)
The body 042 Body087 Case body
Analysis and conclusion 096 Analysis and conclusion
More writing problems 035 Style036 Jargon006 Clutter
Day 4: EditingTopic Presentation
Editing 043 Levels of editing034 7 Cs of editing
Using Microsoft Word 095 Editing step by step089 Editing techniques092 Word styles093 Word buttons
Readability 030 Readability
English for Dutch speakers 097 English for Dutch speakers
Other bits and pieces 037 Mini-cases and boxes039 Lists 038 Tables and illustrations
Other uses for cases 017 Recycling
Writeshops 072 Writeshops
Evaluation