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