Description

In this workshop, participants will learn how to use the four phases of the writing process—planning, design, drafting and revision—to argue effectively the findings of the report. Participants will also learn how to develop and shape the document’s content before the drafting of its sentences and paragraphs. Using drafting to determine what to say, to whom, at what level of detail is the most inefficient way to write in today’s workplace. It’s often too late to rework a document after it is drafted!

At the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• integrate the documentation process in the evaluation process;
• address the needs of the readers, including those in varied audiences;
• determine findings and relate them to one another effectively;
• support findings with well-structured detail;
• use specific strategies for describing complex concepts and for writing persuasive findings and recommendations sections;
• test the document’s effectiveness before drafting;
• stay on track while writing quickly;
• avoid common style and grammar errors using editorial checklists.

Facilitator(s)

Stephen de Paul, Ph.D., has worked with technical and administrative documentation since 1985. Stephen founded WordTask Information Strategies in 1991, and has since helped clients in the private and public sectors with their communications skills and processes. In particular, Stephen has worked with many evaluation and internal audit groups in the federal public service, conducting a two-day workshop, Writing for Audit and Evaluation, and reviewing evaluation and audit documentation. He has also taught part time in the Department of English at the University of Ottawa.