We deliver writing workshops to improve the quality of their workplace communications. Current workshops include:
Genres of Academic Writing: Research Articles (January 2020)
In this workshop we’ll review some of the advice given to academics about their writing styles, but instead of understanding that advice as a set of iron-clad rules, we’ll consider how writing style varies depending on the genre of document you are writing and the field you write in. Should you avoid the passive voice, as Helen Sword advocates(“limit your use of be-verbs”), or should you adopt passive voice if you are in a field that requires it?
Clear and Concise (October 2019)
This workshop helps writers identify specific techniques they can use to write more understandable prose. It also suggests four specific ways that writers can use fewer words to convey the same message.
Become a Better Writer (September 2019)
This series of workshops will help you develop your skills as a writer of academic prose. We’ll develop skills in different styles of writing (asiatic/attic, ornamental/plain), different genres of writing (academic/workplace), and different audiences for writing (academic/non-specialist). We’ll end with a consideration of the recent interest in narrative (“our story”) and how this contrasts with scientific approaches to writing (research as story).
Becoming a More Productive Writer (September 2019)
7 Habits Meets Writing Research
In this workshop we’ll review some of the advice given to academics who write, including Helen Sword’s Air & Light & Time & Space: How Successful Academics Write, and map it against Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. We’ll consider the map those books provide in the context of research about writers to think about what makes us more or less productive as academic writers. Participants will use a writing technology of their choice (notebooks and pens provided; bring your choice of electronics if you wish) to record thoughts and insights from the readings and discussion that ensues.
Business communication workshops
Topics covered in standard workshops include:
Municipal Government Writing
Municipal government employees workshops tailor general writing principles to the specific context of municipal government. Topics include
Since 2015 we have worked with municipal employees from around the Edmonton, Alberta area, municipal governments in Alberta (St. Albert, Leduc) and the Tlicho First Nation in Yellowknife, NWT. Previous to this work we worked with legal professionals and finance professionals to improve the quality of their writing.
Please contact us to learn more about how we can customize our workshops for your employees.
Genres of Academic Writing: Research Articles (January 2020)
In this workshop we’ll review some of the advice given to academics about their writing styles, but instead of understanding that advice as a set of iron-clad rules, we’ll consider how writing style varies depending on the genre of document you are writing and the field you write in. Should you avoid the passive voice, as Helen Sword advocates(“limit your use of be-verbs”), or should you adopt passive voice if you are in a field that requires it?
Clear and Concise (October 2019)
This workshop helps writers identify specific techniques they can use to write more understandable prose. It also suggests four specific ways that writers can use fewer words to convey the same message.
Become a Better Writer (September 2019)
This series of workshops will help you develop your skills as a writer of academic prose. We’ll develop skills in different styles of writing (asiatic/attic, ornamental/plain), different genres of writing (academic/workplace), and different audiences for writing (academic/non-specialist). We’ll end with a consideration of the recent interest in narrative (“our story”) and how this contrasts with scientific approaches to writing (research as story).
Becoming a More Productive Writer (September 2019)
7 Habits Meets Writing Research
In this workshop we’ll review some of the advice given to academics who write, including Helen Sword’s Air & Light & Time & Space: How Successful Academics Write, and map it against Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. We’ll consider the map those books provide in the context of research about writers to think about what makes us more or less productive as academic writers. Participants will use a writing technology of their choice (notebooks and pens provided; bring your choice of electronics if you wish) to record thoughts and insights from the readings and discussion that ensues.
Business communication workshops
Topics covered in standard workshops include:
- Style in business and professional contexts
- Clarity
- Conciseness
- Positive messages
- Negative messages
- Persuasive messages
- Writing technical prose
Municipal Government Writing
Municipal government employees workshops tailor general writing principles to the specific context of municipal government. Topics include
- Municipal government documents (administrative backgrounders, agenda reports, senior leadership team reports, strategy and vision documents, council request for decision reports)
- Writing for public audiences
- Writing for city counsellors
- Writing technical prose
Since 2015 we have worked with municipal employees from around the Edmonton, Alberta area, municipal governments in Alberta (St. Albert, Leduc) and the Tlicho First Nation in Yellowknife, NWT. Previous to this work we worked with legal professionals and finance professionals to improve the quality of their writing.
Please contact us to learn more about how we can customize our workshops for your employees.