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09:30
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Coffee and Registration
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09:45
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Introduction and Objectives
Many of us have been more than happy not to think about grammar and writing skills since school days. Many of us escaped English grammar lessons altogether and have been ‘getting by’. Today will remind you of some of the really useful basics which will improve your writing skills straight away. After the 6 steps, you will feel more confident about writing more clearly, accurately, more concisely and most of all, pleasing your readers.
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10:10
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Step 1: Language
Loves and hates
What pleases you when you read? What drives you mad and puts you off when you read something? This will tell us what to aim for when we write and what to avoid.
Plain English
What isn’t it? Does it over-simplify everything?
What is plain English? Does it work and how do I use it?
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10:35
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How do I use plain English?
In this session we will answer all the questions about which style to use at work. We will examine why clear, familiar and accurate language gets your exact message over to the reader quickly and easily.
Exercises in using clear, familiar words
Some fun examples to make some serious points
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Coffee
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Step 2: Style
Quick fixes for complicated and boring writing: What’s an abstract noun?
An investigation into the concept that the utilisation of the abstract means the introduction of the failure of the reader to maintain consciousness or - if you use more lively language your reader will stay awake.
What are the active and passive forms?
What does that green squiggly line mean on my computer and how do I get rid of it properly instead of ignoring it?
Exercises in using a clear, punchy style
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Step 3: Shorter, simpler sentences
How do I structure a sentence? How do I shorten long sentences?
Which words can I leave out without changing the meaning of what I say? How can I get to the point and impress my reader with what I say?
Exercises in simplifying and shortening sentences accurately
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11:50
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Step 4: Tone
How to sound more friendly, polite and positive.
How to ask people to respond to you and how to show empathy without sounding insincere.
Exercises in sounding less bureaucratic
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12:20
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Step Three - Design for success
- The 90-90 rule. The power of first impressions
- Balancing text with graphics, tables, charts etc
- Delegates complete the ‘text styles’ exercise
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12:45
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Lunch
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13:45
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Step 5: Order and Organisation
How to put things into a logical order and help my reader through my document.
Exercise in dividing work into paragraphs and ordering them logically
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Step 6: Accuracy
How accurate is your punctuation? Who’s right- you or your boss?
A fun quiz to test your use of apostrophes, commas, colons, semi-colons
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Tea
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A reminder of the punctuation you’ve forgotten
When do you use a semi-colon not a comma? What’s the difference between a colon and a semi-colon? Do all words ending in‘s’ need an apostrophe? |
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And finally:
Editing Exercise: How good are you at spotting common mistakes?
Get better at it than your boss! What’s the difference between affect and effect? Is it practice or practise? Is it the government is or the government are? |
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16:15
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Conclusions and Final Questions
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