Writing for an External Audience: White Papers, Consultation Documents, Guidance Materials, Press Notices
10th Nov 2010
Today, many civil servants are involved in drafting, or contributing to, documents aimed at the public or external bodies. The skills involved in writing to an external audience differ from those used to write internally.
This workshop will help you to understand the differing skills required and provide a range of key techniques in connecting with an external audience and explaining complex issues in plain English.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the importance of connecting with your reader
- Understand the power of language and how to use words to your advantage
- Understand how to use words for dramatic or emotional impact
- Understand how the use of comparisons and examples can make a powerful point
- Understand the need to summarise
- Learn how to communicate essential information in a concise and clear manner
*Delegates are asked to submit a sample of writing before the course for discussion with the tutor on the day.
Programme
| 9:15 | Registration |
| 9:45 | Welcome and introductions
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| 10:00 | Discussion: What are the purposes of communicating with the public?
A look at the types and nature of external communications
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| 10:45 | The importance of the language, style and tone of your drafts
Writing for emotional impact, to explain an argument, to elicit a response.
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| 11:15 | Refreshments
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| 12:00 | Exercise: participants will be asked to use the information in an internal document to produce a paragraph in a forthcoming White Paper.
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| 13:00 | Lunch
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| 14:00 | Discussion: Group discuss their drafts.
Tutor will provide tips and guidance
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| 14:30 | Commissioning and co-ordinating contributions: how to manage the process and how to ensure the document keeps a coherent style.
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| 15:15 | Refreshments
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| 15:30 | Writing a good press notice – need for punchy headline, useful quotes. Mindful of what others find newsworthy and what we might like to tell them.
Tutor input and practical exercise. |
| 16:30 | Close
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*This course can be adapted to use in-house material for individual client bespoke training
Please note that the programme is subject to change without notice
