Advanced Writing Skills

Management Communication Training

Andrew Manasseh PR and media

• 25 years training, business development, staff management and training

• British Council 15 years in Thailand, Czech Republic, Italy and Brussels

• 9 years EU communications and PR training• Experience with governments in central Europe

and W. Balkans• Extensive work with the European Commission,

European Parliament, EU agencies

Objectives - expected results

• Adopt an appropriately balanced and professional style and tone that suits internal and external communications

• Tailor written language for different audiences and purposes

• Understand many forms and formats of writing – such as mission reports, correspondence

• Plan and structure writing for your business impact and clear structure to make it easier for the reader to comprehend

• Write condensed, targeted, precise texts such as emails, reports, updates, that convey messages in clear and simple language.

Course overview

The aim of this training is to provide you input and practice in modern writing skills

• Modern writing style• Readers – who you are writing for• Messages – what you are trying to say• Writing style –tips and techniques• Paragraphs and sentence building• Proof reading and editing

Part 1 Modern writing principles

Effective Writing

• What precisely is the central issue?• To what degree does the audience understand

the issues and terminology?• What are the main ideas that need to be

expressed and which ideas can be left out?• How are you going to structure your text so

that they are consistent and clear?

Modern Writing

Clear

ConciseSimple

Texts should be clear1. The reader should be able to understand precisely what you

are saying. 2. The language should be adapted to the reader. 3. This means you should write in a matter-of-fact,

conversational tone. 4. Use specific examples that the reader can relate to. 5. Don’t assume that your reader understands the jargon of

your trade. 6. Remember that what you write can be read by people other

than the recipient. 7. Your writing shouldn’t be a collection of random ideas. 8. It should be single-minded in its purpose.

Part 4 Writing style

How are you going to write it?

• I have been working in Brussels and across Europe for over nine years and I see the same problems with writing over and over again

• Here are six tips to help you improve your writing skills

Use short and simple words instead of complex ones

• I will endeavour to find a solution.

• I will try to solve this for you.

Put important information at the beginning

• In view of the fact that we have been delayed we will start the partner meeting tomorrow

• We will start the meeting tomorrow as we have been delayed......

Use verbs that carry meaning instead of grammar verb phrases

• Next week, we will have to have a meeting to solve the issues.

• Next week we should meet to solve the issues.• Please do an invoice and send it to our lead

partner. • Please invoice our lead partner.

Use active sentences instead of the passive voice

• Research into the process of innovation is carried out here by students and experienced professors.

• A group of students and professors are researching innovation processes.

Avoid redundant words or phrases

• The basic core principle of the problem is a lack of resource

• There is hotel accommodation for 400 people

Beware of jargon, acronyms and institutional language

• This is a capitalisation project• The aim is to mainstream these ideas into

regional policy initiatives• The project priorities have been agreed by

regional actors

Six important principles

1. Use shorter simple words2. Put important information at the beginning3. Use verbs that carry meaning4. Use active verbs and sentences5. Avoid redundant words and phrases6. Avoid jargon and institutional language

For more materials please

contact us

For more information

Andrew Manasseh

• www.linkedin.com/A Manasseh

• twitter.com/andimanas

• communicatingeu.wordpress.com/