From Good to Great: a Reader-Centric Approach to Clear Technical Writing

This is an instructor-led online course scheduled for March 4, 6, 11, and 13 (2025). Using great tools, reference materials, examples, and strategies for success throughout four 90-minute sessions, this workshop will cover the following:

• Reader-centric communication.
• Technical document purpose comparison.
• Strategies to overcome obstacles when writing.
• Revision and editing tips and tricks.
• Referencing – why, how, and when to reference.

What’s Included

• Four live interactive virtual sessions with group discussions, take-home materials and resources, and more.
• Personalized feedback from our expert facilitator, Beth Burrows.
• Opportunity to network and connect with professionals within the industry.

This course is ideal for:

• Entry-level and new graduate environmental professionals wanting to learn how to turn their academic writing into professional report writing.
• Mid-level environmental professionals who want to brush up on their technical writing skills (such as those transitioning from field to office).

Session 1: Make It Relevant – March 4, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

• Define reader-centric communication and why it is important.
• Identify your audience and determine what the reader needs.
• Compare different types of technical documents and their purpose.
• Identify steps to draft a document’s structure.
• Review writing tips for getting started.

Session 2: Make It Clear – March 6, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

• Practice effective brainstorming.
• Discuss obstacles and strategies to overcome them when document writing.
• Establish methods to write your story, think beyond the information and present it in a way your reader can understand.

Session 3: Revise, Revise, Revise – March 11, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

• Identify and prioritize strategies for revision.
• Practice editing for conciseness, clarity, and plain language.
• Practice proofreading for quality and overall cohesiveness of the message.
• Compare methods to format for visual cues.

Session 4: Give Credit Where Credit Is Due – March 13, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

• Review why, how, and when to reference.
• Compare formats for referencing technical documents.
• Practice identifying opinions and interpretations.
• Notice absolutes, certainty and, ultimately uncertainty.