This course aims to develop participants’ writing skills to support their advocacy work. It delivers a comprehensive approach to the skills of effective writing. It is particularly aimed at people who find writing a chore, who have something important to say but cannot express it clearly, or who just want some help in polishing their writing skills.
It will be of particular interest to anybody planning to produce a research report, thesis, book or book chapter, advocacy document, paper for publication, essay – or any other substantial piece of written work.
The course is part of an integrated collection of courses developed by Fahamu in conjunction with the University of Oxford.
The course includes many practical exercises and five assignments to help participants learn new skills. The assignments all contribute to the creation of a real document that the participant wants to produce.
Course content
1 Planning
- Creating a message
- Organising ideas
- Collecting evidence.
2 Writing an outline
- Principles of outlining
- How to use outlines
- Checking an outline.
3 Writing a first draft
- Key principles
- The functions of prose.
4 Navigation aids and graphics
- Summaries and introductions
- Headings
- Title page
- Numbering systems
- Resource materials
- Appendices
- Summaries
- Using graphics.
5 Effective editing
- Why edit?
- Constructing effective paragraphs
- Improving sentences
- Choosing the right word
By the end of the course
Participants will be able to:
- Generate and articulate clear messages in their documents
- Organise information and ideas more effectively
- Plan a document to outline stage
- Write a first draft more confidently
- Edit their text for clarity and persuasive style.
Course benefits
Participants will receive a CDROM containing all the course materials. This CDROM also contains sections on grammar, punctuation and stylistic issues – together with a reading list and guides to further study – making it an invaluable reference tool for when the course is over.
On successful completion of the course, participants receive a certificate from the University of Oxford and Fahamu.
Audience
This course is aimed at people who find writing a chore, who have something important to say but cannot express it clearly, or who just want some help in polishing their writing skills.
It will be of particular interest to anybody planning to produce a research report, thesis, book or book chapter, advocacy document, paper for publication, essay – or any other substantial piece of written work.
Course length
Residential course: 1 week
Distance learning course (1–2 hours/day): 5 weeks
Tuition fee
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