Writing Lab
Type | Workshop |
---|---|
Instructor | Anne Schneppen |
Registration Mode | please register at coordinator@geas.fu-berlin.de |
Room | 0.17 |
Start | Jan 14, 2015 | 10:00 AM |
end | Jan 17, 2015 | 04:00 PM |
Time | 14.01.2015 10.00-16.00 16.01.2015 10.00-16.00 17.01.2015 10.00-16.00 |
Student Profile
all GEAS cohorts
Writing Lab
Content:
Whether you simply want to improve your academic writing or are considering a career in journalism or publishing, good writing skills are beneficial in most professions. Contrary to popular belief, the art of good writing doesn´t depend on innate talents. A sound piece of writing requires learning basic techniques.
This workshop will help you to
* write sentences that have impact
* express yourself clearly, to the point and in good style
* edit and improve your texts
* present yourself effectively in written statements and oral speeches
* know, address and motivate specific audiences in the academics, the media, as well as
the general public
* focus on the needs of your readers and listeners: how to get your message across
* expand your professional skills. Why not consider a career in journalism, editing or
publishing?
The „Writing Lab“ is developed based on your needs and wishes. Participants are asked to submit writing and will also prepare texts in group sessions. Together, we will work on these and other texts to learn how to improve our writing. While the morning sessions will introduce you to concepts, background & theory, the longer afternoon sessions will focus on application & training-on-the-job: analyzing, writing, editing and presenting.The training includes reading assignments from online materials and texts that will be distributed during the workshop.
Main topics
1. Introduction to good writing
The elements of style
Working on vocabulary
How to give your words power: the importance of verbs
Dangerous traps: clichés, adjectives and empty phrases
How to be simple without simplifying
Finding good headlines
The importance of a strong beginning
How to edit yourself
2. Writing for the mass media (and beyond)
Sit down and start: writing under pressure
Writing for an audience
Basic news reporting
Writing for print media
Writing for the web
How to get published
Reporting and presenting
Academics vs. journalism?
Recommended reading (useful, but not mandatory):
The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr and E.B. White (all editions)
100 Ways to Improve your writing, Gary Provost, Penguin Books, London (all editions)
Anne Schneppen has worked in writing and editing, journalism and PR for more than 20 years. She spent 11 years in Japan and South Korea as the political correspondent for the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine and holds an MA in literature and international law.