Can Do Writing
In all offerings, we teach a writing system with clearly defined
steps and concrete, easy-to-use techniques. By using a system, writers get better
results in less time. Our success with engineers, scientists, and financial analysts
proves that our approach is logical, concrete, and practical. We can customize our
curriculum to meet your specific writing training needs.
General Writing Skills
Critical Thinking
Business and technical professionals learn how to think critically to prepare
for any communication, whether telephone call, face-to-face conversation,
briefing, or document. This one-day seminar provides front-end analytical
techniques to help professionals
analyze author-audience purposes, including multiple and cross-purposes
select the content, based on what the audience does with the information
choose the right medium--oral, written, multi-media
use the right tone--neutral to authoritative, based on the author-audience relationship
organize thoughts, based on how the audience uses the information
recognize and fix logical fallacies
determine length, based on audience knowledge and need for proof
choose words based on audience expertise
Business Writing
Professionals and support staff learn how to produce successful letters,
memos,email, and other short business documents quickly by systematically
applying specific techniques. They improve their ability to
get to the point
keep the message short and simple
use specific detail
write persuasively
choose the best tone
use correct word choice, grammar, and punctuation
develop models for letters, memos, reports, and other business formats
Technical Writing
Engineers, scientists, and other technical professionals learn how to write effectively
and efficiently using concrete techniques applied in a step-by-step process.
They learn to write longer and more complex documents such as reports, requirements,
general and detailed designs, manuals, policy documents, articles, and reviews.
We work with the participants' documents to tailor the instruction and apply the
techniques to their particular writing challenges. They improve their ability to
write to different, even multiple audiences
write as an expert to the non-expert
write more quickly, often 40% more quickly
organize complex subject matter
edit for clarity -- one interpretation
edit for conciseness
ensure the quality of their document
collaborate with other authors
Practical Grammar Review
Everyone can benefit from this practical review of English grammar: parts of speech,
sentence structure, and punctuation. Participants improve their ability to
identify and use parts of speech correctly
write complete, clear sentences
avoid common sentence faults
use punctuation marks correctly
recognize common punctuation errors
Specialty Writing Skills
English as a Second Language (ESL)
We deliver ESL versions of our writing skills courses in Canada, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and Poland.
Approximately 20% of their students in the United States speak English as a Second
Language. Our courses help ESL professionals solve the most common
problems when writing in American English:
paragraph structure
sentence length
punctuation basics
American tone for correspondence and formal documents
articles
verbs
prepositions and English idioms
possession
obsolete rules and other misconceptions
American-British controversies
Preparing to Publish
Professionals learn how to write and publish conference papers, professional journal
papers, and trade publication articles. They improve their ability to
decide what to publish and where
tailor writing to a target publication
produce a successful abstract, introduction, body, and conclusion
submit the manuscript for publication and respond to reviewers' suggestions
Writing Coaching
Using participant writing samples, we provide intense one-on-one instruction.
We teach proven techniques to solve specific writing problems. With thousands of
hours' experience as writing coaches, we transfer those skills that get the
writer the most immediate and greatest improvement. We can provide coaching services by
long distance by means of NetMeeting®.
Proposal Writing
Participants learn how to write a winning proposal while reducing contract risk.
The techniques help you produce proposals that persuade, have one voice, and
reduce contract risk Participants learn to
use a process to meet rigid deadlines
identify the requirements in the RFP
follow proposal instructions for compliance
deconstruct requirements into topics
use storyboard technique to organize complex material
write persuasive themes
manage the expectations of the client
use a modular layout to integrate text and graphics
edit for clarity to reduce contract risk
Management Writing Skills
Large Documentation Project Management
Managers learn to use the writing system with project management tools to reduce
the cost and risk of large documentation efforts. Managers learn how to
determine the scope and bid writing projects
use the writing system analytical techniques to help manage client expectations
assign writing tasks
plan and track the tasks to meet deadlines
speed up the writing process
ensure quality deliverables
build a team of writers
guide collaborative writing projects
give constructive guidance to team members
Editing and Reviewing the Writing of Others
Managers learn proven techniques to find flaws in writing. More importantly,
they learn to transfer editing skills to the staff, instead of spending their
own time re-writing. They also learn an objective means to score another's
writing, giving the manager the tool to evaluate another's progress.
Specifically, managers learn proven techniques to answer these six questions:
Does the document get to the point?
Can the reader follow the logic?
Can the reader misinterpret any sentence?
Do extra words distract and obscure?
Are sentences as short and simple as possible?
Does the document follow standards?
Other Resources and Services
The Writing System; Daniel and Judith Graham, Ph.D. (Preview Press: 2002)
Hardback ISBN 0-9644495-7-9 $50
This 304-page workbook teaches a system of thirteen steps and forty-three techniques
to help professionals write better quality documents faster. The book targets practical,
task-oriented professionals who have mastered their discipline and now seek ways to
improve their written communication. Professionals use this self-study workbook for
training and reference. You find thoughtful answers to exercises in Appendix A. Other
appendices address writing challenges such as Long Documents and English as a Second Language.
In-house Curriculum and Instructors
Graham Associates develops and licenses writing curriculum for companies who want to
train their in-house instructors.
Long distance and e-learning
Graham Associates travels to client sites throughout the world and also delivers courses by
video conferencing and various internet platforms.
^ back
to top ^