PHA-Exchange> Training Manual on Effective Writing available online

[Aviva]

From: "Patrick Burnett" <patrick at fahamu.org.za>
> Training Manual on Effective Writing available online
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
> FAHAMU - Learning for Change
> http://www.fahamu.org
>
> TRAINING MANUAL ON EFFECTIVE WRITING AVAILABLE ONLINE
>
> ** Do you find writing a chore? Do you spend hours looking at a blank
> sheet of paper, wondering how to start? Then Writing for Change can
> help. **
>
> A major training resource designed to help those working in the not-
> for-profit sector hone their writing skills in order to influence,
> persuade and bring about positive social change has been made avail-
> able free of charge on the internet, thanks to the support of IDRC.
>
> "The CD-ROM version has been so popular," said Firoze Manji, Director
> of Fahamu, "IDRC and Fahamu decided to make the resource available in
> the public domain as well."
>
> Writing for Change, originally published as an interactive CD-ROM by
> Fahamu and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), is
> designed primarily for people working in the not-for-profit sector,
> including researchers, scientists, project managers, team members,
> campaigners, fundraisers, social activists and writers. Available in
> English, French and Spanish from Fahamu's web site:
> <http://www.fahamu.org> the resource is thought to be one of the most
> comprehensive available, running at about 900 pages per language.
>
> Writing for Change is unique as a training resource because it con-
> tains major sections devoted not only to the core skills of writing,
> but also to the two crucial specialised areas of writing - scientific
> papers for publication in journals and documents to help campaign or
> persuade.
>
> People working in research and advocacy organisations need to do lots
> of writing in the form of project documents, articles for magazines,
> papers for publication in scientific journals, proposals and newslet-
> ters - the list can seem endless. Many able and committed people find
> writing time-consuming, boring and difficult. Rather than sitting at
> a desk, they would prefer to be doing the real work of setting up the
> next experiment, conducting the field research, lobbying politicians
> or engaging with communities. Yet the world will only know about the
> quality and significance of their work through the documents that ex-
> plain or promote it. Success depends on the ability to communicate
> ideas to others - often on paper. Writing for Change can help achieve
> that success.
>
> Writing for Change comprises three sections:
> * Effective Writing: core skills, Writing for Science, and Writing
>   for Advocacy. Core skills helps to develop the skills needed to write
>   clearly and purposefully, organise ideas and express them well.
>
> * Writing for Science shows how to produce writing for publication in
>   specialist journals. It teaches how to build on the core skills of
>   effective writing and add further skills that apply to this special-
>   ised type of writing. This section gives a better chance of getting
>   published, discusses the ethics of authorship, how to respond to edi-
>   tors and correct proofs.
>
> * Writing for Advocacy contains a wealth of advice on how to win
>   hearts and minds and how to adapt core writing skills to lobbying or
>   campaigning documents. The section looks at articles, leaflets, news-
>   letters, pamphlets, press releases and posters.
>
> Extra features of 'Writing for Change' include a resource centre with
> suggestions for further reading and links to useful web sites and re-
> sources.
>
> "We supported 'Writing for Change' so that our partners would have a
> tool to build their capacity to communicate research results in ways
> that promote action based on evidence and social relevance. The guide
> focuses on effective writing, important both for communicating sci-
> ence and advocacy work," said Daniel Buckles from the International
> Development Research Centre. "The combination of guidance on core
> writing skills, writing for science and writing for advocacy makes
> this product unique."
>
> "I can honestly say it is one of the best training programmes I have
> seen. It is very well set out and easy to navigate. It also follows a
> logical progression, there were no missing steps, and it went into
> sufficient detail to provide concrete, practical guidance. I was
> never left thinking, 'But how exactly would I do such and such?' -"
> Sarah Atewell, World Vision.
>
> Writing for change continues to be available on CD-ROM; Price GB Pounds
20.00