BEYOND GRAMMAR: WRITING AS THINKING MADE VISIBLE
Module 1
About the week ahead
SECTION
1
Your writing mindset
SECTION
2
SECTION
3
Changing the way you think about writing
Some basic concepts
Topic 1: How this course is different
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Topic 2: The cognitive approach to writing
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Topic 3: Definitions of ‘effective’, ‘productive’ and ‘efficient’
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Topic 4: The four functions of writing
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Topic 5: Writing as product, process, speech made visible, tool for thinking, and a form of power
An insight learning experience
Topic 1: A definition of writing
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Topic 2: Genre and discourse
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Writing is the most important new skill for tech workers
Three reasons writing is your most valuable skill
There are three kinds of writers in business and professions. Which one are you?
Why very smart people hate writing
Reading
Writing skills essential for every profession
Optional Reading
Self-assessment
Lectures & Readings Quiz
Self-rating Survey
Readings Survey
Module 2
About the week ahead
SECTION
1
Structure at the level of genre
SECTION
2
Where to find ready-made structures for specific writing tasks
SECTION
3
What is rhetoric and how can I use it?
SECTION
4
How structure helps us think
Reading
The inverted pyramid and similar structures
Applying the inverted pyramid
Optional Reading. Explore these links to learn more about rhetoric.
Augsburg.edu
U. of Toronto
Self-assessment
Structure Quiz
Module 3
About the week ahead
SECTION
1
Your words in the reader's brain part 1
SECTION
2
Your words in the reader's brain part 2
Reading
Imagining Readers
Optional Reading
Yale Program on Climate Change
(Try the Yale quiz then read the section in the report that describes your result.)
Global Warming's Six Americas
Self-assessment
Lectures Quiz
Reading Quiz
Module 4
About the week ahead
SECTION
1
Your personal writing process
Reading
MS Word features checklist
Optional Reading
(video clips of authors talking about their personal writing process)
5 Work Habits Of Famous Writers
Top Five Habits Of Successful Writers
Writing Tips for Blockheads
Self-assessment
Lectures Quiz
Module 5
About the week ahead
SECTION
1
An introduction to framing
SECTION
2
Old habits and some examples of framing
SECTION
3
Reader-friendly framing
Reading
Watch this talk on framing in science communication
Optional Reading
Learn more about Erving Goffman and his work
The Framing Effect: How We Influence People's Decisions Using Perception
Self-assessment
Reframing Quiz
Module 6
About the week ahead
SECTION
1
Your Personal Writing Process - a practical technique
SECTION
2
Editing WordRake demo
SECTION
3
Editing Perfectit demo
Reading
Saving Time and Effort: 7 Software Tools For Correcting, Cleaning Up and Polishing What You Write
Top ten most expensive typos in history
Self-assessment
Your Copyediting Practices Survey
WHAT LEARNERS SAY
"
I enjoyed your class a lot. Your style of delivering the sessions was effective and to the point.
I am sure the things that I learned from your class will help me in my career growth.
Mahesh Shrestha, Co-Founder | Creative Director, GrowInnova, Nepal
"
Very, very helpful comments and encouragement, lovely, thank you.
Barbara van Koppen, Rural Sociologist & Gender Expert, IWMI South Africa
"
This course was unlike anything I had before and so useful.
Manthri (Herath Manthrithilake), Head, Sri Lanka Development Initiative
"
Thank you very much for helping us to learn some important aspects of technical writing.
I am very grateful for your hard work and commitment.