Module 1 – Effective Writing

Introduction
Writing well is demanding and the range of writing tasks can be vast and varied :

 Email messages - internal and external

 Formal letters
 Emergency, weekly and monthly situation reports
 Minutes of meetings and meeting notes
 Analytical and technical reports
 Reports to donors
 Briefing notes
 Mission reports
 Guidelines on procedures

These tasks are just a few of those required. Much of this writing must be translated,
often into several languages.

Writing needs to be simple yet comprehensive; persuasive yet accurate; informative

yet brief. Some writing must be formal enough to meet the requirements of
communicating with governments; other writing must be divested of internal jargon
to make it understandable to a reader outside the organization. The need for
mastery, or at least good control, of the writing process is essential for m ost staff
members in their daily work.

This course aims to help you handle these writing tasks as effectively as possible.
It seeks to assist you in establishing strategies and skills that are general enough
to fit a wide range of writing tasks. Ultimately it aims to assist busy readers , through
writing that is clear, well organized and concise.

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MODULE SECTIONS
This module has seven sections.

 Section 1 How communication works

 Section 2 Writing for your reader

 Section 3 Adopting a writing strategy

 Section 4 Using electronic tools

 Section 5 Discriminatory writing

 Section 6 Wordiness and undue length

 Section 7 Achieving clarity and coherence

MODULE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

 state a clear objective for each wo rk-related document you write

 understand your readers' needs and write ap propriately to meet those needs

 identify and avoid barriers to effective written communication

 choose the appropriate written style for your learners

 use electronic writing and editing tools effectively.

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