Overview

This training course will provide participants with improved skills, confidence and techniques for better report writing.

It is ideal for all council and local authority professionals, managers and staff who write reports for executives, councillors and others. This includes external stakeholders and senior management. Some experience of report or technical writing is required.

It is purposefully designed and tailored for writing council, committee and other reports.

Key features

1. Participants work on their own real-life documents, objectively editing and proofreading working in pairs (using breakouts).
2. Pre-course survey and research by trainer to ensure relevance.
3. Detailed course manual and materials, including a PDF writing reference guide.
4. Interactive learning exercises to practice structuring, composing, editing, and proofreading.
5. Engaging and expert trainer, both in content and delivery. Graham has many years of experience in delivering writing skills training to councils and similar organisations. He is also a published author and professional writer.
6. Facilitated live online in two virtual sessions, using teams.

Course learning objectives include:

• Understand what makes for a good report and the key principles of report writing.
• Tools and techniques for writing clear and concise reports, documents, and summaries.
• Learn and apply a four-step report writing process for producing on-time and well-written reports.
• Gain insights into the strengths and weakness within your own report writing..
• Making sure you use the write style, tone of voice and phrasing in your reports.

Who will benefit?

This is an advanced-level course. It is designed for those who wish to write more professional, accurate reports in less time.

Pre-course activity

Participants are asked to complete a short pre-course survey and to bring along examples of their past or current reports.

Content

First Session:

Key principles of report writing and business writing

• What does a good report look like? Definitions and examples.
• Why high-quality reports matter – to you, the council, and your readers.
• Five key principles that will make your report easier and more enjoyable to read.
• Learning exercise: Assessing your current reports.

Planning: How to structure your report

• Knowing your objectives and six questions to help plan your report.
• How to best to structure any report, with examples, using templates.
• The executive summary and why less really is more.
• Learning exercise: Improving report structure. Writing an executive summary.

Creating your report by writing the first draft

• Assembling content, data, information, and input from other; tools and techniques.
• Planning the ‘production’ process to make sure you meet the deadline.
• Developing a good writing style so your report is quick and easy to read.
• Learning exercise: Report planning and content selection.

Improving your report with effective editing skills

• Editing and proof-reading – what is the difference and why they matter.
• An introduction to editing skills with examples and exercises.
• Five ways to edit your report quickly and easily.
• Learning exercise: Editing and improving real-life reports.

Action plan and learning summary – part one

Second Session:

Advanced editing skills

• Advanced editing skills to make your report even better.
• Best-practice examples.
• Apply the clarity index / fog index to your report.
• Using online tools and Word functions.
• Learning exercise: Editing and improving real-life reports.

Using the right tone, voice, and style

• Using ‘punchy’ openings to gain interest and compelling endings to ensure results.
• Expanding your vocabulary to avoid repetition and improving readability.
• Writing with style: Headings, alliteration, couplets, puns, and other techniques.
• Unforced errors to avoid, including cliches, jargon and verbosity.
• Learning exercise: Bringing dull text to life.

Impact, layout, and formatting

• Using bullet points, lists, and tables correctly.
• Guidelines for the better use of fonts, margins, footers, and effects.
• Saving time and improving consistency using templates and stylesheets.
• Learning exercise: Improving consistency, formatting, and impact of a real-life report.

The final stage: Proofreading your report

• How to proofread effectively using professional techniques.
• What to look for: six things to check before sending your report.
• Improving your knowledge of grammar and spelling.
• Learning exercise: Proofreading exercises.

Action plan and learning summary – part two