THE ART AND PRACTICE OF PROOFREADING: WHAT’S NEW?

Course Description:  Is proofreading an art?  Yes. 
Is it a necessity?  Definitely!  Why?  The image of your organization is at stake every time participants send something out, so all written documents should be error-free.  

Is meeting that goal challenging?  Oh yes, especially proofreading one’s own writing.  But can it be done?  Absolutely!  What’s the best way to make the art of proofreading a skill participants can be proud to call their own?  Practice!

What’s new?  This workshop combines the best of proofreading as an art with the latest in modern rules and helpful tips.   Throughout the class, participants will put these rules and tips into action.  

The result?  Participants will acquire practical new skills for immediate use to proofread more confidently, competently, and correctly.

 
   Workshop Objectives:  After this workshop, participants
   will return to their jobs with the ability to:
   1)  Differentiate among revising, editing, and proofreading
   2)  Recognize universal proofreading symbols
   3)  Practice using them on job-related documents
   4)  Edit using related usage, capitalization, and
        punctuation rules
   5)  Edit and proofread the writing of others with an
        eye toward increased levels of accuracy

BUILDING WITH THE BASICS: GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION

Course Description:  Participants are often surprised to know that grammar rules have changed, some were only myths, and others have even been eliminated!  For example, of the approximately 100 punctuation rules that exist, participants need to know about only 25 of them to handle 90% of their writing, editing, and proofreading needs.  This workshop focuses on practical rules that help them write, edit, and proofread more confidently, quickly, and correctly.

For those who found grammar to be a confusing maze of illogical rules, they will be amazed at how this program builds from one principle to another. A variety of exercises helps clarify and further illustrate previously cloudy grammar and punctuation rules.

This course was created around a building analogy anyone can relate to.  Starting with parts of speech as bricks, participants will learn to construct the equivalent of a writing mansion.  Best of all, pre- and post-assessments prove they have mastered building basics and beyond.
 

  
    Workshop Objectives:  Attending this course will
    help participants:
   1)  Determine strengths and weaknesses in grammar
        and punctuation through a pre-test
   2)  Learn practical, current rules of grammar, 
        punctuation, and usage
   3)  Update knowledge with numerous exercises
   4)  Increase their ability to use these rules when
        writing, editing, and proofreading
   5)  Demonstrate improvement through a post-test

TAKING THE “Grr” OUT OF GRAMMAR

Course Description:  Surveys show that 80% of those in the business world tend to say, “Grr!” a lot when editing a document.

Participants will enjoy working with practical grammar and punctuation rules that help them do so more quickly and easily. 

Some topics for avoiding grammar glitches include subject-verb agreement, verb tense, misplaced as well as dangling modifiers, parallel structure, sentence structure, and pronoun case.  Also included are the latest rules to help participants eliminate punctuation pitfalls while mastering commas, semicolons, and colons.  Then, others won’t be likely to say, “Grr!” about the written or edited documents they receive.  

   Workshop Objectives:  This course helps participants
   do the following when writing and editing:
   1)  Analyze why correct documents are so important
   2)  Identify the errors that tarnish a writer’s image
   3)  Learn practical, current grammar and
        punctuation rules
   4)  Practice correcting grammar glitches and
         punctuation pitfalls
   5)  Demonstrate understanding of the rules through a
         pre- and post-quiz

SPEAK SMART: ORAL GRAMMAR

Course Description:  For those speaking over the phone, during meetings, or in person, correct grammar and proper pronunciation are vital to their image and that of your organization.  Why? 

Listeners tend to generalize an overall lack of knowledge when hearing such mistakes.  Correct grammar and proper pronunciation add that extra aura of professionalism to those speaking as representatives of their organization. 

Managers, supervisors, and employees alike realize they need to speak right so they won’t be left out in the business world.  This workshop helps participants sound as smart as they are wherever or whenever they speak.  
 

 
   Workshop Objectives:  This workshop will help participants:
   1)  Analyze the qualities of an effective speaking style
        on the phone or face-to-face
   2)  Using five grammatical parts of speech correctly
   3)  Pronounce words more distinctly and professionally
   4)  Pay attention to their image through their tone of voice
   5)  Maximize their speaking strengths and minimize their
        weaknesses through recorded and critiqued talks
   6)  Demonstrate speaking progress through a
        pre- and post-quiz

GRAMMAR AND CONVERSATION

Course Description:  This highly participatory workshop blends key concepts of oral grammar and pronunciation with confident, competent delivery skills. 

Participants learn key rules for using correct grammar and pronunciation when speaking as representatives of your organization.  Next, they discuss mastering the 8 C’s of Conversation to help them establish and maintain respectful rapport with each other and their customers. 

To practice incorporating them, the participants form groups who conduct a “conversation” in front of the class on an issue related to communication.  Those conversations allow practice in using correct grammar and pronunciation while engaging the class in topics the participants and their organization will benefit from discussing.  Tone is also included.

 
  Workshop Objectives:  After attending this workshop,
   participants will be able to:  
   1)  Analyze the qualities of an effective speaking style
   2)  Use five parts of speech correctly along with precise
         pronunciation
   3) Pay attention their image including tone of voice
   4)  Determine organizational benefits using the 8 C’s of
         Conversation
   5)  Maximize their speaking strengths through feedback