1. Turning your Presentation into a Manuscript
Ruth H. Nawotniak MS, C-TAGME
Training Program Administrator
UB SUNY

2. Something you know Evaluations Recruitment
2010 New Coordinators Presentation

3. Steps 85% of the work done Thought through topic Organized Topic
Major talking points bulleted
Short catch phrases used for prompting

4. Steps Create first draft Just write!
Join bullets together to create sentences
Consider writing one paragraph per slide

5. Steps Review first draft Did points flow from one to the other?
Reorganize?
Re-word? – Word-smithing becomes important
Expand your talking points with the same verbiage as if you were presenting
Flesh out points with references? Examples? If you ask why, then you need more information
Review of the first draft becomes your 2nd Draft
Just write!

6. Steps
Do as many drafts as needed. You are the only person who matters during this process
Eventually you will tell yourself – I can’t think of anything else I want to say.

7. Steps Review to consolidate your writing
How can you be more concise – use less words?
How can you be more precise – be clearer?
Introduction - Does it set the background for the purpose for writing?
Conclusion – Does it wrap up what you want to say and does it speak to the purpose?
Do you have the major parts of an academic paper?

8. Steps Do you know who your audience is? Are you writing for them?
Are acronyms spelled out the first time they are used?
Can everyone understand your references? Example: not all programs have a blue service, but all programs have a pediatric surgery rotation

9. Steps Spell check – a tool, not a cure
Don’t rely on spell check – you need to proofread
Watch for homonyms: their, there and they’re are all correct spellings, but are different words with different meanings
used and sued are common typographical errors, but would not be picked up with spell check

10. Steps
Grammar Check
Kill as many adverbs as you can. What does “regularly” mean? What about “frequently”?
Watch split infinitives (the to form of a verb: to see, to do, etc) Ex. We want to regularly review our evaluations – We want to review our evaluations once a month.
Parallel construction: When listing, use the same verb tense. Ex. Managing data, analyzing reports, prepare summaries – common error - mixes mix verb and noun forms of the initial words

11. Steps
Grammar Check
Use active voice 90% of the time. Use passive voice sparingly.
Active: The program director wrote the PIF
Passive: The PIF was written by the program director.
Active voice strengthens the writing
Watch for Incomplete sentences
Watch for Run-on Sentences
Use lists and bullets when clarity is needed

12. Next - Seek feedback Listen to the feedback!
Consider the feedback and address the concerns. It will improve your work.
Fresh eyes have a different perspective than yours
Fresh eyes will pick up inconsistencies
Fresh eyes will pick up on phrases or statements that need clarifying
Fresh eyes will pick up on spelling and grammatical errors
Find the right venue for submission

13. Informational Writing
Academic Writing
Studies / research
Literature references
Statistical analysis
Formal structure
Informational Writing
Problem to be solved; topic to be taught
Scenario centered
May have literature references

14. Structure Introduction
Purpose (Hypothesis or Question in a research paper)
Methods
Discussion
Limitations (Research paper)
Conclusion

15. Submission Know the guidelines of the publishing venue
Follow those guidelines
Anticipate editorial board comments and suggestions
Re-write as necessary
Value the process
Don’t give up