Written presentations

I never know what to think about something until I read what I wrote about it - William Faulkner (1897 - 1962)

1. Think about the context and target group
Who is the reader you aim at? How much does the reader know about the subject? Expressions or terms that you need to explain in more detail or avoid all together? In what order should you present the facts? Start early to let your thoughts sort themselves out, as it results in a better text in the long run.

Remember to check which format to use! Different texts and assignments puts different demands on you, and things like the lenght of the text, references etc can vary greatly. Sometimes there is a "standard" to base your own writing on.

2. Structure
When you are done planning it is time to start doing! A lot of texts contain the three basic parts: introduction, main part and ending. The purpose of the introduction is to make the reader more interested in the text as well as defining the purpose of the text and its goal. In the main part you explain as good as you can what you want to say. In the ending you can summarize, draw conclusions and stimulate further inquiries from the reader. If you have a good and clear structure you make it all the easier for the reader to follow your thoughts.

3. Editing and proofreading
When you have made the first draft you need to read throught the text and edit it. Either let text be for a while before reading it, or ask a friend to comment on your text. Think about your language and how you formulate your thoughts. Are the different pieces of the text connected? Take in and interpret the feedback given on your text but remember that it is your text and your desicions.

Remember to write down the feedback given and your own thoughts on the process to continue improving!

"Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach för the rest of the time... the wait is simply too long" - Leonard Bernstein (1918 - 1990)