Table of Contents
Praise forCan Do Writing
Can Do Writing is excellent for scientists who write to managers and clients. The specific techniques especially help writers like me who write technical English as a second language.
Cindy Xinguang Li
PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology
I have transformed my writing after using the Grahams methods. Now, my managers applaud my writing. I recommend strongly this logical, ten-step approach to anyone who writes for business, government, or non-profit organizations.
Padmaja Mummaneni
PhD in Biology and Life Sciences, Delhi University
Can Do Writings friendly design and practical examples ease the reader into an intimate look at written communication. We implement the Can Do Writing system into our curriculum worldwide.
Skip Pettit
president, International Training Consortium, Inc.
Can Do Writing is the finest book on writing I have readthe essence of writing well. Time-pressed people who read this book on a cross-country flight will be far better writers when they land.
Larry Tracy
president,Tracy Presentation Skills
We dedicate this book to our clients
with sincere thanks to them all.
Engineering, Manufacturing, Business
AKZO NOBEL - Intervet, Inc.
Applied Ordnance Technology, Inc.
BAE Systems, Inc.
Barrett Penan & Company
Booz Allen Hamilton
Bureau of National Affairs
Celfocus, Portugal
CGI-American Management Systems
Christopher Consulting, Inc.
Computer Sciences Corporation
Constellation Energy
Covance Laboratories
Database Management, Inc.
DCI Group, Inc.
Dialogic Corporation
Ernst & Young
Evans, Inc.
Forrester Construction
Global eXchange Services
Goodman & Company
Hechts
Heckler and Koch U.S.A.
JAYCOR
Lockheed-Martin
Mitchell Systems, Inc.
MITRE Corporation
Mitretek Systems
Northrop Grumman
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
Price Waterhouse LLP
QinetiQ
Reznick Group
RGS, Inc.
Slone Partners
SOVRAN Bank
Sterling Software
T. A. Carlson
Teledyne Brown Engineering
TESS, Inc.
The Discovery Channel
Touchstone, Inc. - SRA, Inc.
TRW, Inc.
Vector Research, Inc.
Government
Department of Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services University
Health Resource and Services Administration
Administration for Children and Families
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Asst. Secretary for Resources and Technology
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Aviation Agency
Joint National Integration Center (JNIC)
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
National Institutes of Health
Center for Scientific Review
National Cancer Institute
National Library of Medicine
Naval Surface Warfare Center
Prince William Co. Criminal Justice Academy
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Office of the Commissioner
Office of Management
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
Center for Veterinary Medicine
U.S. Government Printing Office
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
U.S. Public Building Services-GSA
Veterans Administration
Virginia Department of Transportation
Nonprofit Organizations
American Public Transportation Association
Baltimore-Washington Information Systems Educators
Center for International Private Enterprise
Center for Smart Business Policy
Georgetown University Foreign Service Program
INROADS, Inc.
Leadership Institute
National Housing Partnership
The National Rifle Association
We also thank our agent Lila Karpfwisdom is priceless.
Preface
Do you find yourself on the following list? If so, Can Do Writing is right for you:
Business professional who wants to satisfy customers while working more efficiently and reducing risks.
Subject matter expert who wants to write clear advice to your manager or client who might not be an expert in your subject.
Recent college graduate who wants to learn how to write to an audience at work, instead of a professor in a classroom.
Scientist or engineer who proposes funding for your next project.
Engineer who wants to instruct others in how to design, build, use, or maintain your system.
Scientist who wants to share your exciting discovery in the laboratory with the larger scientific community.
Public relations or sales representative who needs to persuade.
Project manager who manages a team of writers and editors.
Accountant who wants to write your audit reports clearly and quickly.
Administrative assistant who wants to make sure that your letter gets every attendee to the conference on time and with ease.
Professional who speaks and writes English as a second language.
Government professional who writes policies, plans, budgets, or reports.
You are in good company. Hundreds of millions of people write English documents as part of their jobs. A recent book, Americas Top White Collar Jobs, lists 112 highly paid occupations. All of them share one career-building skillfrom accountant to veterinarian, writing is essential. If you have one of those jobs and your professional goals demand successful writing, take heart. You learned science, engineering, or a business skillnow Can Do Writing can help you master the writing skills you need.
For example, do you experience one of these problems as a writer or manager in the workforce?
Bosses or clients keep sending your documents back for rewrites.
Bosses, clients, and coworkers ignore or misunderstand your correspondence.
Employees send you documents that dont get the job done.
You spend nights and weekends on writing assignmentstime better spent on more productive or enjoyable activities.
Writing frustrates you: You are a hard-skills professional who likes objective truth, and writing seems so loose and subjective.
When you learn the techniques in Can Do Writing, you can solve problems like these quickly and easily.You increase your writing speed up to 40 percent. You learn how to persuade your audienceget resultswhile reducing risks.You learn a system you can use to write any nonfiction document, no matter how simple or complex.You can manage your time, set realistic deadlines, and collaborate with other writers and editors.You help eliminate the hassles and expense of rewrites.