Environmental impact assessment constantly uses reasoning to reach conclusions. That process is called ‘argument’. Not argument meaning ‘quarrel,’ but argument meaning a series of reasons, leading to conclusions, targeted for a specific audience. Most professionals are not formally trained in organized reasoning. Therefore they do not know there are many techniques of argument that organize ideas to help an audience better understand the reasoning in written presentations. Assessments are complex documents. Using the tools of argument can make them easier for audiences to understand. And easier for authors to write!
 

This workshop will share guidelines for organized reasoning. These guidelines apply to all professional technical writing, but this workshop specifically targets the challenges of environmental assessment. The workshop shows how written IA documents contain common errors in their arguments. We will distinguish three different kinds of argument that technical writing and IAs contain and two different approaches to making arguments. Participants practice assembling evidence and reasons for each kind of, and approach to, argument. We show several steps and introduce some computer-based tools that bring better argument into technical report writing. At the end, participants will have a new perspective on how to write technical reports and IAs, and several new techniques they can use on the job.

Level:	Intermediate
Prerequisites:	Previous participation in preparing and writing IA documents; some experience with the difficulties of preparing an assessment and of challenges that come from the reactions of different audiences to assessment documents.
Language:	English
Duration:	2 days (2-3 April)
Price:	US$475
Min/Max:	10-24
Instructor(s):	Glenn Brown, Independent Consultant and Associate Faculty, Royal Roads University(Canada)
Special Note:	Individual laptops are not required but are useful.

 

Glen Brown is an ecologist, environmental manager and educator with over 25 years experience working in Canada, United States, Central America, West Africa, Southeast Asia, China and Mongolia. Based in Vancouver, Canada, he is an independent consultant and teaches in the Masters of Environment and Management program at Royal Roads University.

Projects he has worked on involved: impact assessment; mineral exploration; oil and gas development; rehabilitation of degraded land; ecotourism and economic development; parks and protected areas; science and environmental education; and endangered and invasive species. As a consultant, he works with industry, government and NGO clients. He has been employed in the environment department of a mineral exploration company and as the executive director of a science education NGO.

Although he is a practicing scientist, he has long been interested in education for professional practice, completing a PhD in Education to further that interest. The master’s program he has taught in for 11 years is specifically designed for professional practice. (The university’s ‘niche’ is providing applied programs for working professionals.) He received his University’s ‘outstanding teaching’ award for his contributions.