4 principles of powerful policy writing – #BUCPUA students get the scoop

Professor Koehler captures attention during the Academic Writing for Professionals workshop. — Professor Koehler captures attention during the Academic Writing for Professionals workshop

On September 21, students from across BU packed into the Academic Writing for Professionals workshop. Led by Adjunct Professor William Koehler, this is the first installment of the #BUCPUA 2016 Fall Student Learning Enrichment Series. For more than 90 minutes, students absorbed free, critical instruction to enhance their professional and academic writing skills.

“You will be judged based on how you write. It’s true, folks, especially in the professional sector” warned Adjunct Professor William Koehler.

Throughout the workshop, Koehler provided useful keys to writing success, while also dispelling writing myths and cautioning against certain trends. He asserted that consistent principles must be applied when writing, whether in an email or a research paper. These principles consist of the four C’s: concise, clear, cogent and correct.

“I haven’t done any academic writing since my undergrad days!” said Jessica Martinez (MET ’19). “So this was a good refresher.” She also enjoyed learning more about the editing process, sharing that, “editing after those all-night writing binges is important!”

The audience was largely comprised of degree candidates in the Boston University Master of City Planning or Master of Urban Affairs program. The BUCPUA program provides students the cutting-edge skills and theoretical background to function as creative problem solvers in the fields of city planning, public management, and urban research, among others. This Fall, the Program witnessed its highest annual enrollment to date, totaling around 30 students.

Professionals from the public service sector listened closely as Koehler focused heavily on persuasive writing techniques. For policy recommendations to receive serious consideration for implementation, the author must adequately address the questions of “why” and “so what”. Koehler urged these policy writers to use neutral sources and peer-reviewed research, sound reasoning, and always account for opposing viewpoints.

Graduate students, mostly practitioners, listened carefully during the workshop — Graduate students, mostly practitioners, listen carefully during the workshop

When a student raised her hand and explained her idea for a research paper, Koehler responded with tailored feedback. He listed numerous ways to sharpen her research question, considerations for whom to interview, and what questions to ask.

Another student asked about proper email etiquette, and Koehler used it an as opportunity to caution against popular trends. He explained that Millennials relate to each other using a different language style than those from Generation X or the Baby Boomer generation. Koehler chuckled, stating that emojis might not be the best writing tool to connect with someone from a different generation. When constructing an email, he suggested erring on the side of a “warm and cordial tone, but in even amounts.”

This writing workshop provided an essential opportunity for students to re-think their writing style and its impact. Immediately, students can apply these fundamentals and strategies, and in turn, create a powerful impression both at work and in the classroom.

– Ines Boussebaa (CAS ’16) and Courtney Thraen (MET’17)