ACCORD recently hosted a two-day workshop to enhance the writing skills of staff and encourage their contribution to academic and popular debates on African peace and conflict issues.
The workshop, from 3 – 4 March 2011, was attended by 9 staff members from ACCORD’s Interventions and Knowledge Production Departments. It was conducted by Professor John Daniel, former professor of political science in UKZN’s School of Governance, and Imraan Buccus, academic researcher at UKZN and columnist for The Mercury newspaper.
During the workshop, participants presented drafts of journal articles, book chapters, policy briefs and opinion pieces to their colleagues and the facilitators who gave valuable feedback on the form, structure and content of each draft. In addition, Professor Daniel and Mr Buccus presented on scholarly and popular writing and provided guidance on how to get published.
Participants were encouraged to incorporate comments and feedback on their drafts and seek publication in a relevant format (e.g. academic journal, newspaper, blog, ACCORD publication). The workshop also discussed how ACCORD’s work can be publicised in South Africa and how staff can share their experience and expertise through contributions in local and national media.
The writing skills workshop was the second in a series of capacity-building seminars organised by ACCORD’s Knowledge Production Department. The next writing skills workshop will take place in the second half of 2011.
