SLIG Spring Virtual 2024: The Art of Writing a Research Report

Want to effectively capture your research whether writing for yourself or a client? Do you find writing effective research reports to be a challenge? Here's a course that will provide instruction and hands-on experience in creating an efficient and effective report.

In The Art of Writing a Research Report, coordinated by Debra A. Hoffman, PLCGS, a team of professional genealogists will share their expertise in technical writing, evidence analysis, incorporating visual elements, organizing materials, time-saving strategies, and documentation. You will receive a variety of reporting formats covering simple to complex research problems from an array of professional perspectives. You will learn both by evaluating provided reports and writing a research report during the course.

Other Instructors:

• Catherine B. W. Desmarais, CG
• Diana Elder, AG
• Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, FASG, FNGS, FUGA
• Karen Matheson, AG
• Angela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA
• Nancy A. Peters, CG, CGL
• Karen Stanbary, MA, LCSW, CG
• Paul Woodbury, MEd, AG

Watch this interview with course coordinator Debra A. Hoffman as she talks about The Art of Writing Research Reports.

The Art of Writing a Research Report will meet online on Wednesday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm MT, February 28 through March 27, 2024.

See the SLIG Spring Virtual 2024 Courses webpage for more information, including updates.

Which Writing Course is Right for Me?

Genealogists can never learn too much about how to write and write well. With three writing courses between SLIG and the Academy for Professionals in 2020, students have a tough choice to make.

So, what is the difference? How do you know which one will help you best further your work at this time?

Here is a short synopsis about each course:

SLIG Course 15: Technical Writing for Genealogists - Melissa A. Johnson, CG
Many skilled genealogists with excellent analysis and correlation skills have trouble communicating their thought processes and presenting evidence in writing. Students in this course will overcome these roadblocks and gain essential skills needed to convey complex concepts in genealogical work products, including:

• proof arguments
• affidavits
• research reports. 

The course will cover important issues including documentation, establishing proof, use of citations, DNA evidence, and legal and copyright issues. Students will become more comfortable with important skills such as analyzing, organizing, and presenting complex evidence; resolving conflicts; reporting a variety of meaningful and negative findings; using DNA evidence in writing; and qualifying information, theories, and proof. The course will focus on meeting the Genealogical Proof Standard, and writing in a professional, clear and concise manner for a variety of audiences.

SLIG Academy Course 1: The Art of Writing Client Reports - Angela Packer McGhie, CG

Writing effective research reports can be a difficult skill to master. This course will provide instruction and hands-on experience creating each section of a report. A team of professional genealogists will share their expertise in technical writing, evidence analysis, incorporating visual elements, organizing material, time-saving strategies, and documentation. They will share examples of a variety of reporting formats covering simple to complex research problems from a variety of professional perspectives. Participants will learn both by evaluating provided reports and writing a research report during the week. Students should bring a laptop to work on practice exercises in class and complete writing assignments.

SLIG Academy Course 6: Writing and Documenting for Peer Review - Karen Mauer Jones, CG, FGBS, FUGA
Peer review is an essential element of every academic pursuit, including genealogy. The vetting of articles and other work products ensures that the author or applicant is conforming to standards dictated by that discipline. Within the field of genealogy, our scholarly journals present peer-reviewed written work adhering to best practices and genealogy standards. Peer reviewers/judges for our credentialing bodies—the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) and the International Commission for the Accreditation of Genealogists (ICAPGen)—determine whether our knowledge, our analysis, and final products demonstrate consistent high-quality work. Study groups and writing groups present us with opportunities to act as peer reviewers ourselves. This course will examine the peer-review system from several angles, arming students with the tools and knowledge they need to achieve success.

While a tough choice, students can choose to take more than one since they are not all offered in the same week and reinforcement is always helpful!

For more details, go here.

Learn How to Present Genealogical Evidence in Writing

Many skilled genealogists with excellent analysis and correlation skills have trouble communicating their thought processes and presenting evidence in writing. Students in this course will overcome these roadblocks and gain essential skills needed to convey complex concepts in genealogical work products, including proof arguments, affidavits, and research reports. 

The course will cover important issues including:

• Documentation
• Establishing proof, 
• Use of citations, 
• DNA evidence, and 
• Legal and copyright issues

Melissa Johnson, CG and her experienced team of instructors, including:

• Rick Fogarty
• Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
• Karen Stanbary, MA, LCSW, CG

will instruct students on how to become more comfortable with important skills such as analyzing, organizing, and presenting complex evidence; resolving conflicts; reporting a variety of meaningful and negative findings; using DNA evidence in writing; and qualifying information, theories, and proof. The course will focus on meeting the Genealogical Proof Standard, and writing in a professional, clear and concise manner for a variety of audiences.

Students will be asked to bring a research report and/or proof discussion of no more than four pages. The report/proof discussion can be related to the student’s own family or another family they have researched. This writing sample will be used for in-class activities; students are reminded not to use a sample intended to be used for BCG certification, and not to use a sample that they do not have permission to use or that violates the privacy of living individuals.

Registration for SLIG 2020 opens July 13, 2019 at 9:00 am MDT. For more information, go here.

SLIG 2020: Courses on DNA and Technical Writing

DNA courses continue to attract students as more and more genealogists are adding the skill to  their toolbox. 

SLIG will be offering the following DNA courses in 2020 to continue to provide students with the knowledge and skills to effectively use and integrate DNA into their research:

• Meeting Standards: Using DNA Evidence, Coordinator: Karen Stanbary, MA, LCSW, CG
• Introduction to Genetic Genealogy, Coordinator: Paul Woodbury, Med

Another skill that all genealogists can utilize is their ability to effectively write. Part of the Genealogical Proof Standard involves being able to effectively write up a proof summary or argument to support a genealogical conclusion. The following course will help students do that:

• Technical Writing for Genealogists, Coordinator: Melissa A. Johnson, CG

Stay tuned as more information will be coming soon at SLIG's website!