The approach used by Gopen is based on a single idea: to improve your writing, learn how readers go about their reading. Readers know where to look for what. Learning what readers do allows a writer to control what readers learn. Dr. Gopen's workshops have changed participants' writing habits permanently, often resulting in improved grant writing success.

Here is what Dr. Gopen has to say about his presentations:

In the working world, the writer is usually the expert (however momentarily), writing for an audience that has a need to know something. We call that rhetorical act "communication." No one cares how hard the writer tried or how much progress has been made since the last effort. In the professional world, the important person, where prose is concerned, is not the writer, but rather the reader. The bottom line question where writing quality is concerned is simple: Did the reader actually get delivery of that which the writer intended to send? If the answer is yes, the writing was adequate; if the answer is no, the writing was inadequate.

The OITE is pleased to offer this workshop to the entire NIH community. While the workshop is geared toward NIH trainees, it is open to and appropriate for anyone in the NIH community who has an interest in writing effectively.

Here is what other participants have said about Dr. Gopen’s workshop:

“Dr. Gopen was fantastic. Excellent session on writing for scientists. This will help me in writing my next paper and grant.”

“Excellent! Very informative and interesting lecturer.”

“Dr. Gopen’s presentation was exciting, energetic, and informative.”

Due to the length of this communications event, Dr. Gopen's workshop will be shared with trainees in other locations over a live video link, if interest warrants. Trainees will be expected to gather at a single location to view the event. We appreciate that this will require our colleagues in the West to get up extra early; thank you for your understanding.