Producing Lay Documents Lenette Golding Communications Advisor Infant, Young Child and Maternal Nutrition Window of Opportunity Child Health and Nutrition Team 13th Annual Nutrition and Child Health Workshop Bali, Indonesia March 18, 2009 Getting Prepared! Documentation, Presentation and Advocacy
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Producing Lay Documents Lenette Golding Communications Advisor Infant, Young Child and Maternal Nutrition Window of Opportunity Child Health and Nutrition.
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Producing Lay Documents
Lenette GoldingCommunications Advisor
Infant, Young Child and Maternal NutritionWindow of Opportunity
Child Health and Nutrition Team
13th Annual Nutrition and Child Health WorkshopBali, IndonesiaMarch 18, 2009
Getting Prepared! Documentation, Presentation and Advocacy
Learn keyprinciples
Learn tips and tricks
View an
example
from
CARE
Nicaragua
Create a lay document
Share your lay documentwith the group
What does “lay” audience mean?
No special or expert knowledge on the subject
“Learn to use little words in a big way.” -Anonymous
“The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” - Mark Twain
Reducing jargon
GobbledygookAlphabet soup
Using “plain language”What “plain language” is:
A tool for increasing understanding
Clear, limited, but accurate knowledge
“Plain language” is not: Plain insulting
Using journalistic techniques“Inverted pyramid”
Conclusion Supporting Information Background & technical details
What makes documents effective?ContentReadabilityFont typeColorImagesLayout
Content- short sentences “To help mothers with malnourished children, in some areas
a special supplement has been prepared, which they can feed to the child and which will make good the lack in the child’s diet and start him on recovery while he gets used to the diet that is taught to the mother.”
“We must teach mothers of malnourished children to feed their children a better diet. In some areas a special food supplement is made to help these mothers. While they are learning about the new diet, the mothers can give their children the food supplement. The supplement improves the child’s diet, and the child will start to recover.”
Content- positive sentences
“Rickets is not uncommon in Indian children.”
“Rickets is common in Indian children.”
Content- Active voice
“ Her attention will soon be directed towards another baby.”
“She will soon direct her attention toward another baby.”
Content- presentation variety
Present information in a variety of ways:Bulleted listsChartsTablesImages
SFPS/USAID/JHUCCP; From Cote d’Ivoire
Readability ToolsMicrosoft Word has two tools:
Flesch-Kincaid Grade LevelFlesch Reading Ease
Font Type
Avoid using too many different fonts in a document or material.
Color Use colors that appeal to the
audience (Ex. Adolescents may be attracted to different colors than adults)
Use color to focus attention Use color to set the mood Use culturally appropriate colors
Layout
Use upper and lower case letters; DON’T USE ALL CAPS IN BODY OF TEXT (it’s harder to read)
Use underlining or bold to give emphasis (but, sensibly)
Tips for Creating Lay Documents Make it personal
Use storiesUse metaphorsUse visuals
The reader needs to have a context for the words
Summary Know your audience Use plain language Provide appropriate content Focus on human interest Inverted pyramid Use graphics suited to the audience Balance content and visuals Pilot test