Professional Analytic Tools and Writing Workshop

This workshop introduces students to the principles of structured analytic tools and techniques and introduces the basic concepts of professional analytic writing.

Length:

5 days*

*This course can be taken in its entirety or separately in two components: Analytic Tools (3 days) and Analytic Writing (2 days).

Who should take this course?

Professional analysts, from both private and government sectors, seeking to improve the quality and impact of their analysis and written products and intelligence educators interested in instructional techniques for analytic tools and writing intelligence products.

Cost:

Description:

This workshop introduces principles of structured analytic tools and techniques and the basic concepts in professional analytic writing. In numerous hands-on exercises and writing assignments, students practice specific techniques and skills to help them overcome mindsets, organize information, establish different ways of thinking, develop clear lines of argument, and effectively communicate their points. Working in small groups, students share insights and compare the role of analysts across organizations and sectors. In the writing segment the instructors provide personalized, individual feedback to the students; an effective teaching method for helping analysts improve their writing skills.

Concepts introduced in this workshop are:

• What is analysis?
• Why are we so quick to fall into mindsets and why are they so hard to overcome?
• How to use frameworks, matrices, timelines, and chronologies to organize and understand data.
• What is the value of generating multiple hypotheses, and why is the Analysis of Competing Hypotheses such a powerful tool?
• How can you make these tools and techniques part of your regular analytical routine?
• What are the principles of effective analytic writing?
• How do you self-edit and review your own paper?
• What essential elements belong in the title of a written analytic product and why?
• How do you condense an analytic product and what does that teach you?
• What is the difference between a summary and a set of Key Judgments?
• How do you write a summary for an analytic product that provides the reader with the most significant information?

Agenda:

Day 1
Goals, Objectives, and Introductions
Introduction of Analysis

Analytic Frameworks and Mental Maps

Force Field Exercise

Graphical Representations and Matrices

9-Cell Matrix Exercise

Chronologies and Timelines

Luna Timeline Exercise

Social Networks Analysis and Exercise

Day 2

Analytic Traps and Mindsets

Simple Techniques for Overcoming Mindsets

Terror In Tokyo Case Study

Wen Ho Lee Exercise

Day 3

Challenge Techniques

Introduction to the Analysis of Competing Hypotheses (ACH)

Jonathan Luna Case Study: Using the ACH Tool

Indicators

Matching the Technique to the Task

Wrap-Up: Key Insights Gleaned.

Day 4

Principles of Effective Writing

Common Writing Problems

Crafting Titles and Framing the Question

Pyramid Approach, Paragraph Construction

Day 5

Brief Review and Discussion of Lessons Learned

Writing for Brevity

Writing for Clarity Using Critical Thinking

Key Judgments and Summaries

Sharpening Thinking and Editing Skills

Wrap-Up

If you're interested in future runnings of a course,
please send an email to registrar@pherson.org
to request information or call 703-390-9903.