Category Archives: audience

using jargon

Posted on March 6, 2023 by pat thomson

Technical terminology is often called jargon. The dictionary definition of jargon is “special words or expressions used by a profession or group that are difficult for others to understand”. Sounds OK eh. Nothing to worry about. But the word jargon … Continue reading →

Posted in audience, communication, jargon, reader, readership | Tagged audience, communication, jargon, Pat Thomson, readers | 2 Comments

a parable for online teaching

Posted on April 20, 2020 by pat thomson

The early 1930s. Pre Nazi Germany. Walter Benjamin, philosopher and cultural critic, regularly presents a twenty minute “book lore”programme on German radio. In his story “On the minute” Benjamin tells us that when his programmes were first commissioned, the department … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, audience, online teaching, pedagogy | Tagged audience, online teaching, Pat Thomson, pedagogy, Walter Benjamin | 4 Comments

revising with a reader in mind – ten questions

Posted on October 29, 2018 by pat thomson

Academics write for different kinds of readers. We are often accused of writing only for each other, but this is no longer true. Many of us now write for many different kinds of readers – or audiences, as they are … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, audience, reader, readership, revision, revision strategy, thesis revision | Tagged audience, Pat Thomson, reader, revising for your reader, revision | 3 Comments

conference blog – who’s coming to my paper?

Posted on September 25, 2014 by pat thomson

You know those insecure feelings you get when you throw a party… that anxiety that no-one will turn up… You’ve got more than enough supplies for everyone you’ve invited as well as for some uninvited hangers-on. The food is arranged … Continue reading →

Posted in audience, conference, conference presentation | Tagged audience, conference paper, Pat Thomson | 4 Comments

who is the public in public engagement?

Posted on September 10, 2012 by pat thomson

One evening, a long time ago, I opened my front door to find a teacher from the school in which I ‘d just enrolled my son. After an initial introduction she launched into a spiel about the English classes that … Continue reading →

Posted in audience, dissemination, knowledge exchange, knowledge mobilisation, public engagement, theory, writing | Tagged Pat Thomson, public engagement, theory, writing | 3 Comments

rules for conference presentations

Posted on April 26, 2012 by pat thomson

Having just returned from a conference where the presentations were a little mixed – to say the least – I was reminded of the reality that conference presentations are not the same as the conference paper. The paper is the … Continue reading →