This two-part workshop will be presented virtually on 15 May 2024 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PDT, with a break between 1-2 for lunch. The workshop will be held the day before and in conjunction with the 2024 National Genealogical Society (NGS) conference. Registration opens in December. https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org

Registration for the workshop will be through NGS’s conference registration page. Participation in the NGS conference is not required to attend the Putting Skills to Work workshop. The fee to attend is $95 for both workshops.

This year’s workshops are:

“Organizing and Analyzing Evidence for Genealogical Success” with Sharon Hoyt, CG 

Successful research projects benefit from careful planning. In this workshop, we'll walk through a genealogy research project from start to finish, discussing the techniques that helped to solve a century-old mystery. The class will cover project planning, effective online searching, and data organization and analysis methods to help you solve complex cases.

“Deconstruct to Reconstruct: Writing Proof Arguments for Maximum Impact” with Jan Joyce, PhD, CG, CGL, AG

 Deconstructing is a powerful learning experience with the ultimate goal to better construct proof arguments and other genealogical writing. This course will provide unique techniques to deconstruct a published proof argument that aids in recognizing direct, indirect, and negative evidence and how they are effectively presented. After deconstruction, students will learn methods to reconstruct proof arguments (and other writing). A common case study will be provided that will allow students to practice both deconstruction and reconstruction. Workshop time will be included for both phases as students utilize the tools that are shared with them. The main learning objective is for students to be able to write better constructed proof arguments as well as rework their own when needed.

Past workshops and instructors

Mary McCampbell Bell, CG. “Abstracting Records: Land Records,” 2003, 2004. “Abstracting Documents,” 2007.
Jeanne Larzalere Bloom, CG. “Spreadsheets 201: Manipulating Data to Dismantle Brick Walls,” 2016.
Melinde Lutz Byrne, CG, FASG, FNGS. “Editor’s Ink: Writing for Genealogical Journals,” 2012.
Victor S. Dunn, CG. “I Rest My Case: Constructing a Convincing Proof Argument,” 2014.
Stefani Evans, CG. "Understanding the Records," 2021.
Ann Carter Fleming, CG, CGL, FNGS. “Writing Family History: Style, Index, and More,” 2009.
Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, CGL, FNGS. “Planning Research,” 2006. “Writing the Ancestral Story,” 2009.
Harold Henderson, CG. "Making Genealogical Conclusions Readable, Understandable, and Credible," 2021
Marty Hiatt, CG. “Writing Reports,” 2006. “Arguing: Writing Proof Summaries,” 2007.
Melissa Johnson, CG. "Meeting Standards with Twenty-First Century Research Reports," 2019.
Robbie Johnson, CG. "Research Insider: The Whole Story," 2023.
Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL. "Walk a Mile in Their Shoes: Writing the Ancestors' Stories with Social History and Historical Context," 2022.
Karen Mauer Jones, CG, FGBS, FUGA. "Tackling the Family Narrative," 2022. 
Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA. “Genealogical Documentation: What, Why, and How,” 2008. “Editing Your Own and Others’ Genealogical Writing,” 2012. "Citing All Kinds of Online Sources," 2018. "Detecting, Assessing, Assembling, and Reasoning from Genealogical Evidence," 2021.
Connie Lenzen, CG. “Historical Context: More Than A Timeline,” 2013. "Planning and Executing Reasonably Exhaustive Research; or, How to Ensure a Successful Hunt," 2018.
Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FVGS. “Working with Documents: From Discovery to What Comes Next,” 2011.
David McDonald, D.Min., CG. “Reach for the Power Tools: Transcriptions & Abstractions,” 2016.
Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, CG. "Research Insider: Putting the Puzzle Together," 2023.
Nancy A. Peters, CG. “Make Your Case: Correlating Evidence to Solve Genealogical Problems,” 2017. "Evidence Analysis: Theory, Practice, and the Real World," 2019. "Reporting on Research: Applying Standards Improves Written Communications," 2023.
Beverly Rice, CG. “The Path To Change And A Better Life—Migration,” 2013.
Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL. "Understanding the Law," 2021.
Sara A. Scribner, CG. “Make Your Case: Constructing and Writing Proof Discussions,” 2017.

Roster of Special Workshop Instructors

Debbie Parker Wayne, CG, CGL. “Genetic Genealogy: Effective Analysis and Correlation of DNA Test Results.” 2015.