Category: Face-to-face

This is a one day workshop for students in the final stages of writing up a doctoral thesis. It deals with tasks and issues important to finishing off a thesis, such as the difficulties of editing a large document and writing to deadlines.

The workshop covers:

• How to edit, formatting and proofreading the thesis
• Producing a detailed plan of what they have achieved and what they have left to do
• Create a timeline for a schedule of works
• Create a synopsis of their thesis so far
• Shed light on important procedural issues around submission and examination.
• How to talk about the thesis in the viva

Audience: Doctoral students in the 3rd year, or part-time equivalent of study. The workshop can be generic to all disciplines, or made more specific to a particular academic discipline. Participants are provided with a set of analytical tools aimed at analysing their own discipline’s standards and writing tasks suitable to all fields of study. Participants are also asked to bring example texts from their discipline to use in workshop exercises. The workshop can either be cross-disciplinary or have a STEM, Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences focus.

Mode of delivery: This is a workshop style event, requiring participants to work individually and in small groups, as well as to occasionally contribute to whole group discussions. Workshops are interactive and based on experiential and reflective learning models. The content is evidence based, drawing on linguistics, sociology and education research, and professional editing and proof-reading guidance. All activities are practical and directly relevant to writing a doctorate in the early stages of study. The workshop can be run for between 8 to 20 participants, ideally in a workshop/seminar room equipped with workshop tables.

Length and timings: The workshop is 1 day long, for example run from 10am – 4pm with 1 hour for lunch, and one 15 minute coffee break.

Resources: The tutor brings packs of interactive materials; participants should bring four pages of writing from their own thesis with which to practice editing. They should also bring copy of a research paper they have recently read, pens and paper, and a laptop, if they wish; the tutor provides a comprehensive workbook to the institution for printing prior to the workshop; a flipchart and pens or white board is also useful, though not essential.

Previous client(s): University of Glasgow, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Stirling, University of the Highlands and Island, Glasgow Caledonian University

Retreats have been shown to be a very effective way to facilitate busy researchers to write. The retreats are typically two days long and can be held on or off campus. Unlike other workshops, a retreat is unstructured and more about providing time away from the office and a space dedicated purely to writing.  The tutor gives support and advice on an individual basis through the two days, acting as both editor and motivator.

Audience: Researchers, experienced or novice, staff or postgraduates,
who are publishing research. Retreats can be both mixed or done by discipline
or for a specific research team.

Mode of delivery: This is a workshop style event, requiring participants
to work individually or with co-authors. The content is evidence based, drawing
on education research on research writing. The workshop can be run for between
8 to 20 participants, ideally in a workshop/seminar room equipped with workshop
tables. If off campus an appropriate venue can be sourced, costs are usually on
top of the fee.

Length and timings: The workshop is 1 to 2 days long, typically run from
9:30am – 4:30pm with 1 hour for lunch, and one 15 minute coffee break in the
morning.

Resources: The tutor brings packs of interactive materials; participants
should bring pens and paper, a laptop, and any research papers or data which
will enable them to write their researcher paper/chapter/proposal; a flipchart
and pens or white board is also useful, though not essential;

Previous client(s): Queen’s University Belfast, Staff Development Unit, Dublin City University, School of Nursing

The workshop focuses on developing, drafting, editing and proofreading skills which are helpful to professional research writers and postgraduate students, who are producing long, complex documents for critically reading audiences. The workshop shows how writers can use knowledge of planning, drafting and editing to facilitate the writing process. It also demonstrates how to take a professional approach toward the production of written outputs and how to develop as a research writer. These skills are also particularly useful for researchers who write in teams or who have to perform editorial tasks, commenting on the work of peers.  The workshop is based on works in linguistics, sociology and education, as well as professional copy editing and proof reading practices.

Audience: Any research writer, staff or postgraduate who has to write professionally or edit and review the work of their peers. The workshop can either be cross-disciplinary or have a STEM, Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences focus.

Mode of delivery: This is a workshop style event, requiring participants to work individually and in small groups, as well as to occasionally contribute to whole group discussions. Workshops are interactive and based on experiential and reflective learning models. The content is evidence based, drawing on linguistics, education research and editorial and proof-reading manuals. All activities are practical and directly relevant to professional research writers or postgraduate students. The workshop can be run for between 8 to 20 participants, ideally in a workshop/seminar room equipped with workshop tables.

Length and timings: The ½ day workshop is 3.5 hours long, with one 15min coffee break and can be run either in the morning or afternoon. The 1 day workshop would typically run from 10am – 4pm with 1 hour for lunch, and one 15 minute coffee break in the morning.

Resources: The tutor brings packs of interactive materials; participants should also bring copy of a research paper they have recently read, pens and paper, and a laptop, if they wish; participants should bring 4-8 pages of writing from their own with which to practice editing; the tutor provides a comprehensive workbook to the institution for printing prior to the workshop; a flipchart and pens or white board is also useful, though not essential.

Previous clients: University of Stirling

Participant comments: (2012-2013) “It is interesting and useful”, “Prepare yourself to produce a quality research paper”, “Interesting, informative and helpful”, “Helpful in developing writing skills”, “Very helpful resource with lots of good tips”, “Very important and useful workshop”

A one day or half-day workshop for postgraduates, Masters or doctoral level. The characteristics of academic style, including developing an objective tone, and the use of references in a critical way, are explored and presented within the context of a professional writing process. This is an excellent workshop for introducing students to postgraduate level writing and forms a foundation on which they can develop their critical thinking.

Audience: Masters or doctoral students in the first year of study. The workshop can be generic to all disciplines, or made more specific to a particular academic discipline. Participants are provided with a set of analytical tools aimed at analysing their own discipline’s standards and writing tasks suitable to all fields of study. The workshop can either be cross-disciplinary or have a STEM, Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences focus.

Mode of delivery: This is a workshop style event, requiring participants to work individually and in small groups, as well as to occasionally contribute to whole group discussions. Workshops are interactive and based on experiential and reflective learning models. The content is evidence based, drawing on linguistics and education research. All activities are practical and directly relevant to Masters Students or doctoral researchers in the early stages of study. The workshop can be run for between 8 to 20 participants, ideally in a workshop/seminar room equipped with workshop tables.

Length and timings: The ½ day workshop is 3.5 hours long, with one 15min coffee break and can be run either in the morning or afternoon. The 1 day workshop would typically run from 10am – 4pm with 1 hour for lunch, and one 15 minute coffee break in the morning.

Resources: The tutor brings packs of interactive materials; participants should also bring copy of a research paper they have recently read, pens and paper, and a laptop, if they wish; the tutor provides a comprehensive workbook to the institution for printing prior to the workshop; a flipchart and pens or white board is also useful, though not essential.

Previous clients: University of Edinburgh, University of Strathclyde