The workshop addresses writing in the 1st year of the doctorate. It focuses on starting to write critically and systematically about the literature, developing a literature review, a methodology and a set of research questions/hypotheses, and understanding the purpose of a doctoral thesis. Developing your own academic style is also covered. The workshops approaches research writing as a process, one that poses particular challenges to doctoral researchers: managing an emerging and changing program of research; the volume of material and the size of the project; and obstacles which get in the way of writing effectively.
Audience: Doctoral students in the 1st 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. 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. 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 25 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 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, NHS Education Scotland