Struggling with your research writing? These seven writing workshops address common challenges experienced by researchers and research students.
About the facilitator
Cassily has worked in universities for 20 years in Group-of-Eight, regional and international universities, in academic literacy, researcher development and English linguistics. In recent years she has supported thousands of research candidates, early career researchers, supervisors and other academic staff and students with counselling, teaching, writing groups, writing feedback and coaching. In addition to her degrees in linguistics and education, she is a qualified social worker. She never finished her own PhD, many years ago – and doesn’t regret it – but has travelled that journey with others many times since then.
Critical reading
This session offers a clear, step-by-step model for taking an evaluative and independent perspective on the research literature in any field.
Looking after your sanity during your doctorate
This interactive session offers many practical measures to give yourself the best chance of keeping your health and happiness sustainable during your research degree.
Writing critically about the literature
This two-part series, which is very language-focussed, discusses the ways in which critical writing is similar to, and different from, other kinds of writing which researchers need to do. It looks in close detail at the special features of critical writing, and many specific things you can do, to adjust your own critical writing.
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Clearer sentences and paragraphs: Make your writing flow better
This practical session looks at the level of the sentence and paragraph, to reveal the features of ‘clear’ versus ‘unclear’ writing. It offers specific techniques in planning and editing which you can use to increase the flow and clarity of your final draft.
Developing your ‘researcher voice’ in your publications and thesis
This session discusses ways in which you can shape your ‘voice’ as a research writer, through paying attention to the language choices in your writing which shape your relationship with others (e.g. your readers and other researchers in the field).
Writers block and getting through it
This encouraging and practical session offers strategies which you can try, now or in the future, to see light at the end of the tunnel and get the words flowing.
Creating a structure for your literature review
Does working on your literature review feel like moving through fog?
There’s a good reason for that, and you are not alone!
This two-part workshop is designed for people who are in the first year of a research degree – but it may also be useful for supervisors who want to reflect on how they support their research students through planning and writing the literature review, or for candidates later in their candidature, revising the lit review chapter. It focusses primarily on the structure of the literature review, as part of a thesis or research proposal, rather than on systematic reviews or other types for publication.
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