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Target Audience: Postgraduate Research Students
The RD909 class (10 credits) will address issues associated mainly with writing and presenting research for academic (e.g., thesis, research paper, viva) and non-academic (e.g., newspaper article, public speaking) purposes. However, it also deals with other generic skills required for academic research, for example: how to write a critical literature review, how to plan the work and deal with the supervisor. The class also provides, through small break-up groups, the opportunities for students to share their experience of problems encountered with writing, and discuss possible solutions and strategies.
The class is mainly aimed at PhD students in year 1 but PhD in all other years of study will also benefit from attending.
Day 1 Writing the thesis - Introduction to the course and the assignment. The viva and possible outcomes. Writing up vs. writing down. Plain English. Editing and rewriting. Literature review. (Macro) structuring the thesis. (Micro) structuring and writing skills. Planning and monitoring. Supervisor issues. Exposure of ideas to the academic community. Style decisions; tables, figures and maps. (Dr Joanna Young, Electv Training).
Day 2 (Morning) Writing Techniques: fighting the blank sheet fear! Writing; how to start, how to keep going and how to finish. In this class we shall explore the writing process with writing exercises, advice on making writing part of your life and a session on dealing and providing feedback. (Tutor: Dr Joanna Young, Electv Training)
Day 2 (Afternoon) Writing for conferences and peer review journals. Publishing from early on in the PhD. Structuring the thesis thinking of publications. How to select journals based on impact factors. How the review process works. The importance of publishing for an academic career. (Dr Joanna Young, Electv Training).
Day 3 Research impact and presentation skills - How to write to generate interest in the research? How to deal effectively with the media (radio, TV, printed media). Using web pages effectively in transmitting a good story for the press and how to present yourself to the media. Tips for oral presentations at conferences and Radio/TV interviews. Using twitter and social networking for research purposes. Ensuring research impact. (Tutor: Dr Vanessa Collingridge, Monster Media Productions)
In order to gain 10 credits, students need to attend all three days of the course and pass the assessments. Assessments will be explained during the course and in Myplace. The class code is RD909.
By the end of the course participants will:
- Develops skills required for academic research
- Gain skills in the development of a research proposal
- Help create, promote and defend a thesis or dissertation
- Improve effectiveness in writing the thesis and research papers
- Learn how to write effectively for the media
Delivered By: Dr Elsa Joao
Prerequisites
Cancellation Policy If you are unable to attend a course please cancel your place as soon as possible, with at least 3 working days notice via the online booking system http://bookings.strath.ac.uk/mybookings.asp. Full details of booking conditions can be found at the link below:Useful Links
Find out about the opportunities available to you as an early career researcher:PG Certificate in Researcher Professional Development
All postgraduate research students are eligible to access the Researcher Development Programme workshops. This workshop can contribute towards the PG Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PG Cert RPD).
You can find credit and class information in the Researcher Development Programme Handbook and in NEPTUNE (Engineering, HaSS) or SPIDER (Science).
Please check with your department or Supervisor to confirm if you are enrolled on the PG Cert RPD and how many credits you are expected to achieve if you are unsure.