Faculty Training Programme

FASS619 Advanced Thesis Writing (Second Year Students): Refocusing the Thesis

Module description

This course is workshop-based, and is aimed at students in the second year (or equivalent for part-time students). Because of the workshop based / interactive format, places are limited to 25. Places will be allocated in the following order of priority: FASS students; students who need to take the module this year; order of date of receipt of application. Those who are unsuccessful in getting on the course this year will, however, be given priority for 2013-14; alternatively they may register for the online version of the course. Unsuccessful applicants will be placed on a waiting list. As places on the module are limited, please inform the RTP Administrator as soon as possible if you no longer wish to take it, so that your place can be offered to another student.

This intensive one-day course is aimed specifically at PhD students in their second year (or part-time equivalent). The middle / end of the second year is typically the stage in the PhD process when students start to lose their way - for a variety of reasons - and the purpose of the workshop is to identify, share and trouble-shoot a variety of obstacles to writing. I have supervised 27 PhD students to successful completion during my time at Lancaster and will draw upon the experience this has afforded me to offer advice on specific problems. The morning session will begin with group discussion of a selection of 'real-life' case studies of doctoral students who encountered problems in their second year, following which participants will debate how these problems could have been avoided and / or remedied. In the afternoon session, participants will be invited to share their own particular 'writing challenges' with the group after which I will offer more advice on overcoming obstacles, writers' block - and how to re-focus a project that has got out of control.

The 'case-studies' and other hand-outs will be made available on the VLE in advance of the course and participants will be requested to print them off and bring them along. Instructions on how to access the VLE will be circulated a week or two in advance of the course.

Prerequisites

For 2nd year full-time students, and part-time students at the equivalent stage ONLY

Timing and Location

Term:	Lent
Date(s):	08/03/2013
Number of sessions:	1 x 3 hours and 1 x 2 hours
Timing and Location:	Friday 10.00-1.00: Bowland North Seminar Room 6 2.00-4.00: Bowland North Seminar Room 10

Additional information

Minimum quota: 6

Maximum quota: 25

Charge to non-FASS departments: £106

Downloads

General Handbook

RTP Modules Handbook

Registration Form

Coursework Coversheet

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