step-by-step guide through the master’s thesis or dissertation erica cirillo-mccarthy assistant...
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Graduate Writers’ WorkshopWeek 1
Step-by-Step Guide Through the Master’s Thesis or Dissertation
Erica Cirillo-McCarthyAssistant Director of Graduate and ADEP Writing
Workshop Format Setting Goals and Writing Groups Writing Process: Invention, Drafting, Revision, Editing Free writing/ Discussion
Today’s Workshop:
These workshops will be interactive and collaborative. There will be a short lecture on each topic, models or examples of writing, followed by a discussion of specific writing strategies. Afterward, students will be expected to work in groups on their own work, so please bring your laptops/ sources/ drafts/ brainstorming/ ideas.
Workshop Format
Consider daily, weekly, and semester-long goals Goals must be:◦Measurable, Specific, Quantifiable◦Achievable
Setting Goals
“I’m going to work on my literature review” “I’m going to gather some sources” “My parents are in town and I have to plan a baby
shower, but I can still write 20 pages this weekend”
CAN BECOME….
Moving toward Specific, Measurable, and Achievable Goals
“I will write 8 pages of my literature review”
“I will gather AND evaluate 10 sources”
“I have a big commitment this weekend, so I will read and annotate 2 sources and double up on writing goals next week”
Moving toward Specific, Measurable, and Achievable Goals
What: A group of peers meet weekly or bi-monthly to announce their achievements and declare their future goalsWhere: Anywhere comfortable with space to spread out. Someone’s home, a coffee shop, a conference room in the libraryHow: Everyone agrees to be honest and supportiveWhy: Low stakes, supportive writing groups have been proven to motivate writers at any level in sustained writing projects
Benefits of Writing Groups
ANY QUESTIONS?
Invention
Drafting
Revision
Editing
Understanding the Writing Process
Invention can take the form of any type of activity that helps you, the writer, create, connect, imagine your ideas, concepts, arguments: ◦Visual (sketches, concept maps, webbing, process maps,
hierarchy maps, flowcharts) ◦ Freewriting, brainstorming, listing, outlining, ◦ Invention as inquiry, talking with others, thinking aloud and
recording, writing a narrative◦A combination of strategies
Invention
Low stakes, putting ideas and thoughts down Could be electronic or long hand Do not worry about word choice, grammar, sentence
structure at this point Find the right time that works for you Find the right place for you to spread out and not be
distracted Disconnect the internet or find a program that does that The more you get down on paper, the more confident you
become Take your freewriting or selected quotes and begin there
Drafting
Now is the time to stop and carefully look for:
◦ Idea development
◦Use of evidence
◦ Synthesis of ideas and sources
◦ Logical Flow (Does one idea flow into the next? Are the relationships between ideas clear to the reader?)
◦Word choice (Define your terms)
Revision
Come up with a plan that works for you ◦ print it out and read it aloud◦ Have someone else read it aloud so you “hear” your writing for clarity and
flow
Consideration of audience Eliminate redundancy, in word choice, in ideas, in sentence structureParallel structureGet to know your patterns of error and look for thoseFinesse the formatting, in text citation and references pageGo through and make sure all of your sources have a bibliographic entry and
that you don’t have a bibliographic entry that you haven’t cited (use the “find” function in Word)
Look for your writing ticks—over usage of certain transitions or phrases
Editing
Let’s take some time to write down our personal writing goals
Then we can go around the room and find out each person’s goal
Take these goals and put them on your fridge, your computer, your bathroom mirror
Stick to these goals
Let’s Set Some Goals!
Set an appointment with a Writing Center tutor to talk about your goals and writing obstacles
Find strategies you can use to overcome writing obstacles
Work with like-minded, supportive people in writing groups
Work closely with your advisor and always advocate for yourself
Just keep writing and coming to the workshops
Thank you!