PhD writing workshops and retreats

The Faculty of Arts Doctoral Writing Programme offers all PhD students in the Faculty a series of four writing workshops, two research workshops, a two-day writing lab and a residential writing retreat.

Writing workshops have proved particularly successful in terms of students’ progress on specific writing projects and in building confidence in conceptualising research findings and presenting results effectively. The workshops also provide valuable opportunities for students to interact with others at a similar stage in their writing processes and to build a sense of shared identity and intellectual endeavour. Research workshops specifically target Arts students and are complementary to the University’s doctoral skills programme.

The 2011 programme will be facilitated by:
Dr Jian Yang, Associate Dean Postgraduate, Faculty of Arts
Dr Anne Scott, Faculty of Arts Scholarship Adviser

Workshop One: Writing and Professionalisation
Thursday 26 May, 1.30-3.30pm, Pacific Studies, Room 104
The necessity of securing funding for academic research has become a career reality and is extremely important
for your professional profile. This workshop will address the development of research scholarship, funding and
post-doctoral fellowship applications. Practical outcomes will include how to draft a research proposal, format an
academic CV and craft a cover letter. Model templates will be provided.

Workshop Two: Writing as Process
Thursday 16 June, 10am-12pm, Pacific Studies, Room 104
This session covers the process of research writing and its technological, practical and behavioural dimensions.
Accelerants and impediments to writing will be identified, as well as the qualities and phases of scholarly writing that is geared to the development of critical ideas and supervisory exchange. Academics who are recognised as excellent supervisors will share their experience in assisting doctoral students to write early and write well.

Workshop Three: Writing for Oral Presentation
Tuesday 19 July, 10am-12pm, Pat Hanan Room (Room 501, Arts 2 Building)
Writing for oral presentation is a particular skill. This session will cover all aspects of oral communication including writing to conference briefs, producing abstracts, timing and voice. The session will be interactive with students invited to present three-minute theses according to guidelines developed for international competition. Experienced presenters will offer advice and tips on writing for specialist and general audiences, incorporating media and handling questions.

Workshop Four: Writing for Academic Publication
Tuesday 9 August, 1-3pm, Pacific Studies, Room 108
PhD students are increasingly encouraged to publish in academic journals as a way of accelerating subsequent
research careers. In this session we invite editors of peer-reviewed international journals to guide you through the complex process of academic publication. We also consider the skill building associated with doctoral students editing postgraduate journals.

Writing Labs
Monday 29 August and Tuesday 20 August, 6-8pm, Fale Pasifika Building, 274 Computer Lab
Feedback from previous participants in this programme indicate that students, particularly those that have family
and work commitments, would like more unbroken writing time. We have booked the Fale Pasifika computer lab
to enable you to clear time in advance so that you can write across two full days without interruption. Academic
support will be available. Lunch will be provided on both days at 12.30pm, with brief drinks at 6pm each evening.

Workshop Five: Making the Most of the Library
Thursday 15 September, 9.30am-12.30pm, Kate Edgar Information Commons 420
This workshop consists of five sessions specifically for the research needs of Faculty of Arts’ PhD students, from
subject librarians of the Arts Information Services team. When it comes to finding information we know that one
size does not fit all, and which are specialised resources in the discipline. The Faculty of Arts Annual Plan notes as a strength the “superb research library” of extensive print and electronic materials.

To make the most of finding and using these materials, you may attend all or some of the following sessions. Please put down the sessions in which you are interested in the registration form. We will be in touch with you at a later stage.

5.1 New developments in the Library
Current trends and new technology: how can they work for you?

5.2 Formulating the research question
Has my topic been the subject of research elsewhere? If so, to what extent? Conduct preliminary searches using scholarly information sources.

5.3 Identifying the right information resources
Find what are the right resources for where you are in the research process, and how to use them effectively.

5.4 Strategies for keeping current with new research
Make the information come to you. What is available to keep you current in your particular subject field?

5.5 Managing your own research database
Software for keeping your references together safely and accurately, and the features they provide to help you manage them.

Workshop Six: Pathway to CJK resources
Thursday 22 September, 10am-12pm, Library Level 3
For the students whose research interest is related to China, Japan and Korea (CJK), it is important to be aware of the CJK materials available in the Library as well as in CJK countries. This workshop will equip you with deeper knowledge of how to discover East Asian resources including scholarly publications and primary resources. The workshop will also introduce the reference styles used in academic publications of these countries.

PhD Writing Retreat Briefing
Thursday 13 October, 10am-12pm, Pat Hanan Room (Room 501, Arts 2 Building)
For those of you attending the residential writing retreat, it is essential that you attend the briefing to ensure that you are prepared to maximise the writing opportunity it represents. This session will include advice from previous programme participants who can guide you on what is achievable in the four-day retreat and what you need to do in advance.

PhD Residential Writing Retreat
Monday 14 – Thursday 17 November (arrive on Sunday 13 November). From 9am Monday – 4pm Thursday

Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development 451 Old Taupiri Road, Hopuhopu (near Ngäruawähia) Drawing on the experience and success of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, the National Programme for Mäori and Indigenous Postgraduate Advancement (MAI), which has offered successful writing retreats for a number of years, this Faculty of Arts writing retreat will provide an environment that is conducive for writing, whether that be development of a research proposal, the drafting of an introduction, or the revision of a chapter in response to critical feedback. Prior to attending, participants (in consultation with their supervisors) are expected to specify clear writing tasks and objectives that they intend to fulfil during the retreat period.

Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development is a Tainui funded purpose-built residential tertiary college that provides outstanding facilities. Participants will be provided with single room accommodation and meals. While the focus is on completing individual pieces of writing, there will also be opportunities for group meetings and discussions with other students in the programme.

The retreat will be led by Dr Jian Yang, Associate Dean (Postgraduate) with expert assistance from various other academics and mentors. Staff will be available throughout the four-day retreat to provide feedback and assistance with writing. Your supervisors will be invited to join the retreat for lunch or dinner if they wish.

All costs associated with the workshops and retreat will be met by the Faculty of Arts, including transport, accommodation and food. To register your interest in the retreat please complete the attached form and return it to Ella Dunlop (details below). Places at the retreat are limited with priority given to provisional year and completing doctoral students and those students who have not previously attended.

Please note that provisional year students who register for the residential writing retreat will be expected to attend the series of workshops scheduled throughout the year. Other doctoral students are welcome to attend any or all of the workshop sessions.

Ella Dunlop – Faculty of Arts Co-ordinator
Email: e.dunlop@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: 373 7599 ext 87687
Facsimile: 373 7478