Category Archives: academic writing

LDC Development online resources are moved into Canvas

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Front page on site in Canvas

LDC Development now have an area within the University’s new virtual learning environment, Canvas ‘LDC Development Online Resources’, which offers supplementary information to our face-to-face and online programme of events.

Access: This resource is open to all PGRs at the University of Liverpool and can be accessed at any time through the link below:

Access the ‘LDC Development Online resources area’

– You will need to log in with your MWS credentials, with your username in the format username@liverpool.ac.uk .

Content –  Our resources in Canvas are organised into two sections, with further information below:

  • LDC Development Online provision
  • Related training sources  for Postgraduate researchers

LDC Development Online provision

The resources are divided into our seven programme themes:

  • Taking Ownership of Your PhD  – materials from our introductory workshops for new PGRs, including edited recordings of some of the workshops for those new to the PhD.
  • Communicating in Writing – materials to develop your academic writing, for your thesis and research publications, including recordings of materials from the three webinars on ‘Developing Writing Techniques’.
  • Communicating through Presentations –  materials looking at the requirements for research presentations and academic posters, including content from of the two online workshops covering Research Presentation.
    This area also includes guidance for the PhD Viva.
  • Research Productivity – materials covering Time and Project management
  • Resilience and Well-being –  ways that you can manage the challenges of life as a researcher
  • Career Planning – guidance and an online course  help  to help your prepare for the next step in your career
  • Creativity & Critical thinking – an introduction to the problem-solving, innovation and critical thinking skills needed as a researcher
  • Support for the PGR Toolbox – including a video of a recent introductory webinar with a software demonstration.

Related training sources  for Postgraduate researchers

The section contains links to further development opportunities with the University of relevance to postgraduate researchers:

  • Research Ethics and Research Integrity – access to the recommended Epigeum courses on these subjects.
  • Cross-faculty training Opportunities – a list of training opportunities available in April 2021.

LDC Development Programme: April – June 2021

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We have opened booking for most of the remaining events for this academic year on March 5th. These cover a range of subjects and include some exciting events new to the programme. The workshops are arranged under the following headings:

NB you will need to register for each workshop in the lists below separately.
Places are still very limited – please only book if you can attend!

Also, if anyone is interested in the opportunities to teach your research area in local schools and hear about the work of the Brilliant Club, they are offering an upcoming webinar:

20-Apr13:00 – 15:00Webinar: The Brilliant Club & PhD Tutor Opportunities in the Scholars Programme

Workshops to develop your writing

The upcoming programme includes a range of workshops to help you improve your writing techniques including two new series of workshops provided by Dr Matt Lane, who delivered our ‘From Surviving to Thriving’ series.
Places on all workshops are limited so we ask that you only book on one of the following three workshop series, to allow others the opportunities (Thank you!)

1. Dr Matt Lane’s first workshop is aimed at those in their first year and are writing their Literature review or their First year report:

28-Apr09:30 – 12:30Writing the First Year: The Literature Review and First Year Report

2. Dr Matt Lane will also deliver a further series for those in their second year or beyond and are looking to advance their writing skills for research publications or their thesis:

04-May09:30 – 12:30The Foundations of Academic Writing, Part 1 – Laying the Foundation
11-May09:30 – 12:30The Foundations of Academic Writing, Part 2 – Effective Drafting
18-May09:30 – 12:30The Foundations of Academic Writing, Part 3 – Effective Editing

3. In addition, we are also offering three shorter webinars, delivered by Dr Shirley Cooper and based on the research writing webinars provided in previous years.:

14-Apr13:00 – 15:00Webinar: Developing Writing Techniques – Finding Motivation
21-Apr13:00 – 15:00 Webinar: Developing Writing Techniques – The Academic Document 
28-Apr13:00 – 15:00 Webinar: Developing Writing Techniques – The Editing Process

Research challenges and productivity

These remain challenging times and the following workshops aim to support you overcome general challenges as a researcher:

22-Apr09:30 – 12:00The Emotionally Intelligent Researcher
19-May13:00 – 15:15Surviving the PhD – The Middle Years
09-Jun09:30 – 11:30Webinar: Get Unstuck – Procrastination Busting Techniques
23 Jun09:30 – 11:30 Taking Charge of Your Time: Avoid Drifting

The following series from the Company of Mind will also help you gain control:

13-Apr10:00 – 12:30Getting Organised for Research (and Life) 1, Tasks that Plague our Minds
20-Apr10:00 – 12:30Getting Organised for Research (and Life) 2, Research Literature and Information
27-Apr10:00 – 12:30Getting Organised for Research (and Life) 3, Get Control of Life’s Projects

Finally it is a pleasure to welcome Dr Fraser Robertson of Fistral Training & Consultancy for a repeats of the Project management workshops:

7 May09:30 – 11:30 Introduction to Project Planning, Part 1: Establishing Foundations
14 May09:30 – 11:30Introduction to Project Planning, Part 2: Scoping the Project
21 May09:30 – 11:30Introduction to Project Planning, Part 3: Creating the Plan

Careers Preparation

The following workshops, delivered by our Careers consultant Sally Beyer, will help those preparing for a career at all stages of the PhD:

15-Apr09:30 – 12:00Shining at Interview
06-May09:30 – 12:00PGR ‘Career Ready’ Bootcamp
13-May09:30 – 12:00Effective Career Networking
20-May09:30 – 12:00Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
10-Jun09:30 – 12:00Creating Effective Job Applications

Details still to come:

We expect to continue our online writing retreats over the summer period. New dates will be share with all who have already signed up to the existing list for these retreats on the link:

Online Writing Retreats

New Series – We have now released details of a further series of team-based workshops by the Company of Mind (Dr Adrian West)., which are spread over the three dates: 25th May, 1st June and 8th June.

“Star Researcher”:Team Missions to Help You Make Progress Now

A full up-to-date list of all events is available on our programme timetable.

LDC Development Programme: Jan – March 2021

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The Liverpool Doctoral College Development team programme for Jan to March is listed below and events are open for registration. Follow the links on each title for more information and to book a place. The list below is loosely organised to our programme themes, with some overlap between themes. All events will take place online, mostly in Zoom.*
NB Places are limited – please only book if you can attend!

Taking Ownership of your PhD

Workshops for those who have recently begun their PhD

03 Feb13:00 – 15:15Starting the PhD
17 Feb13:00 – 15:15Project Management of the PhD
24 Feb13:00 – 15:15Time-management in the PhD

We also offer a webinar to support those new to the PGR Toolbox:

10 Feb13:30 – 14:30Webinar: Effectively Using the PGR Toolbox

 Improving your resilience … and your productivity

Managing your own motivation is important to maintain research progress. We offer an early workshop to help you set goals for the coming year, and then two workshop series, the first to help you manage yourself and your motivations and the second to build better working relations with others.
NB you will need to register for each workshop in these series separately.

21 Jan13:00 – 15:15Setting PhD Goals: Looking Ahead to a Great PhD Year
  9 Feb14:00 – 16:00From Surviving to Thriving, 1:
Developing Your Resilience 
16 Feb14:00 – 16:00From Surviving to Thriving, 2:
Managing Your Procrastination
23 Feb14:00 – 16:00From Surviving to Thriving, 3:
Cultivating Your Productivity
02 Mar14:00 – 16:00From Surviving to Thriving, 4:
Nurturing Your Happiness 
 09 Feb09:30 – 12:30Working with Difficult People 1: People – Similarities
16 Feb09:30 – 12:30Working with Difficult People 2: People – Differences
23 Feb09:30 – 12:30Working with Difficult People 3: People & Change

Finally, we are able to repeat the two day workshop, ‘Becoming a Mindful Researcher’ in March:

15&16 March09:30 – 12:00Becoming a Mindful Researcher

Preparing for presentations and conferences

We have two workshops, repeated in March, to help those preparing for presentations and a webinar for those new to academic conferences:

20 Jan13:00 – 15:15Planning an Effective Research Presentation 
27 Jan13:00 – 15:15Delivering a Convincing Research Presentation 
03 March13:00 – 14:30Webinar: Making the Most of Online
Academic Conference
16 March13:00 – 15:15Planning an Effective Research Presentation
23 March13:00 – 15:15Delivering a Convincing Research Presentation

Writing and analysing research papers

 We are repeating the three workshops offered in Autumn 2020 to help you prepare and start your academic writing:

03 March09:30 – 13:00Getting Going on Your Thesis Writing
10 March09:30 – 13:00Critical Analysis of Research Papers
24 March09:30 – 13:00Getting your Work Published

Our online writing retweets will continue, which provide community writing support, particularly for those managing the final write-up in isolation. For details see:

Online Writing Retreats

 This year we will include some longer retreats. For Jan and Feb the dates are as follows:

  • 12th January 09.45 – 12.00
  • 19th January 09.45 – 15.00
  • 2nd February 09.45 – 12.00
  • 23rd February 09.45 – 15.00

A further peer group of researchers organise their own meetings within a Microsoft teams groups. Details are shared within the above meetings.

Careers preparation

We are continuing our series of workshops to support those preparing for a career despite these difficult times.

11 Feb09:30 – 12:00The Career Wise Researcher
11 March09:30 – 12:00Effective Career Networking
18 March09:30 – 12:00Using LinkedIn to Develop your Career

A full list of all events is available on our programme timetable.

*If you have problems in connecting, or have other access issues, please get in touch with us directly at ldcdevelopment@liverpool.ac.uk as it may be possible to make alternative arrangements.

Looking forward to 2021?

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We have announced our new programme for January to March. Registration opens 6th January.

We would like to thank all those who have joined our events, webinars, workshops, writing retreats and so on over the past year. We wish you the very best for the coming break, and hope you do feel able to have a break, if not to meet people, at least to have a change of scenery … Look after yourself, and support friends and colleagues where possible.

We also hope that you are looking forward to 2021. It has been a challenging year for most of us and we can only hope for better in the coming year. Maybe you will more time in the University, meet people face to face at last, get to conferences, or to finish your thesis ….

We also have a new programme for January to March, although delivery will remain online. A full list is on our web timetable, where you can obtain further information for most events and registration opens on the 6th January. Here we take a preview of our January events.

Writing retreats – Our programme begins with our online writing retreats, which offer peer support to those writing (although you also do reading, data preparation …) All those already on our list for these events will be notified of these upcoming dates.

12  Jan09:45 – 12:00Online Writing Retreat
19  Jan09:45 – 15:00Online Writing Retreat

Teaching Opportunity – Are you interested in a teaching opportunity in local secondary schools? Would you like an opportunity to gain valuable and rewarding experience in teaching your own research area to support those considering University? The Brilliant Club are providing a webinar for us to introduce their Scholars programme, how it works (even in a pandemic) and how it will help you. No registration is required, see below for details:

12  Jan11:00 – 12:00Webinar for The Scholars Programme (The Brilliant Club)

Presentation skills – Are you looking to improve your presentation skills? We have two online workshops to help you plan your next talk, and deliver your research coherently and succinctly, and to help you develop your delivery style and gain confidence. For further details follow the links below. (The sessions are repeated in March.)

20 Jan13:00 – 15:15Planning an Effective Research Presentation 
27 Jan13:00 – 15:15Delivering a Convincing Research Presentation 

Goal planning – Finally, the start of the year is a good time to review your progress and set goals for the coming year. Join us in the following session delivered by Lynne Elliott (LSTM) to reflect on your progress so far, what you have learnt from your experiences and plan what you want to accomplish in the coming months:

21 Jan13:00 – 15:15Setting PhD Goals: Looking Ahead to a Great PhD Year

Wishing you all the best for the New Year 2021!

WriteFest2020

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Logo for event

Webpage: WriteFest2020 November 2020

A joint organisation between the Academy, the Library Open Research Team team and LDC Development

Writing is a core aspect of any academic role and forms an integral part of academic life. Developing skills in academic writing takes time and regular practice, while finding time and space to write is an ongoing challenge for any academic. WriteFest2020 is an international celebration of academic writing, that supports and encourages good practices and habits of writing.  Here at Liverpool, we are joining the celebrations with a month of writing related events including weekly WriteFest Coffees, writing retreats and workshops. You can find the full programme of events on our webpages. There should be something there for all researchers at any stage of their writing career.

Of particular relevance to PGRs writing up their thesis, journal articles or early reports, we are hosting a number of writing retreats. These are great opportunities to carve out time for thesis writing and get writing done in the company of other PGRs.

There are also some great workshops on offer from the library KnowHow team on copyright, systematic reviews, and turning your thesis into a monograph.

New Development Events for this Autumn

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We have now opened registration for further events in the LDC Development programme for the coming Autumn. All events are online and open to all PhD and MPhil researchers at the University of Liverpool and LSTM. The events include workshops for those who have recently started their PhD and also for those further on in their degree, looking to develop new skills and preparing for their ongoing career.

A full list of events open for registration can be viewed on our programme timetable. Below we provide a summary by type of event. Follow the links on each title for more information and registration.
NB Places on these workshops are limited – please only book if you can attend and record the date in your diary. Unfortunately we can rarely fill a place when people cancel the day before!

Taking Ownership of your PhD – These sessions for those who have recently begun their PhD continue and also includes a repeat of two previously offered workshops,:

03 Nov10:00 – 12:15Taking Ownership of your PhD 1: Starting the PhD
10 Nov13:00 – 1515Taking Ownership of your PhD 2 :
Project Management of the PhD
18 Nov13:00 – 15:15Taking Ownership of your PhD 5:
Working with your Supervisor
24 Nov13:00 – 15:15Taking Ownership of your PhD 6: Developing as a Researcher

Registration will open soon for the two further workshops:

Dec 2 13:00 – 1515 Taking Ownership of your PhD 7 Surviving the PhD
Dec 9 13:00 – 1515 Taking Ownership of your PhD 3 Networking as a researcher

We have a further webinar to support those gaining familiarity with the PGR Toolbox:

12 Nov13:30 – 14:30Webinar: Effectively using the PGR Toolbox

Careers sessions: Our Careers sessions this Autumn include an early ‘Bootcamp’, for those late in their PhD who are facing a difficult (but not impossible) job market, and a Career planning workshop for those earlier in the PhD.

05 Nov09:30 – 12:00PGR ‘Career Ready’ Bootcamp
12 Nov09:30 – 12:00The Career Wise Researcher
19 Nov09:30 – 12:00Using LinkedIn to Develop your Career
26 Nov09:30 – 12:00Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
01 Dec09:45 – 12:00Online Writing Retreat
03 Dec09:30 – 12:00Shining at Interview

This series includes two workshops to support researchers in building their resilience (in Dec) and looking for ways to overcome Imposter Syndrome.

Writing and analysing research papers

We have three workshops to help you prepare and start your academic writing, presented by an external presenter Dr Jen Allanson:

04 Nov09:30 – 13:00Getting your Work Published
11 Nov09:30 – 13:00Getting Going on your Thesis Writing
18 Nov09:30 – 13:00Critical Analysis of Research Papers

Project Management

We are delighted to offer a repeat of these popular webinars delivered by Dr Fraser Robertson of Fistral Consultancy:

16 Nov09:30 – 11:30Webinar:Introduction to Project Planning, part 1
– Establishing Foundations
23 Nov09:30 – 11:30Webinar: Introduction to Project Planning, part 2
– Scoping the Project
30 Nov09:30 – 11:30Webinar: Introduction to Project Planning, part 3
– Creating the Plan

Creative, constructive and critical Thinking

We are also repeating the highly enriching sessions to inspire your ways of thinking, delivered by Dr Adrian West (Company of Mind):

10 Nov10:00 – 12:30Practical Thinking for Researchers 1 – Creative Thinking
17 Nov10:00 – 12:30Practical Thinking for Researchers 2 -Constructive Thinking
24 Nov 10:00 – 12:30Practical Thinking for Researchers 3 – Critical Thinking

Becoming a Mindful Researcher: 7 and 8 Dec – A 2-day Workshop delivered by
Priyanka Sakhavalkar. Registation will open soon.

Our Programme for June is open for registration!

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We have a range of new sessions on offer for the coming weeks, covering topics in project planning, working with other people and career planning. Further details are provided on the links below.

Webinars providing an ‘Introduction to Project Planning‘

These two hour sessions are provided in Zoom by Fistral Training and Consultancy and now collectively replace the full day face to face workshop originally planned, ‘Introduction to Project Management’.

01 June 14:00 – 16:00 1. Establishing foundations
08 June 14:00 – 16:00 2. Scoping the project
15 June 14:00 – 16:00 3. Creating the plan

Online resources: Fistral also provide a series of short videos focussing on topics around project management, which free to view by all: Fistral Training ‘Exspressos videos’

Webinars on ‘Influencing without authority’

Delivered by Fistral training these two hour sessions present a mixture of informative advice supplemented by online discussions.The sessions below may be attended as a series or you may book on a single individual session.

03 June 14:00 – 16:00 1 – Mobilising your personal power
10 June 14:00 – 16:00 2 – Assertive communication 
17 June 14:00 – 16:00 3 – Making your case

Online careers-related workshops

These two hour online workshops, presented by our careers consultant, Sally Beyer, will be delivered in Zoom and will provide a mixture of advice and discussions. For further information, please follow the links below:

04 June  10:00 – 11:30 Using Linkedln to Manage Your Career
11 June  10:00 – 11:30 PGR ‘Career Ready’ Bootcamp (for final year PGRs)
25 June  10:00 – 11:30 The Career Wise Researcher (for pre-final year PGRs)
02 July  10:00 – 11:30  Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Sally will remain on-hand for a half hour at the end of each session to answer any individual questions.

Writing Retreats

Our morning writing sessions will also continue on Tuesday mornings in June, on the 2nd 9th , 16th, 23rd and 30th. For further details see the registration form below to add your name to our email list to receive reminders of upcoming dates. (NB you only need complete this form once!)

Online Writing Retreats

People skills, facilitation, writing retreats, … and more in May

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Our programme for May contains a varied range of opportunities, online workshops, writing retreats and shorter sessions, to support your development and to support your well-being in this time of uncertainly and to help maintain a sense of continuity.

Online workshops – Working with difficult people

The Company of Mind are providing a series of three shorter online workshops for the originally offered full day workshops, ‘Working with difficult people’. These online workshops will be presented in the Zoom software and will provide a mixture of ideas and interactive activities, with a further half hour at the end of each workshop for questions and discussion.

1: Wednesday, 13 May 2020 10:00 – 12:00 – Online workshop “People – Similarities”

2: Thursday, 21 May 10:00 – 12:00 – Online workshop ” People – Differences”,

3: Friday, 29 May 10:00 – 11:30 – Online workshop ” People and Change”

Follow the above links for further details and registration.

Facilitation

Would you like to learn more about the role of an effective facilitator? Facilitation skills are an essential part of the toolkit for managing group discussions, whether in formal or informal meetings and in group teaching, as well as for tutoring on our development programme.

.20 May 12:30 – 14:00 Webinar: Facilitation skills for working online

This webinar forms part of the LDC Development tutor scheme and, following this session we hope to provide opportunities for further practice in online facilitation.

Online presentations practise: We are providing second opportunity to gain practise in delivering online presentations in a friendly environment, with supportive feedback. Please contact me directly, shirley.cooper@liverpool.ac.uk if you have any questions or suggestions.

06 May 09:30 – 12:30 Online Presentations practice session

Online Writing retreats

Our online writing retreats are continuing in May with sessions every Tuesday morning. These retreats provide a structured period for writing between opportunities for group discussions at share concerns and gain a sense of camaraderie.

  • 05 May 09:45 – 12:00
  • 12 May 09:45 – 12:00
  • 19 May 09:45 – 12:00
  • 26 May 09:45 – 12:00

We will be supplementing these retreats with shorter sessions to discuss different aspects of writing. Further information will be circulated to those on the email list.

Please note that we are using a single Eventbrite form for these retreats, which will serve as an email list. You only need to sign up once to this form, without obligation to attend specific events (The event date will regularly update, but this is solely so that the date of the next retreat appears in Liverpool Life!)

Brilliant Club

The Brilliant club are now recruiting PhD researchers as tutors in local schools for 2020-21. To find out more details, come to one of their webinars:

20 May 11:00 – 12:00 Webinar: Introduction to the Brilliant Club

This webinar will outline what the Brilliant Club does and the advantages of getting involved in this scheme. Further details are provided in our blog on the above link.

Mindfulness Interactive workshops

Following on from the workshop on Mindfulness techniques, we are offering weekly 30 minute yoga based  interactive sessions in May to help you develop a positive mindset and practice meditation. Presented by Priyanka Sakhavalkar, these sessions will include a mixture of relaxation and guided meditation

The sessions will run on Thursdays at 12:00 on the 7th,14th ,21th and 28th May.

To sign up for further information to join these events, please register on the Eventbrite form for these workshops.

Peers for PhDs

In May the group are hosting coffee mornings on alternative Tuesday and Thursdays as follows:

  • Thursday 30th April
  • Tuesday 5th May
  • Thursday 14th May
  • Tuesday 19th May

For further details please email Natasha Bradley at Natasha.Bradley@liverpool.ac.uk.

All postgraduate researchers at Liverpool are welcome to join any of the above events. Further events for June will be announced in our Programme Timetable, and communicated through this blog, PGR News @Liverpool, and on twitter at @livuniPGRDev.

Our new online programme for April

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We are pleased to announce a range of new online workshops, webinars and writing retreats for April, following the cancellation of all face to face workshops for the remainder of the academic year.

Al postgraduate researchers at Liverpool are welcome to join any of the events below. Further events for May and June will be announced soon and the dates will be be listed on our Programme Timetable, and communicated through this blog, PGR News @Liverpool, and on twitter at @livuniPGRDev.

Online workshops and webinars

We have expanded on our planned webinars for April, as follows:

16 Apr 12:30 – 13:30 Webinar: Using Twitter for Academic Purposes 
22 Apr 10:00 – 12:00 Mindfulness techniques to support self-isolation 
(Online workshop)
29 Apr 12:30 – 13:30 Webinar: Time-management techniques for
working in isolation

In addition, the Company of Mind have agreed to provide a series of three shorter online workshops for each of the originally offered full day workshops, ‘Practical thinking for researchers’ and ‘Working with difficult people’. These online workshops will be presented in the Zoom software and will provide a mixture of ideas and interactive activities, with a further half hour at the end of each workshop for questions and discussion. The first set of workshops are as follows:

08 Apr 10:00 – 12:30 Practical Thinking for Researchers, 1 –
Creative Thinking (Online workshop) – FULLY BOOKED*
16 Apr 10:00 – 12:30 Practical Thinking for Researchers, 2 –
Constructive & Practical Thinking (Online workshop)
24 Apr 10:00 – 12:30 Practical Thinking for Researchers, 3 –
Critical Thinking (Online workshop)

Each of these online workshops may be booked and taken separately. *Priority booking for the first session on the 8th April has been given to those who registered for the workshop for 31st March, and who will receive an email with further information.

Online presentations practise: We are also providing an opportunity to gain practise in delivering online presentations in a friendly environment, with supportive feedback. This first session will be trial session, please contact me directly, shirley.cooper@liverpool.ac.uk if you have any questions or suggestions.

28 Apr 09:30 – 12:30 Online Presentations practice session 
(Online workshop)

Online Writing retreats

During the period of Covid-19, we will need to meet virtually, but we hope that by setting out specific and protected time for writing, with set periods of discussion and silence, we give those attending a chance to motivate each other and feel part of a wider, supportive community. Each session will begin with a short general discussion for those attending to share any concerns or good practice.

The upcoming sessions are as follows:

08 Apr 09:45 – 12:00 Online Writing Retreat
15 Apr 09:45 – 12:00 Online Writing Retreat
21 Apr 09:45 – 12:00 Online Writing Retreat
27 Apr 09:45 – 12:00 Online Writing Retreat

Please note that we are using a single Eventbrite form; by signing up to this form, you will receive regular updates on this part of the programme and are not committed to attending on any specific date.

Methods webinars from LJMU

Liverpool John Moores University have kindly opened their series of webinars on methods to postgraduate researchers at the University of Liverpool. Further details and booking below:

27th April, 14.00-16.00 Writing Reflexivity

28th April, 10.0-12.00 Getting to Grips with Method and Methodology

28th April, 13.30-15.30 Focus Group Skills for Researchers

Please use your University of Liverpool email address when you register for any of the above events.

Research Writing – how to overcome challenges?

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Empty Notebook

Most PhDs often have concerns when it comes to writing. What is a good writing? How to maintain the writing pace? How to structure, edit or revise your paper or thesis? It is hard to give definite answers – writing is a personal process.

Each individual will need to approach writing differently, as you may have found when discussing writing with your peers. It is important to find out what suits you best. So, it is important to seek out advice to help you feel comfortable about your writing. Here are a few tips to begin:

  • Check the institutional requirements. These are formally defined in the University’s PGR Code of Practice, Appendix 7, which includes advice on the formatting and presentation of the thesis. The editing process might take much longer if you do not consult this early. However, you should also check out any departmental advice for your subject area, for example they may have recommended minimum word count and advice on publishing your data. You could also view previously submitted thesis within your Faculty, School, or Department and see how their thesis and the arguments are structured!
  • Write as much as possible, as often as possible. Writing is not just about the thesis! Try to practice your writing when, for example, taking notes or preparing a presentation. Write down your thoughts occasionally. It will help you structure your sentences and arguments. Good writing comes with extensive practice.
  • Don’t be afraid of feedback, ask for it, and accept the need for revision. Article or thesis editing is a continuous process, and it will follow you from the start of the thesis until the submission moment (and possibly throughout the whole career). 

LDC Team has developed a webinar series to support your writing. The timetable for these sessions follows common challenges as they appear throughout the writing process.

Research Writing – Finding motivation and making a start  09 March 12:30-13:30 

The focus of this webinar is on the initial stage of writing. Topics include overcoming procrastination and different approaches to starting the process of writing. 

Research Writing – Producing an academic document      16 March 12:30-13:30, 

The focus of this webinar is on the construction of academic document and the ways you can build a strong and convincing, yet easy to read, arguments. 

Research Writing – Managing the editing process         23 March 12:30-13:30

The focus of this webinar is on improving clarity and fluency of writing. The topics will include the development of effective editing system and different approaches to reviewing the whole document. 

Writing retreats

LDC Development hosts regular retreats for postgraduate researchers, both two hour mini-writing retreats and full day writing retreats. Together we bring our laptops and collectively write together to accomplish our writing goals. It’s a great way to avoid procrastination and gain writing confidence. Many PGRs have attended the retreats previously, with positive feedback

‘I found that without interruptions, my productivity went up.’

‘I have had trouble focussing on my work recently and feel that attending the workshops would make me set aside time for writing/planning my project.’

‘It enabled me to work better on my writing tasks as I had peers around me doing the same thing in a quiet and conducive environment.’

There are still available places for the Mini writing retreats in March and April:

Mini writing retreat                              18 Mar, 10:00-12:00

 Mini writing retreat                        27-Apr 10:00 – 12:00

The LDC Development also offers   full-day writing retreats in May/June, with full refreshments provided for those who want an intensive day to make progress with their writing, whether you are working on the final thesis write-up, on publications, or your annual reports. The communal process also provides a chance to exchange practice and learn techniques from each other.

 One-day writing retreat                27-May 10:00 – 16:00

 One-day writing retreat              02-Jun 10:00 – 16:00 

 One-day writing retreat               09-Jun 10:00 – 16:00

Check our full programme timetable for details of all upcoming workshops.

LDC Development Team