Online 1+1 model: Thesis Writing Workshop + Writing Retreat

Facilitated by Rowena Murray

Day 1 – Thesis Writing Workshop – 10am-4pm

This workshop covers a range of strategies for thesis writing: writing to prompts, types of prompt for academic writing, ‘snack’ writing, goal-setting for writing, free writing, generative writing, analysing academic writing, criteria, writing a thesis summary, constructing a ‘contribution’ argument, using prompts in series, outlining, writing groups, micro-groups and retreats.

Many of these can be used in preparing for a concentrated spell of writing at a writing retreat – which follows tomorrow. This is a practical workshop. The aim of the writing activities in this workshop is to let you try these strategies and consider how/if/where they can fit in your writing practice.

You can also use them to write for your thesis during the workshop.

For details on these writing strategies and others, see

Murray, R. (2017) How to Write a Thesis, 4th edition. Maidenhead: Open University Press-McGraw-Hill.

Day 2 – Writing Retreat – 8.55am-4.45pm

Aims to provide dedicated writing time and develop productive writing practices.

Format

This structured retreat uses the ‘typing pool’ model. We all write at the same time, for fixed time slots, using goal-setting and peer and self-monitoring for our individual writing projects. Because we all write together, we can discuss our goals at the start and end of the day (10-15 minutes). Almost all the retreat time is writing time.

Learning objectives

Understand the Structured Writing Retreat model.

Structure a writing day.

Maintain well-being during intensive periods of writing.

Email me to check dates, commission a course, for further information or to register: r.e.g.murray@btinternet.com