Writing Workshop Series
This year the department is offering two weekly writing groups for graduate students:
1. Journal Article Writing Group (Fall 2022, on Zoom)
Students in this group will work to improve an existing draft (e.g. course paper, thesis chapter) with the goal of submitting it for publication by the end of the semester. We will use Wendy Belcher’s book, Writing your Journal Article in 12 Weeks, as a guide.
2. Master’s Thesis Writing Group (Winter 2023, in person if possible)
This group will cover the unique challenges of writing a Master’s thesis. The goal will be to turn what can be a daunting and solitary experience into a productive and rewarding one.
How will the groups work?
Both groups will meet weekly for 1 hour of discussion, much of it in small sub-groups. Students will reflect on their progress, discuss the week’s theme, and sometimes share drafts for peer feedback. The rest of the week, everyone will work independently on their project. Topics in both groups will include: developing good daily writing habits; effectively presenting your argument, significance and contributions; improving your structure, flow and supporting evidence; and sentence-level mechanics of writing. Each group will meet for 12 weeks (one semester), taking reading week off. Therefore, joining a group is a semester-long commitment.
Why do this?
Academic writing is an important skill, yet most graduate programs don’t provide structured opportunities to improve it. While there are various writing resources on campus and many books on the topic, belonging to a group of peers working through the process together offers something unique and valuable. Writing groups can help develop lasting good habits. They can also build a sense of community and connection.
Who can participate?
Any grad student in the Department of Geography and Environment with:
- Enthusiasm - a desire to improve your writing and support your peers
- A commitment to attend the weekly sessions for 12 weeks
- For the journal article group: a draft paper ready for improvement
- For the Master’s group: a thesis well underway (you should be finished your data collection and have some sections drafted)
Students interested in participating should contact Dr. Carol Hunsberger (chunsber@uwo.ca).
