RDO Writing Support
Writing support during your Research Degree
We all need support for our writing during our research degree; it is a craft that we need to learn and practice. Through the Researcher Development Online programme we offer training, development, groups and resources to help you.
You are a specialist in your field. But do you still find yourself getting stuck or frustrated when you try to write about it? Whether you are from a Science or Humanities background we offer sessions to ensure your writing is as effective as your research.
The sessions range from starting out and challenges with grammar, to writing bids and grant applications.
RD Online Writing Series Autumn 2024 - includes full description and booking link
| Long Documents: practical tips, structuring your work, signposting Paragraphs: the building blocks of your thesis Academic Writing: what is it and how to prepare for it Writing Sentences: starting strong Finding, Reading, and Quoting Research How to Respond to Feedback Paragraphs: the building blocks of your thesis Representing other research fairly, organising your reading, filling the gap Academic Writing: what is it and how to prepare for it (priority to Part-timers) Writing and Giving Conference Papers Writing Introductions and Conclusions Writing Proposals and Abstracts |
30/09/2024 13.30-15.00 04/10/2024 09.30-11.00 07/10/2024 10.00-12.00 11/10/2024 09.30-11.00 14/10/2024 16.00-17.30 18/10/2024 09.30-11.00 21/10/2024 11.00-12.30 25/10/2024 13.30-15.00 02/11/2024 10.30-12.30 11/11/2024 18.00-19.30 16/11/2024 10.30-12.00 30/11/2024 10.30-12.00 |
| Extra Writing support | |
| Get your Writing Organised - Stage 1: storyboards Advanced Writing: How to Edit Effectively Advanced Writing: Writing an Article for Publication Get your Writing on Track Get your Writing Organised - Stage 2: signposting & mapping Advanced Writing: Writing an Article for Publication (priority to Part-timers) Making your Thesis Easier to Read for your Examiner |
01/10/2024 09.30-11.00 18/10/2024 12.00-13.30 23/10/2024 11.00-12.30 04/11/2024 11.30-13.00 12/11/2024 09.30-11.00 25/11/2024 18.00-19.30 02/12/2024 09.30-11.00 |
| Writing Tips ( 60 minute sessions) | |
| Punctuation: an overview Hypotheses: the conditional, the future perfect, the subjunctive The passive voice: what is it and when should I use it? Academic Hedging: advantages and pitfalls Focus on Style: How to be more Detailed Focus on Style: How to be more Concise |
07/10/2024 13.00-14.00 22/10/2024 13.30-14.30 28/10/2024 18.00-19.00 04/11/2024 18.00-19.00 21/11/2024 18.00-19.00 3/12/2024 18.00-19.00 |
Top Tips
Orwell sums up:
1. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do it
3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
6. ( Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous)
George Orwell Politics and the English Language pp348-360 in George Orwell Essays 2000) Penguin ClassicsWriting Resources
Referencing Style Guide University of Warwick
6 Minute Grammar Podcasts
Write that journal article in seven days ( Thesis Whisperer)
Pat Thompson Blog and Twitter @ThomsonPat
Writing Advice from University of Toronto
POWA Paradigm Online Writing Advice
Learning English for Academic Purposes LEAP
Further support across Warwick
In addition to the support from the RDO and the PhD in Second language, you may find these resources useful:
Write Right : Academic Writing Moodle (this is for resource only as the course has now been archived and no longer monitored but contains useful info)
PGCTSS: for Science, Engineering & Medicine PGRs you can take nine week assessed modules
English for Academic Purpose in sessional English Language support and writing surgeries for International PGRs
Centre for Linguistics offer support. There is an additional cost to you for this course
The Academic Skills Moodle. A resource for UG & PGT but might have something useful
Critical Writing - An introduction to the principles of Critical Writing
Return to the Researcher Development Online page.