The CADOS Interdisciplinary Writing Training (IWT) is an online course for Ph.D. candidats of any doctoral program of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa who have ongoing writing projects, including (but not limited to) their dissertations. This training course provides students with an opportunity to discuss, learn, and practice a large set of tools to help them develop and enhance their writing skills, set realistic goals, boost their motivation and self-confidence, and build their own writing community.
General Requirements
- The IWT is open to the participation of 20 UCP doctoral students. Prior training in academic writing is not a requirement. However, students participating in the course must have ongoing writing projects;
- Language Requirements: This course requires proficiency in English;
- Technological Requirements: Students need a computer with Internet connection to access Zoom, to follow discussions, and communicate with fellow participants. They will also need to access Moodle to open documents and get materials.
Format
Each session will consist of two parts. In the first (2-3:15 pm), students will be exposed to, get familiarized with, and practice a set of skills, techniques, and tools to help them enhance their writing skills, set realistic goals, and boost their motivation and self-confidence. In the second part of the session (3:25-5 pm), students will be divided into breakout groups (up to 4 people each) and focus on asking, giving, receiving, and incorporating feedback based on the writing samples they will have previously shared with their respective group. A volunteer student will guide this second part to facilitate discussion and assure that each participant receives and gives feedback accordingly.
Course Commitment
Besides committing to the weekly sections, students must make sure to set aside time for writing and submitting weekly pieces, as well as for preparing feedback to their group fellows.
Weekly writing pieces: each student will send a total of seven pieces of writing, consisting of six short pieces (2 pages max, double-spaced) and one long piece (10 pages max, double-spaced). In case there are 4 or more students whose native language is Portuguese, texts written in that language will also be accepted. The written pieces are not required to be exemplary, but simply workable, serving the purpose of practicing feedback, providing accountability, and putting into practice the writing skills presented during the course.
Where? Zoom
Study Plan
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Week 1: “On Feedback(ing)”
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Week 2: “Organize yourself!”
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Week 3: “Should I care about my reader?”
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Week 4: “Who needs structure?”
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Week 5: “On drafting”
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Week 6: “On how to become a good story teller”
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Week 7: “On wiping the dust: revising, editing, and/or proofreading your text”
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Week 8: “Conclusions are not abstracts! & What’s next?”
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