Stream 3 | Dissertation Writing and Editing

✦ Overview

The Writing and Editing stream provides support to doctoral candidates who are in the process of drafting, refining, or finalising their thesis. This stream provides tools and feedback for improving academic writing, structuring arguments, and responding to supervisor and examiner feedback. Participants will gain confidence in their ability to produce clear, well-organised chapters that meet academic standards. Special attention is given to developing editing strategies, integrating critique constructively, and preparing manuscripts for submission, defence, or publication.

✦ Learning Objectives

By the end of this experience, participants will be able to:

• Apply effective academic writing techniques tailored to the structure and style of a PhD thesis.
• Draft and revise key thesis chapters, including literature review, methodology, and findings.
• Edit written work for clarity, coherence, logical flow, and adherence to academic conventions.
• Incorporate supervisor and peer feedback constructively to improve overall quality.
• Finalise thesis sections in preparation for formal submission and defence.
• Explore avenues for publishing elements of the thesis and consider next steps in academic writing or dissemination.

✦ Monthly Sessions

Scheduled sessions will focus on these as core discussion topics:

1. Writing Strategies
   Establish effective writing routines, tackle procrastination, and set realistic writing targets.
2. Drafting Chapters
   Get support in drafting key chapters (e.g., literature review, methodology, results) with feedback on structure and clarity.
3. Editing and Revision
   Learn to self-edit, integrate peer and supervisor feedback, and enhance your academic voice.
4. Integrating Feedback
   Practice strategies for incorporating critique, improving coherence, and addressing academic tone.
5. Finalising Chapters
   Finalise drafts, review formatting and style guides, and prepare your document for submission.
6. Presentation and Publication
   Prepare for your viva/defense and explore options for publishing your research or turning it into papers.