Thesis Writing Retreat (In-Person) - Session 1, Fall 2024
Completing a thesis is easier with a regular schedule and the support of a writing group.
The Writing Centre and School of Graduate Studies are pleased to host two 3-hours-per-day 5-day thesis retreats for graduate students from December 9-13, 2024, and January 6-10, 2025.
If you are looking for distraction-free time to work and can commit to 5 days of consistent writing, then this group is for you!
Dates/Time
Session 1: Monday, December 9, 2024, to Friday, December 13, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. daily (Newfoundland Standard Time)
Location
MUNSU Council Chambers UC2001, University Centre, St. John's Campus
Eligibility
The Retreat is intended for:
● Graduate students registered in thesis-based masters or doctoral programs who have completed their research and who have written at least one chapter of their thesis.
The Retreat is NOT intended for:
● Students registered in course-based (non-thesis) programs
● Graduate students in the early stages of their projects (coursework, proposal, data collection, etc.)
● Graduate students seeking instruction on how to complete specific project-related tasks
● Graduate students seeking instruction on how to improve their English or academic writing
If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact the Retreat Facilitator (Jacinda Sinclair, jmsinclair@mun.ca).
Non-eligible students seeking writing support are encouraged to contact the Writing Centre to learn about available resources and book tutoring sessions.
What happens at The Retreat?
The Retreat is designed to maximize independent writing time. This will be between 2.5 and 3.0 hours per day.
All students are encouraged to meet with their supervisors prior to attending to establish goals for their retreat.
The Retreat is NOT a writing course. Students are expected to come prepared to write independently for the full three hours each day and should take note that the facilitator will NOT be providing lectures, individualized instruction, or feedback.
Students who are still in the early stages of their projects, who are seeking instruction on how to complete specific project-related tasks, or who want to improve their academic writing skills will be better served by contacting the Writing Centre directly to sign up for one-on-one tutoring or to learn about other available resources.
Attendance Policy
Attendance will be taken daily. Participants are expected to attend all 5 days of the session(s) they are registered for.
Students who know they will only be able to attend some days or a partial number of hours per day should contact the facilitator before registering to determine if an accommodation can be made. Accommodation may be granted for students who can demonstrate need (e.g., childcare responsibilities, conflicting work schedules, etc.). As in-person space may be limited, students requiring accommodation may also be asked to transfer to the online mode.
Students with unexplained and unapproved absences will have their spot forfeited. For students registered for both sessions, unapproved absences in Session 1 will also result in forfeiture of a student’s spot in Session 2.
Weather Closure Policy
In case of weather-related school closures, the day’s meeting will continue online at the designated time for all students.
Registration
Students may attend both sessions but must register for each session individually.
If the desired session’s in-person link is full, please use the Online/In-person waitlist link for the same session and click “YES” when you are asked if you would like to be added to the waitlist. You will then be contacted IF an in-person space becomes available. Those who do not get promoted to the in-person group by the first day of the session are strongly encouraged to participate online. Please note that registering with a different link while stating that you want a specific in-person session will result in your application being canceled.
Students who submit incomplete forms or inconsistent responses (e.g., indicating they would like to come to take writing classes) may be contacted to confirm their intention or have their registration removed.
If you have any questions, please contact the event facilitator directly (Jacinda Sinclair, jmsinclair@mun.ca) or the Writing Centre (writing@mun.ca).
** Privacy Statement - Access to Information and Protection of Privacy ** The information on this form is collected under the authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 (SNL2015 Chapter A-1.2) and will be used to help improve the Thesis Writing Retreat co-hosted by SGS and the Writing Centre. If you have any questions about the collection and use of this information, contact the Writing Centre Manager, Carolyn Best, at cpbest@mun.ca.