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Odegaard Writing & Research Center

Dissertation Writing Intensive

The 2024 Dissertation Writing Intensive will be held June 10-12th online and in person at the UW Seattle campus. Registration is now open here.

The OWRC Dissertation Writing Intensive is a multi-day program that brings together doctoral students from across UW who are interested in making significant progress on their dissertations.

Incorporating workshops and semi-structured writing blocks, this intensive provides a supportive, focused environment for dissertation writers to work on achieving their dissertation writing goals.

Registration will open in Spring Quarter 2024, and is open to all doctoral and graduate writers. This year’s program can be found below.

A flexible intensive

The Dissertation Writing Intensive is a program designed with busy graduate writers in mind. This year, we are excited to offer a multimodal writing intensive, which will invite writers to join us for both virtual and in-person programming.

Virtual (two days)

10:00am – 2:30pm Pacific Daylight Time

Includes:

  • Two daily webinars or roundtables on topics related to graduate and dissertation writing
  • Virtual open house at the OWRC
  • Daily compilation of resources and take-away materials from the day’s sessions

In-Person (one day)

9:30am – 3:30pm Pacific Daylight Time

Includes:

  • Two facilitated writing sessions (morning and afternoon)
  • Hands-on writing-focused workshop
  • Midday open house at the OWRC
  • Compilation of resources and take-away materials from the day’s sessions
REGISTER NOW

Program Schedule

Writers are invited to attend as much or as little of the Dissertation Writing Intensive as they wish. Location and Zoom information will be provided upon registration (coming soon).

Monday, June 10th (Virtual)

  • 10:00AM – 11:30AM PDT — Webinar: Library resources and tips for dissertation writers
    • Writing a dissertation can be  a challenging process, and although there are a number of resources out there to help, it can be difficult to know where to look. This interactive webinar explores key resources offered by the UW Libraries, including guides, databases, and library services available to graduate writers working on their dissertation.
  • 11:30AM – 12:30PM PDT — Offline lunch break
  • 12:30PM – 1:00PM PDT — Virtual open house
    • Explore the OWRC’s services, programs, and resources, or connect with other writers looking for writing groups.
  • 1:00PM – 2:30PM PDT — Roundtable: Sustainable Writing Practices
    • One of the most challenging parts about writing a dissertation is finding a writing practice. This interactive roundtable places graduate writers and recent doctoral graduates in conversation to discuss strategies, tips, and advice for how to find a long-term writing practice that works for your writing process.

Tuesday, June 11th (Virtual)

  • 10:00AM – 11:30AM PDT — Roundtable: Multimodality and your dissertation
    • For many graduate students, composing a dissertation project is not just a textual project, but may include multimodal elements as well. This roundtable discusses how dissertation writers develop, manage, and incorporate multiple representational modalities through which to present their research project in relation to their dissertation text.
  • 11:30AM – 12:30PM PDT — Offline lunch break
  • 12:30PM – 1:00PM PDT — Virtual open house
    • Explore the OWRC’s services, programs, and resources, or connect with other writers looking for writing groups.
  • 1:00Pm – 2:30PM PDT — Roundtable: Research and writing beyond the dissertation
    • While doctoral study offers one potential pathway to a research-oriented career, it is not the only pathway. This roundtable invites researchers with a range of training and backgrounds to discuss their work, and how the research and writing skills developed during the dissertation process can be applied outside academia.

Wednesday, June 12th (In-person at UW Seattle)

  • 9:30AM – 11:30AM PDT — Facilitated independent writing session
    • Use this time to work on your dissertation in a focused, friendly, and mutually accountable environment.
  • 11:30AM – 12:00PM PDT —  Lunch break/Open house
    • Take a break, connect with other writers, and learn more about the OWRC’s programs, services, and resources.
  • 12:00PM – 1:00PM PDT — Workshop: Making your dissertation digestible through craft
    • Take your dissertation from draft to craft with this hands-on activity aimed at helping writers reflect on and clarify their dissertation work through creative expression. Relevant to dissertators at any stage of research or writing, this workshop offers an alternative approach to text-based outlining and idea mapping that embraces the complexity of dissertation research while supporting writers’ skills in translating complexity for outside readers. 
    • Participants will be invited to participate in both making their own paper craft and a gallery walk of participant work after the workshop to share their dissertation ideas and build community with others. All necessary materials will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring any print or paper materials they might want to include in the summarization of their work (at any stage). Limited on-site printing will also be available. 
  • 1:00PM – 1:30PM PDT — Gallery walk
    • View, share, and discuss work from the preceding workshop.
  • 1:30PM – 3:30PM PDT — Facilitated independent writing session
    • Use this time to work on your dissertation in a focused, friendly, and mutually accountable environment.
REGISTER NOW

Looking for more support? Check out the the “Resources” and “Programs and Services” tabs or book an appointment.

Questions? Contact the us at owrc@uw.edu.