DPhil Writing Workshop Series 2025

3 June 09:30 to 18 June 12:00

Are you a Social Sciences DPhil student looking to enhance your academic writing skills?

 

Join our comprehensive workshop series, designed specifically for you. This series covers essential topics such as effective signposting, reverse outlining, sharpening your writing, project management, utilising feedback, and understanding what makes for good academic writing. Each session is crafted to provide practical techniques and insights that will elevate the quality of your writing, making your arguments clearer and more compelling. Whether you’re just starting your DPhil journey or looking to refine your skills, these workshops offer valuable tools and strategies to help you succeed. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from experienced instructors and connect with fellow students.  

 

1 - What Makes for Good Academic Writing? 

11 February 25, 09:30 - 12:00

Understanding what makes for good academic writing is essential for producing high-quality work. This session will teach you how to identify and analyse the key characteristics of effective academic writing in the work of others. You’ll learn to recognise elements such as clarity, coherence, and argumentation, and how to apply these principles to your own writing. By the end of the session, you’ll have a deeper understanding of what constitutes good academic writing and how to achieve it in your own work. 

2 - Guide your Reader

26 February, 09:30 - 12:00 

Effective signposting is crucial for guiding your reader through your argument and ensuring your writing is clear and coherent. This session will teach you how to use signposts to highlight the structure of your work, making it easier for readers to follow your line of thought. You’ll learn techniques for introducing, linking, and concluding sections, as well as how to use transitional phrases to maintain a smooth flow. By the end of the session, you’ll be able to create a well-organised piece of writing that clearly communicates your ideas and arguments, enhancing the overall readability and impact of your work. 

3 - Use Reverse Outlining

3 June, 09:30 - 12:00

Reverse outlining is a powerful tool for ensuring your writing is well-structured and comprehensive. This session will guide you through the process of creating an outline from your completed draft, allowing you to see the overall structure and identify any gaps or redundancies. You’ll learn how to assess the coherence and logical flow of your argument, ensuring that each section contributes effectively to your overall thesis. By mastering reverse outlining, you’ll be able to refine your writing, making it more cohesive and persuasive, and ensuring that all necessary points are covered. 

6 Worcester St, Oxford

APPLY HERE

 

4 - Refine your Writing

18 June, 09:30 - 12:00 

This session focuses on techniques to improve the quality of your academic writing. You’ll learn how to enhance clarity, precision, and conciseness in your writing, making your arguments more compelling and easier to understand. The session will cover common pitfalls in academic writing, such as verbosity and ambiguity, and provide strategies for avoiding them. By the end of the session, you’ll have a toolkit of techniques to sharpen your writing, making it more effective and impactful. 

GUDTP Room, Manor Road, Oxford

 

APPLY HERE

5 - Manage your Writing Workflow 

Date, time - TBC

Managing your writing project effectively is key to meeting deadlines and producing high-quality work. This session will teach you how to plan and organise your writing process, from setting goals and deadlines to breaking down your project into manageable tasks. You’ll learn time management techniques and strategies for staying motivated and focused. By the end of the session, you’ll be equipped with the skills to manage your writing project efficiently, ensuring timely completion and reducing stress. 
 

6 - Use Feedback Well 

Date, time - TBC

Receiving and using feedback effectively is crucial for improving your academic writing. This session will teach you how to interpret and respond to feedback, turning critiques into opportunities for growth. You’ll learn strategies for incorporating feedback into your revisions, as well as how to seek out and give constructive feedback. By the end of the session, you’ll be able to use feedback to enhance your writing, making it more polished and effective.

 

 

 

Our booking process

When your application is received, you will be emailed a link and then have 48 hours to complete a pre-workshop form requesting additional information. If you do not meet this deadline, your application will be cancelled. 

See our full Terms and Conditions below

 

If you have specific circumstances which may affect your engagement with this event, or your meeting our Terms and Conditions, please continue with your booking and contact us by email to discuss how we can support you: researcherdevelopment@socsci.ox.ac.uk

Researcher Development Terms and Conditions

In booking any training workshops, you agree that: 

 

COMMITMENT: application is not an expression of interest; it is a firm commitment. You will be available for the full duration of the course session(s); if you are not, please do not make a booking. You will not accept any subsequent meeting invitations that may fall during the given workshop times. 

PRE-WORK / HOMEWORK: if applicable, you will complete any given pre-work and/or homework as described on the workshop web listing, as it constitutes part of the workshop  

CANCELLATION: should your circumstances change, and you are not able to attend the full session(s). you will cancel giving at least 72-hours' notice, so we can offer the place to someone on the waiting list. 

ARRIVAL: you will join, or arrive at, the workshop 5 minutes before the advertised start time, to ensure a prompt start. 

LATE POLICY: you understand that the online room will be locked / workshop door will be closed 10 minutes after the event start time and late-comers will not be admitted. This is to preserve the integrity of the course for those who are present.  

ENGAGEMENT: you will give the session your undivided attention and engagement. You will not be able to do other tasks in parallel. If online, you will ensure that your environment and internet connection allow you to participate verbally and with video cameras on. These are interactive workshops, and it is not appropriate to attend from a silent or shared workspace. 

ATTENDANCE RECORD: you understand the Register will be taken in the last half-hour of the course, and anyone not present in the room at that point will be marked as non -attending (see below) 

FEEDBACK: you will contribute feedback afterwards, to help us understand how well the session met its intended aims, and facilitate our continuous improvement 

CONSEQUENCES OF NON-ATTENDANCE: you understand that any non-attendance  
a) is visible to departments and supervisors/PIs, and  
b) may result in any future bookings you’ve made within the same term being cancelled, and the place(s) offered to the waiting list.