Workshop descriptions for on-campus workshop series in the social sciences, humanities and business
Workshop descriptions and resource links are provided for the social sciences, humanities and business on-campus series, part of UniSA's Research Education Support Activities (RESA).
Commencing series (all disciplines) | Mid to late candidature series (all disciplines) | Uni-wide calendar
Commencing series
The Commencing series in the social sciences and humanities stream is for students from any Division working in these discipline areas. The series is designed to support new students drafting research proposals. The series involves a mixture of workshops provided by the Library and the Learning and Teaching Unit, and provides information about how to search for and manage information, as well as about the content and structure of the proposal. LTU workshops involve a mixture of formal presentation by the facilitator, examination and discussion of example proposals, proposal writing activities and discussion of participants' research.
The LTU commencing workshops build cumulatively, and it is important to attend all the workshops in the series. Each series is repeated in identical format at four different time slots, and on three different campuses. This enables us to keep workshop numbers small and to ensure that each student receives as much individual attention as possible. Choose one series and register for all of the workshops in the series. If you find later that you cannot make it to your regular series time slot, you may choose to attend the equivalent workshop within another series. You must deregister and reregister for that workshop to do so. It is very important to register and deregister for workshops to ensure you receive information required to participate in the workshop, and to allow the facilitator to plan for workshops. For workshops 9, 10 and 11 it is important to let the facilitator Wendy Bastalich know by email if you wish to attend at a different time slot. This will ensure you receive student drafts of writing and can participate in the workshops.
Online resources
Online resources, including example proposals and resources for each of the workshops in the Commencing series, are posted on the Learning and Teaching Unit Research Education website (student username and password required). These may be downloaded and read prior to workshops as preferred, and are important pre-reading for those who have missed prior workshops.
Workshop outlines - Writing the research proposal
1. Reading and writing research
This workshop is an introduction to the series.
2. Writing your introduction and research justification
This is the first writing-oriented workshop of the series. It covers proposal guidelines, academic and research expectations of the proposal, and overall proposal content and structure. We will also look at some examples of proposals, and begin to workshop the first conceptual step in the research proposal, the research justification and question.
3. Writing about the 'gap' in the literature
This writing workshop looks at the meaning of terms like research 'significance', 'contribution', and the 'gap in the literature', and the importance of the literature review in persuading your reviewers that your research possesses these qualities. We will examine proposals of different kinds to see how the 'gap' is constructed and written about in different types of research, and brainstorm participants fields of literature and the research focus.
4. Research design and methods
In this third writing workshop we will discuss strategies for writing the research design section of the research proposal, drawing upon examples from a range of different proposals from different disciplines and methodologies. We will discuss potential pitfalls in the research design conceptualisation phase, and workshop the research design sections of participants' research proposals.
5. Linking justification, gap and methods
This workshop helps you to develop a cohesive research proposal that links the justification for your research with the gap in the literature and the methods you will use to research your topic.
6. Linking justification, gap and methods
This follow-up workshop helps you to develop a cohesive research proposal that links the justification for your research with the gap in the literature and the methods you will use to research your topic.
7. Linking justification, gap and methods
This follow-up workshop helps you to develop a cohesive research proposal that links the justification for your research with the gap in the literature and the methods you will use to research your topic.
8. Preparing for oral presentations
This workshop is designed to prepare participants to present their research proposal, but oral presentation strategies for presenting to academic audiences, and asking questions and making comments in academic forums in the broad sense will also be discussed. We will look at how to plan, structure and present the research proposal or an academic talk to proposal panels, divisional or department seminars, and other academic forums.
9. Presenting the research proposal
The final workshop provides participants with an opportunity to practice their presentation of the research proposal, as well as to practice receiving and giving critical and constructive feedback within a group of academic peers. The talk, as well questions and suggestions from participants, will be taped for viewing and discussion following the workshop, or during the workshop if there is time.
Library workshops
1. Database searching for your research
This workshop will help you to develop the skills necessary to search and stay up to date with data bases within your field of research to ensure you can find information for your literature review and for your research. You will also learn how to create database alerts.
2. Searching beyond Google
In this workshop, you will learn how to develop and refine a search plan and search the library catalogue, Summon, Google, Google Scholar, and the library databases.
3. Finding research proposals and theses
This workshop explains how to find UniSA theses in the Library catalogue, how to search Australian and international theses databases and how to find theses on the web.
4. Endnote essentials
EndNote is bibliographic management software. References can be typed or downloaded from Library databases. References added to the EndNote software are stored in an EndNote Library and can be inserted into a Word document when you are writing up your research. EndNote then automatically creates a reference list at the end of your document. This workshop shows you how to use EndNote.
Thesis writing and publishing series
The Thesis writing and publishing series for PhD, Masters and professional doctorate by research students is open to students who have successfully completed the research proposal. Workshops include a mixture of formal presentation, general group discussion, and small group activities based on summaries and excerpts from theses, exegeses or journal articles within the social sciences, humanities and business. Example texts are drawn from a range of thesis and journal article structures, styles, methodological orientations, and discipline backgrounds. The first workshop covers the basics of academic writing. The second workshop looks at journal writing and publishing strategies and how they can complement the thesis writing process. The next workshops consider each of the key steps in the story line of theses and journal articles, as well as placement, content, structure, the writing process, and writing strategies that work to foreground the main thread of story line in academic writing.
Online resources (student username and password required)
1. The basics of academic writing
Transitions, signposting, topic sentences, structure of argument, active and
passive voice, tense, abbreviations.
Academic writing online resource
2. Developing a thesis publication plan
Targeting journals and conferences, aligning publications with
thesis, journal citation reports.
Developing a thesis publication plan online resource
3. Writing introductions
Thesis styles and structures, content of introductions, the
problem, significance, arguments and questions, aims and objectives, chapter
outline, definitions.
Thesis
styles and structures, and writing introductions online resource
4. Literature review
The field of literature, establishing significance, structure of
literature reviews.
'Gap
in the literature' online resource
5. Writing about methodology
Purpose and content, how much to write, placement, introducing
the research design.
Writing
about methodology online resource
6. Writing up data
Structure of, writing tips, writing process.
Writing up
the evidence/data online resource
7. The conclusion and abstract writing
Difference between conclusion and discussion, content, structure, writing
tips for abstracts and final chapters.
The
discussion and conclusion online resource
8. Writing an exegesis (for students doing artefact-based theses)
Looks at the nature and purpose of the exegesis by an analysis of examples of successful research degree exegeses. Students not writing exegeses accompanied by artefacts should not attend this workshop.