'Find your Focus, Find you Feet': Year 1 Writing Development Course (Day 2)

Find your focus, find your feet is a two-day intervention for new PhD researchers to help you negotiate the particular challenges of Y1. After this course, you will be better able to:

• appreciate uncertainty as an important part of the creative process
• understand the intellectual and emotional labour of Year 1
• explore different ways of scoping and defining you project
• summarise your project in clear, direct language
• assess your skills in academic practice and identify areas to develop

On day 1 we'll discuss the experience of being in Y1 and how to manage it; you'll reflect on your own writing and academic writing generally; you'll communicate the essence of your project to two or more of your peers, and get feedback. Day 2 covers paraphrasing and developing good writing habits as well as short writing periods, plus a 1-2-1 consultation. Committing to both days is essential - the activities are part of your PhD process, not time away from it.