Writing More, Better, Together: How Writing Retreats Support Graduate Students through Their Journey
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| Title: | Writing More, Better, Together: How Writing Retreats Support Graduate Students through Their Journey |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Tremblay-Wragg, Emilie (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Further and Higher Education. 2021 45(1):95-106. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 12 |
| Publication Date: | 2021 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Evaluative |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Writing Workshops, Writing Skills, Writing Improvement, Graduate Students, Program Effectiveness, Academic Language, Communities of Practice, Interpersonal Relationship, Social Isolation, Dropout Rate, Time to Degree, Physical Environment, Social Environment, Time Management, Foreign Countries |
| Geographic Terms: | Canada |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0309877X.2020.1736272 |
| ISSN: | 0309-877X |
| Abstract: | The context of higher education in Canada suffers from alarming rates of dropout and prolongation of study programmes. The lack of academic writing ability and feeling of isolation are among aggravating factors impeding on the success of graduate students. Writing retreats are identified as a potential solution to support and improve academic writing output. This article presents an innovative concept designed by a non-profit organisation, "Thèsez-vous," specializing in creating physical and human environments to facilitate academic writing. Over the past four years, the organisation implemented and formalized a writing retreat model for graduate students from various fields of study and universities across the Quebec province in Canada. A description of the writing retreats structure and functioning is presented, as well as an analysis of established objectives: 1) progress academic writing based on realistic individual goals; 2) identify optimal writing conditions; and 3) reduce isolation. Based on conclusive findings, the implemented model produces positive results in developing academic writing abilities through a community of practice forming during writing retreats and interacting afterwards. This expanding network of graduate students represents a new generation of researchers, sharing similar challenges with academic writing and collaborating in interdisciplinary settings to progress scientific efforts at large. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2021 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1281583 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The context of higher education in Canada suffers from alarming rates of dropout and prolongation of study programmes. The lack of academic writing ability and feeling of isolation are among aggravating factors impeding on the success of graduate students. Writing retreats are identified as a potential solution to support and improve academic writing output. This article presents an innovative concept designed by a non-profit organisation, "Thèsez-vous," specializing in creating physical and human environments to facilitate academic writing. Over the past four years, the organisation implemented and formalized a writing retreat model for graduate students from various fields of study and universities across the Quebec province in Canada. A description of the writing retreats structure and functioning is presented, as well as an analysis of established objectives: 1) progress academic writing based on realistic individual goals; 2) identify optimal writing conditions; and 3) reduce isolation. Based on conclusive findings, the implemented model produces positive results in developing academic writing abilities through a community of practice forming during writing retreats and interacting afterwards. This expanding network of graduate students represents a new generation of researchers, sharing similar challenges with academic writing and collaborating in interdisciplinary settings to progress scientific efforts at large. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0309-877X |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0309877X.2020.1736272 |
