Day One (Back to Top)

Introduction

• To the course staff and to the programme.

What is Research?

• The defining characteristics of academic research.

Activity: Your Motivation

• Why are you studying for a Doctorate?

Doctoral Level Research

• Objectives, milestones and first steps.

Making Plans and Sticking to Them

• Planning, Long-term, Medium-term, Task Plans and Action Plans/To-do Lists.

Activity: Personal Planning

Finding and Reviewing Other Research Evidence

• Searching and reviewing the literature.

Activity: Mapping and Highlighting

Understanding Other Research Evidence 

• Enaging with the literature.

Activity: Paper Review

Expanding On and Analysing Other Research Evidence

• Expanding your review and critical assessment.

Activity: Critical Questions

Group Activity: Working with your Supervisor

Communicating Expectations

Activity: Action with your Supervisor

Practical Tips of Working with your Supervisor

• Expanding your review and critical assessment

Day Three (Back to Top)

Introduction

What to Write

• Conveying information and evidence.
• Critical analysis and reflection.
• Structured argument and drawing conclusions.
• Future work.
• Research reporting: main body, overviews functional elements.

Group Activity: Making Writing Easier

How to Approach Writing

• The writing process.
• General writing tips.
• Writing considerations.
• Where to start.
• Things to remember.

Workshop 1: Reviewing Your Writing

• The importance of structure.
• Example of structured writing.
• Reviewing your own examples.
• The importance of readability.
• The Fog-Index.
• Reviewing your own examples.

Workshop 2: Networking at Conferences

• Approaching delegates, making yourself approachable.
• Networking sessions – posters, coffee, dinner, mixing sessions.
• Presenting your research and yourself well.
• Asking questions.

Workshop 3: Getting Into Conferences

• Choosing your conference – pros and cons.
• Selecting what to present – the key point, paper in one sentence, one-minute description.
• Managing expectations.
• Preparing and submitting your abstract.

Group Activity: Poster Design & Preparation

Group Activity: Poster Presentation

Day Two (Back to Top)

Introduction

Workshop 1: Using Your Voice Effectively

• Your first impression by how you sound.
• Using your voice.
• Use of language
• Pacing the delivery of your presentation.

Workshop 2: Physical Presence

• Your first impression by how you look.
• Overcoming nerves – relaxation, self-belief, confidence.
• Building and maintaining a rapport with the audience.
• Audience contact.
• Using gestures and being aware of your body language.

Workshop 3: Structure

• Your first impression by what you say.
• The basic structure of a presentation.
• The introduction, the conclusion and the message, tips and techniques.
• Planning: aim and objective.
• Consider the audience.
• The content.
• Building blocks – structure.
• Linking your presentation together.

Activity: Presentation Practice 1

Workshop 4: Poster Presentations

• Poster design.
• Poster impact
• Review of example posters.
• Preparing your walk-through

Activity: Video Feedback Session

Activity: Presentation Practice 2

Workshop 5: Presenting with Visual Aids

• When and why?
• The technology of presenting with visual aids
• Designing and using text slides.
• Designing and using graphics slides.
• PowerPoint animations.

Day Four (Back to Top)

Introduction

Workshop 1: Group Behaviours

• Postive and negative group behaviours.

Workshop 2: Assertiveness Skills

• A structured process for being assertive.
• Six stages in being assertive.
• Language practice.

Workshop 3: Negotiation Skills

• Principles of effective negotiation; what is negotiation? The outcomes of a negotiation, preparation.

Activity: Presentation Practice 3

Group Activity: Negotiation Practice

Course Round-up