Soar to Success with the Academic Librarian Team & Academic Skills Centre
Taught Postgraduate Students, are you ready to jet set into the world of dissertation writing? The University of Dundee Library and Academic Skills Centre are excited to present the “Dissertation Take-Off” programme—a series of events designed to make your dissertation or summer project experience as turbulence-free as possible!
Welcome Aboard!
Embarking on your dissertation journey can feel like preparing for a long-haul flight. There’s planning, preparation, and sometimes a bit of anxiety. But fear not! Our team of Academic Librarians and Academic Skills Centre experts are here to be your flight crew, ensuring you have a smooth and successful journey from take-off to landing.
Workshops to Keep You Flying High
Our “Dissertation Take-Off” programme offers a variety of workshops tailored to equip you with essential skills and knowledge:
- Dissertation planning 1: time management
Beginning your dissertation can be daunting—where do you even start?
In this workshop, we’ll explore how to create a project plan so you have plenty of time for research, writing, editing, and more. We’ll also explore time management strategies to help you avoid procrastination and defeat the dreaded Writer’s Block! Whether you’re already well into your dissertation or you’ve not started thinking about it yet, this session will help you identify the next right steps for you.
Date: Monday, May 27, 2024
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Online: This is an online event.
Event URL will be sent via registration email.
2. Dissertation planning 2: structuring your dissertation
This session will provide an overview of a thesis structure. It will look at some of the sections commonly found in a thesis and offer guidance on structuring chapters. It includes suggested approaches to making an early start to writing at the planning stages.
Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Online: This is an online event.
Event URL will be sent via registration email.
3. Creating a literature search strategy: finding the sources you need
Google not giving you the right type of information anymore? Need to learn how to search effectively to find research papers? Come along and get practical help on where to search, how to search using Boolean operators and learn some other techniques to create your search strategy for a great dissertation or project.
Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Online: This is an online event.
Event URL will be sent via registration email.
4. Advanced search strategies for systematic reviews
You know how to search in different databases but want to learn some other skills to make your search results more relevant for your dissertation or summer project. This session is for you! Come along and learn how to use limiters to reduce your search results numbers or widen your search with different synonyms. Other techniques such as MeSH and CINAHL Headings will also be demonstrated as well as learning how to save your searches and become more systematic in your searching whether you’re doing a scoping, systematic or literature review.
Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Online: This is an online event.
Event URL will be sent via registration email.
5. Accessing full text: you’ve found your reference, but where’s the article?
Finding articles can be daunting, but what do you do when you find a reference you’re interested in? This session will provide a demonstration of how to access journal articles once you’ve completed your literature search.
Date: Friday, May 31, 2024
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Online: This is an online event.
Event URL will be sent via registration email.
6. Writing a literature review
Whether you are seeking to consolidate your understanding or expand your knowledge, this session will look at some of the purposes behind a literature review. It offers suggestions for organising notes from sources. It will progress by exploring how to develop these into a logically structured piece of academic writing.
Date: Monday, June 3, 2024
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Online: This is an online event.
Event URL will be sent via registration email.
7. Critical appraisal
Doing a dissertation in healthcare, nursing, medicine, dentistry? The focus of the workshop is the use of critical appraisal to assess the quality of the studies you include in your dissertation. This session will help you to critically appraise healthcare/medical study designs, show you where to find critical appraisal checklists for different study designs (both qualitative and quantitative), and guide you on creating a quality assessment table for the studies you include in a systematic review.
Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Online: This is an online event.
Event URL will be sent via registration email.
8. Critical writing: constructing clear and persuasive arguments
What is an argument and what is criticality? This session aims to raise awareness of the importance of clarity and persuasiveness in constructing an argument in academic writing. It explores the skill of evaluating and analysing sources to add weight and credibility to your writing.
Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Online: This is an online event.
Event URL will be sent via registration email.
9. Avoiding plagiarism and using sources effectively
Plagiarism is phrase which strikes fear into the heart of many students, but do you understand what this concept really means? Come along to this session to gain a better understanding of how to ethically incorporate other people’s ideas and work into your own writing. Learn about the differences between direct quoting, paraphrasing and summarising. By the end of this session you will gain confidence in your ability to use sources effectively and avoid common plagiarism pitfalls.
Date: Thursday, June 6, 2024
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Online: This is an online event.
Event URL will be sent via registration email.
10. EndNote 21 basics: a tool for managing references
EndNote 21 helps you keep track of your reading, stores your notes about articles, and assists with creating citations and reference lists. This webinar will give you an overview of how to use this app to make citing and referencing in your dissertation or project report much easier. You can get EndNote 21 for free whilst you are a student at Dundee.
This webinar is aimed at masters-level postgraduates who are new to using EndNote, or those who know the basics but would like a refresher. If you are already an EndNote user and have a specific question about EndNote, please email your question to llc-academiclibrarian@dundee.ac.uk instead of attending this webinar.
Date: Friday, June 7, 2024
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Online: This is an online event.
Event URL will be sent via registration email.
Avoid the Grounded Summer Plans
Don’t let your summer holiday plans be grounded by the looming dissertation deadline. Instead, let us show you how to take flight towards academic success. By participating in our workshops, you’ll gain the skills and confidence needed to tackle your dissertation head-on, ensuring you can enjoy your summer without the stress of last-minute cramming.
Secure Your Ticket Now!
Ready to embark on this academic journey? Secure your spot in the “Dissertation Take-Off” programme by visiting the Library Events page or register for sessions above.
Prepare for Take-Off
So, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for take-off as we embark on this academic journey together. With our expert guidance and your dedication, your dissertation adventure awaits! Let’s make this summer a time of growth, learning, and success.
🌍✈️ #DissertationTakeOff #AcademicSuccess #UoDLibrary
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