Writing Center's Self-directed Learning Sessions for Writers
This week, a series of research workshops are being organized by Ellie Breitfeld, Chief Correspondent, to help students with organizing their Junior Papers (JP) or Senior theses, conducting quantitative research projects, and securing funding for great ideas.
One of the workshops, titled "Defining your Research Question: Quantitative Projects in STEM and the Social Sciences," is being held today, Thursday, March 1, from 4:30pm to 5:30pm in Guyot 100. The focus of this workshop is on defining clear, original, and well-scoped research questions that contribute meaningfully to existing knowledge and are closely related to the methodology and data available.
Another workshop, "Putting it all together - structuring your thesis," is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6, from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm at The Writing Center. This workshop will provide guidance on organizing the thesis logically, ensuring coherence between research questions, methodology, analysis, and conclusions.
A workshop named "Crafting Your Research Proposal: Thesis" is planned for Tuesday, March 13, from 4:30pm to 6:00 pm at The Writing Center. This workshop will train students on developing competitive grant or dissertation proposals, especially targeted for opportunities like those provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and AERA.
For STEM disciplines, these workshops will focus on projects contributing policy-relevant insights and innovative methods, reflecting priorities in recent NSF and other agency funding calls. For social sciences, emphasis may be on education and learning contexts related to STEM, integrating methodologies appropriate for these domains.
Additional practical components may include using topic selection checklists to ensure interest, data availability, relevance, and originality, understanding reporting and funding disbursement expectations for awarded grants, and utilizing institutional resources like grant development specialists for proposal support and funding opportunity tracking.
Amanda Blanco '18, who is sharing reflections on her independent research, provides tips on writing the acknowledgments section for a Research Paper, specifically for a Junior Paper (JP). These tips are applicable to students working on their JP or Senior thesis. Amanda also discusses her experience with writing a Quantitative Junior Paper (JP) in SPIA.
It is worth noting that these workshops do not have any costs associated with attending mentioned in the text. The exact date for the "Summer Funding Workshop" is not provided, but it is scheduled.
These workshops aim to equip students with the skills to formulate meaningful research inquiries, develop rigorous thesis structures, and prepare fundable research proposals aligned with current STEM and social sciences funding landscapes. For more information or to sign up, please visit the official event page or contact Ellie Breitfeld directly.
- The workshop titled "Crafting Your Research Proposal: Thesis" is intended for students seeking to develop competitive grant or dissertation proposals, focusing on opportunities like those provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and AERA.
- Students working on their Junior Paper (JP) or Senior thesis will find Amanda Blanco '18's tips on writing the acknowledgments section particularly useful, as she shares her experiences with writing a Quantitative Junior Paper (JP) in SPIA.
- The workshops, free of cost, aim to help students formulate meaningful research inquiries, develop rigorous thesis structures, and prepare fundable research proposals, reflecting priorities in recent NSF and other agency funding calls for both STEM and social sciences.
