Dissertation Writing Retreat

[Upbeat music playing] 

[DBC – Dissertation boot camp.] 

[Narrator]: DBC may be offered in person or online. Here’s what participants have to say about the in-person program. 

[Megan]: I would say effective.  

[Davina]: Helpful.  

[Alison]: Efficient.  

[Jon]: Amazing.  

[Sign saying dissertation boot camp with an arrow] 

[Davina]: My thesis isn't really going as smoothly as I would hope, and I need this concentrated time to get my writing going. It's been fantastic.  

[Students sit at a long table working individually on laptops. A list on a large piece of paper includes the words “Don’t panic.”] 

[Megan]: Sometimes you get stuck, and having an expert that can you get unstuck by unpacking what you're doing, or asking some questions that help you think the process through, or think through what you're trying to convey, has been extremely helpful.  

[Students listen to a presentation about writing your literature review. An instructor gives out paper handouts and talks to a group of students sitting around a table during a workshop. DBC participants work on the worksheets.] 

[Alison]: The best part of this week was the one-on-one writing consultations with a writing specialist. I mean, I study agricultural economics, so, she's not in that field, but for her to just look at the flow of my thesis.  

[An instructor listens to a student explain an idea and nods affirmingly.] 

[Megan]: I think just getting that time, uninterrupted, to just work on the thesis. Everyone knew I was here; family, friends, my work, so there was no interruptions. I didn't feel guilty about not doing anything else but coming here and writing and taking that time for myself.  

[A montage of Megan attending the workshop. She sits at a table across from another student and focuses on her work. In another scene Megan talks animatedly with other students.] 

[Davina]: Leaving this week, I have such a clear idea about what I have to do, that I just didn't have before I got here.  

[Davina focuses intently on writing on a sheet of paper.] 

[Jon]: I always had this notion that I needed a large amount of time to get stuff done, but if you just put a little effort into planning it beforehand, it really helps.  

[Jon works collaboratively with other students during a DBC workshop.] 

[Davina]: As the week goes on, they make you see how manageable it is.  

[Jon]: Dissertation Boot Camp is highly diverse, so it caters to the needs of students who are already excelling, and just need that time or that structure to thrive a little bit more, and it also helps out the students who may not have those strengths, and allow them to develop them.  

[A montage of workshop participants: Davina smiles and talks excitedly to a group of students during the workshop. A DBC participant focuses on writing. Another participant nods and smiles while listening to someone else.] 

[Davina]: I would recommend it to everyone who does a masters or a PhD here.  

[Megan]: Honestly, I wish I had taken it earlier, is my only regret, so, I'm like, "Everyone take it!"  

[Davina]: Coming into it, I had incredibly high expectations about what I wanted to get done this week, and also what DBC would provide, and it exceeded them in every way. It's been such a helpful experience.  

[Students are seated around square tables listening to an instructor during a DBC workshop.] 

[Jon]: It was very encouraging and fostered a sense of accountability.  

[Two instructors talk while observing students in the workshop. They smile and give each other a side hug.] 

[Megan]: We're all united in our struggles as grad students! 

[DBC Online] 

[Narrator]: DBC is now available online to provide writing support to dissertation writers of all stages. Like the in-person format, the online version promotes a structured writing week and a sense of community.  

[An image of the DBC schedule, a full week of scheduled time for workshops and writing.] 

[Narrator]: We offer one-on-one online writing consultations as well as live and asynchronous workshops to guide writers through best writing practices. Our group discussions and online writing groups provide an online space to meet other writers, share ideas, and practice effective writing strategies. 

[A man sits at a table and waves to four other people on a video call.] 

[Student experiences] 

[Narrator]: Here are some of the ways that students have described their experiences. 

[Student 1]: Online DBC went beyond my expectations. I learned the benefits of sharing an online writing room with other graduate students for accountability check-ins and bouncing ideas off of each other. 

[Student 2]: Even though the event was online, we had a great time discussing our tools and accomplishments. I learned tools to help me schedule writing time into my daily routine. 

[Student 3]: I feel that the online dissertation bootcamp provided me with structure, accountability, and connected me with other graduate students. I made good progress on my dissertation and I feel I am moving forward. 

[A group photo of DBC participants in a classroom holding completion certificates and smiling.] 

[University of Guelph Logo. McLaughlin Library. Website Lib.uoguelph.ca, email library@uoguelph.ca, Instagram and Twitter handle @uglibrary, Facebook profile /McLaughlinLibrary, YouTube handle /UoGLibrary.]