Completing a thesis is easier with a regular schedule and the support of a writing group. The Writing Centre and the School of Graduate Studies are pleased to host two 3-hours-per-day 5-day thesis retreats for graduate students. Session 1 will take place from December 9-13, 2024, and Session 2 will run from January 6-10, 2025. If you're looking for distraction-free time to work and can commit to 5 days of consistent writing, this retreat is for you!

What happens at the Retreat?

The Retreat is designed to maximize independent writing time. This will be between 2.5 and 3.0 hours per day. All students are encouraged to meet with their supervisors before attending to establish goals for their retreat. The Retreat is NOT a writing course. Students are expected to come prepared to write independently for the full three hours each day. Please note that the facilitator will NOT be providing lectures, individualized instruction, or feedback during the sessions.

Students who are still in the early stages of their projects, who are seeking instruction on how to complete specific project-related tasks, or who want to improve their academic writing skills will be better served by contacting the Writing Centre directly to sign up for one-on-one tutoring or to learn about other available resources.

Dates/Time/Location

There are two 5-day sessions available

• Session 1: Monday, December 9, 2024, to Friday, December 13, 2024
  9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. daily (Newfoundland Standard Time)
• Session 2: Monday, January 6, 2025, to Friday, January 10, 2025
  1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily (Newfoundland Standard Time)

Both sessions will be offered in online (via WebEx) and in-person formats at the St. John’s Campus. The location of the in-person mode: MUNSU Council Chambers UC2001, University Centre

Students may register for one or both sessions. Participating in Session 1 is not a requirement for attending Session 2.

Eligibility

The Retreat is intended for:

• Graduate students registered in thesis-based master's or doctoral programs who have completed their research and written at least one chapter of their thesis.

The Retreat is NOT intended for:

• Students registered in course-based (non-thesis) programs
• Graduate students in the early stages of their projects (coursework, proposal, data collection, etc.)
• Graduate students seeking instruction on how to complete specific project-related tasks
• Graduate students seeking instruction on how to improve their English or academic writing

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please feel free to contact the Retreat Facilitator, Jacinda Sinclair, at jmsinclair@mun.ca.

Non-eligible students seeking writing support are encouraged to contact the Writing Centre to learn about available resources and book tutoring sessions.

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken daily. Participants are expected to attend all 5 days of the session(s) they are registered for.

Students who know they will only be able to attend some days or a partial number of hours per day should contact the facilitator before registering to determine if accommodation can be arranged. Accommodation may be granted for students who can demonstrate need (e.g., childcare responsibilities, conflicting work schedules, etc.). As in-person space may be limited, students requiring accommodation may be asked to transfer to the online mode.

Students with unexplained and unapproved absences will have their spot forfeited. For students registered for both sessions, unapproved absences in Session 1 will also result in forfeiture of a student’s spot in Session 2.

Weather Closure Policy

In case of weather-related school closures, the day’s meeting will continue online at the designated time for all students.

Registration

Students may attend both sessions but must register for each session individually.

If the desired session’s in-person link is full, please use the Online/In-person Waitlist link for the same session and click “YES” when asked if you would like to be added to the waitlist. You will be contacted IF an in-person space becomes available. Participants who are not promoted to the in-person group by the first day of the session are strongly encouraged to participate online. Please note that registering through a different link while stating that you want a specific in-person session will result in the cancellation of your application.

Session 1: December 9 - December 13, 2024 (9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. NST)

• In-person
• Online / In-person Waitlist

Session 2: January 6 - January 10, 2025 (1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. NST)

• In-person
• Online / In-person Waitlist

Students who submit incomplete forms or inconsistent responses (e.g., indicating they would like to come to take writing classes) may be contacted to confirm their intention or have their registration removed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Retreat Facilitator directly (Jacinda Sinclair at jmsinclair@mun.ca) or the Writing Centre at writing@mun.ca.