Dissertation Writing Group

The Humanities Center is seeking graduate students to join a pilot program of a dissertation writing group.

This program is meant to foster intensive and supportive exchange across humanistic fields for those in the final stages of dissertation writing. Graduate students from a variety of humanities departments will be able to present and discuss their work in a multidisciplinary context, and faculty fellows in residence at the Humanities Center will participate in workshop meetings as mentors in their areas of expertise. Students whose projects cut across a number of fields may find this forum especially helpful to their scholarship.

Eligibility

Stanford graduate students from humanities departments who have advanced to the chapter-writing phase of the dissertation.

Commitment

Meetings will be held in the Baker Room of the Humanities Center from 4 to 6 pm on Thursdays every other week.
Eligible students may sign up to participate during one of three quarters (autumn, winter, or spring).
You must agree to attend all meetings held during that quarter (5 meetings total).
Participation will be limited to a maximum of 10 students per quarter.

Format

Up to two participants will pre-circulate a chapter or portion of a chapter (no more than 35 pages) by Friday of the week preceding each meeting.
The group will read these chapters in advance.
Each chapter will receive approximately 45 minutes of structured feedback and constructive critique.
A short portion of each meeting will be devoted to general concerns of the group.

Guests

Participants may invite advisors, committee members, and other interested parties to read pre-circulated chapters and attend the meeting at which they present.

Facilitation

The Associate Director of the Humanities Center will run the workshop. Since this is a pilot program, the facilitator will adjust the format to the needs of the group.

Refreshments will be provided in abundance.

Questions? Contact Katja Zelljadt.

Other Resources: Hume Writing Center