Writing Tips
The Grant Assist Program (SSHRC) offers professional editing services for faculty interested in having their grant proposal copy edited; however, before you can have something copy-edited, you need to write it! A winning proposal frames, elegantly, succinctly and simply, an argument for funding a unique contribution to knowledge. The resources here offer tips and advice on approaches to academic writing as a life, practice, and perfectible skill.
Understanding The Genre: Arguing for Success
Facilitator: Dr. Roger Graves, Professor and Director of Writing Across the Curriculum
This workshop was held on May 21, 2013, and has been repeated on three occasions in September 2014. Dr. Graves leads participants in step-wise fashion through the development of an argument for a research proposal, including statement of the problem, connecting the problem to society, and establishing a research goal for your project. This session, filmed in May 2013, session provided practice and discussion to enhance content. Handouts from this session are available through Dr. Graves' website.
Video of Workshop Part 1
Video of Workshop Part 2
Academic Writing Shouldn't Suck
Steven Pinker, The Economist interview [audio, Oct 8 2014]
Why Academics Stink at Writing [Pinker, The Chronicle of Higher Education, September 26, 2014
On Proposal Writing
On Academic Writing
Why I Hate Passive Verbs and Love My Word Processor
University of Alberta Writing Initiatives
30 Successful Tips for Academic Research and Writing
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2012/11/28/lupton-30-tips-writing/#author
Improving Your Academic Writing: My Top Ten Tips
http://www.raulpacheco.org/2013/02/improving-your-academic-writing-my-top-10-tips/
10 Tips on How to Write Less Badly
http://chronicle.com/article/10-Tips-on-How-to-Write-Less/124268/
Writing Retreat Locations
If you are a researcher who is productive when writing off-campus and away from distraction, perhaps you and your research team are interested in a writing retreat. The following venues offer beautiful surroundings with various amenities and services:
Banff Centre (417 km west of Edmonton)
Devonian Botanic Garden (15 minutes southwest of Edmonton)
Hidden Springs Retreat Guesthouse (Winfield, Alberta)
Retreats Online (local, national, and international retreats and venues)
River Lodge Retreat (40 minutes west of Edmonton)
Star of the North Retreat Centre (St. Albert, Alberta)
Strawberry Creek Lodge (80 km southwest of Edmonton)