Dissertation Boot Camp

a project of Arts & Sciences and the Writing Center

We provide the support. We provide the time and space. We provide lunch.
You provide the writing.

Dissertation Boot Camp will

provide a week of intensive writing designed especially for doctoral students in the process of writing their dissertations
provide an opportunity to get advice from and interact with experienced writing consultants
describe and provide practice in strategies that facilitate drafting and completing a large document
assist with developing and enacting a sound, productive writing schedule
be a support group for PhD candidates from a variety of disciplines

Dissertation Boot Camp will not

provide proofreading, or focus on sentence-level editing or other matters related to standard written English
extensively cover discipline-specific matters of formatting or presentation
serve as a replacement for ongoing communication with your dissertation director and committee

A day at Dissertation Boot Camp

will include breakfast and lunch at no charge
will be led by an English Department faculty member experienced in working with dissertation writers
will have discussion and handouts on resources and best practices
will involve uninterrupted “hands-on” writing time (facilitating a “feel for” what a productive writing schedule is and can accomplish)
will review the day’s points and practices

Dissertation Boot Camp requires

that you are a registered doctoral student in the School of Arts and Sciences
that your dissertation proposal has been accepted by your committee (i.e. you have passed the overview defense)
a refundable $50.00 registration fee paid by personal check to the University of Pittsburgh; the fee is refunded at the end of boot camp if you attend all day for all 5 days. If you register but do not attend, or do not attend all 5 days, the $50.00 fee is not refunded (do not delay; Boot Camp is limited to 18 participants: “first-come, first-served!”)

For further information contact
Beth Bateman Newborg, Writing Center Outreach Coordinator: bateman@pitt.edu