About the workshop
After you have defended, the final step for graduation eligibility is submitting your thesis, project, or extended essay(s) to the Library. This workshop will walk you through the thesis submission process.
You will learn:
- How to log into the Thesis Registration System (TRS)
- What required documents you need to upload to the TRS
- What “if applicable” documents you need to upload to the TRS
- What happens after you have submitted
Note: A good time to take this workshop is sometime during the semester that you’ll be defending or sometime after you know when your defence date is.
About the workshop
The SFU Library thesis template is a Microsoft Word file designed to assist students in preparing theses, projects, and extended essay(s) in accordance with formatting standards and requirements for submission to the Library.
There are 3 parts to this workshop:
1. SFU Library's research data specialists will give instruction on how to store, preserve (archive) and, if appropriate, share research data for future uses. (15 to 20 minutes)
2. SFU Copyright Office will briefly explain copyright law as it relates to reproducing copyright protected material in your thesis and other published works, and explain how to request permission from copyright holders when required. (20 to 30 minutes)
3. For the remainder of the time, the Theses Office will walk through the overall structure of your thesis and demonstrate the functionality of the thesis template. You will learn how to:
- download the thesis template (a Microsoft Word file) and set up some defaults
- format your text using styles (ie. block quotes, lists, references, etc.)
- update the Table of Contents, List of Tables and List of Figures
- bring in text from other documents
If we have time, we will show you how to:
- insert figures/images and tables and generate auto-numbered captions
- update the List of Figures and Tables
- other tips and tricks
Note: This is an in-person workshop.
About Thesis Writing Group
Join Thesis Writing Group to make some serious progress on your thesis (or other academic writing projects) and to develop a sustainable writing practice. Thesis Writing Group is modelled after other successful online writing groups that use scheduled time to work on writing with the (quiet) presence and support of other writers.
What you can expect
Thesis Writing Group is held via Zoom. It is facilitated by members of the Graduate Writing Services team and the Research Commons Librarian, who are available for writing and research support during the weekly sessions. An Assistant for Theses will also be available for some of the sessions for any questions about using the thesis template, formatting, and the thesis submission process. Optional mini workshops on topics such as library research techniques, copyright, and academic publishing will be offered some weeks. For Summer 2023, sessions will be held on Fridays, 9:00 am – 12 noon for 10 weeks, starting Friday, May 19, 2023 and concluding Friday, July 21, 2023.
The online writing group format
Some of you may already be familiar with or have participated in online writing groups. For both those with and without experience, we encourage you to join us for this unique experience! The group will begin each session by briefly checking in and setting goals before turning to dedicated writing time. Participants can request support from our team through the chat feature, and consultations/discussions will take place in breakout rooms. The 3-hour sessions conclude with the group coming together and discussing any reflections or areas of interest/concern.
Writers will be asked to keep their microphones muted while writing, and the use of webcams is welcome but entirely optional for each participant.
Registration is for ten weeks
Registration is available for all 10 weeks of sessions combined. We ask that registered participants commit to attending each session to the extent that their schedules allow.
Please register by Wednesday, May 17 at 4:00pm, after which registrants will be contacted with a confirmation and further instructions.
If you have any questions about Thesis Writing Group, please contact Robyn Long, Graduate Writing Services Coordinator, at robyn_long@sfu.ca, or Julie Jones, Research Commons Librarian, at jsj7@sfu.ca.
Join us for three days of dedicated writing time and make genuine progress on your thesis, project, or capstone.
We’ll have a beautiful space to work, facilitated sessions that animate the writing experience, and optional programming around writing techniques, citation, research, the thesis template, and thesis-adjacent topics such as the graduate student well-being and the grad student–supervisor relationship.
