You can opt for individual coaching, workshops in small groups, tutorials (individually or in very small groups) and a language check. The coaching and workshops for students are aimed at theses written in Dutch and English. The tutorials for PhD candidates are only about English theses.
Individual coaching sessions about your thesis
Writing a thesis or dissertation is a challenging task. If you ‘get stuck’ or cannot see the way ahead, it can be useful to talk to an experienced writing coach. The focus in the coaching sessions is not on the content of the thesis, but on the writing tasks or specific language problems. Read more about coaching for theses.
Language check for your thesis
For master’s students who want to make sure the language of their Dutch or English thesis is correct, the ALP offers an editing service. The ALP editors provide feedback on the correctness and clarity of your Dutch or English text and help you to write in an appropriate academic style (such as academic vocabulary and perspective). Read more about the editing services.
Workshops English and Dutch
These short workshops (1 hour and 45 minutes) focus on specific topics relevant for writing texts in English and Dutch. They take place on campus, in groups of up to 15 participants, with the exception of the “Top 10 grammar and language issues” workshop. This will take place online.
About English texts (in English)
- Top 10 grammar and language issues (ONLINE): treatment of the most common errors in English texts.
- How to sound like an academic: the characteristics of the right tone and style in English academic texts.
- How to create a clear and logical structure for your text: tips and tricks for improving text coherence and sentence structure.
About Dutch texts (in Dutch)
- Lastige kwesties in het Nederlands: crash course on common questions about sentence structure and vocabulary in Dutch.
- Hoe schrijf ik in een academische stijl? For when you hear that your Dutch writing is ‘too informal’ or ‘too popular’.
- Hoe zorg ik voor een duidelijke structuur in mijn tekst? For when you struggle with creating a coherent text and a logical storyline in your Dutch text.
- Zelfstandig verbeteren van je academische schrijfvaardigheid: check and improve your own Dutch text based on a list of textual characteristics.
About the writing process (in Dutch and/or English)
- Writing process: how to start and stop writing: for students who want to learn how to tackle writing tasks more effectively, regardless of the language you write in.
Customized thesis workshop for faculties or programs
In the ALP Customized Thesis Workshop by program or faculty, fellow students, trained by the ALP as writing coaches, help students get started on their thesis. Read more about the thesis workshop for FSW students here.
Tutorials for PhD candidates/PhD students (English)
Tailored support for PhD candidates writing an English-language dissertation. This support is specifically focused on the quality of academic English and always in consultation with the PhD supervisor.
A standard program consists of a one-hour intake session in which the tutor and the PhD candidate identify specific areas of concern, followed by three or five one-hour appointments. In these sessions, the tutor and the PhD student work together in detail on a section of the text, focusing on the previously identified areas of concern. Tutorials in small groups of up to three PhD students are also possible.
For more information, contact Dr. Gea Dreschler: g.a.dreschler@vu.nl.