In collaboration with the Rackham Graduate School, the Sweetland Center for Writing coordinates several student-led writing groups for graduate students writing their dissertations. These interdisciplinary writing groups provide structured support in a facilitated peer-based setting to aid dissertators working through long-term projects.
Dissertation Writing Groups (DWG)
Dissertation Writing Groups place writers from various disciplines but in similar stages of their dissertation projects together to share work in-progress and encourage ongoing writing production. Groups will also be organized based on student meeting mode preference (in-person or remote).
Dissertation Writing Groups consist of four-five members including a group leader. Participants must be in the writing phase of their dissertations and available to meet at least eight times per semester to workshop group members’ writing on a rotating basis. Each group will determine meeting schedules and expectations.
Dissertation Writing Group Leaders
Those interested in becoming group leaders must provide additional information with their applications. Dissertation Writing Group Leaders’ duties include:
- Participating in 3 training sessions with the DWG coordinators: Louis Cicciarelli and Simone Sessolo;
- Managing the logistics of the writing group;
- Facilitating group sessions and coordinating correspondence among group members.
Leaders earn a $600 stipend for their services. If you would like more information about the group leader position before applying, contact Simone Sessolo (sessolo@umich.edu) or Louis Cicciarelli (lcicciar@umich.edu).
Read about former Dissertation Writing Groups participant experiences
- Juan Udaondo Alegre "Inside the Dissertation Writing Groups"
- Molly B. Parsons "Dissertation Writing Groups Are Not Committees"
- Sarah Swofford "How a Dissertation Writing Group Can Help You"
- Antje Gamble "Building a Writing Community with a Sweetland Dissertation Writing Group"
- Konstantina Mary Karageorgos "A Reminder to Dissertation Writers: Sharing Matters"
Application Process
- Submit an online application by Friday, December 19th.
- All accepted students participate in a virtual orientation session on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 5:00pm EST.
