Grad academic success workshops



Conducting research


This workshop will focus on the main sources of social statistics in Canada, namely Statistics Canada's Website, more specifically the Data section and the Canadian Census. Provincial statistics (Institut de la Statistique du Québec) will also be mentioned. The second part of the presentation will present the concept of microdata and introduce students to data available through the Data Liberation Initiative (DLI). We will review the best methods to identify relevant surveys. The various types of data files (PUMFs, Master Files) will be described and students will be shown how to access those files via the Odesi database or by going to the Research Data Centre at McGill (QICSS). There will be a demonstration of Odesi which will focus on searching the platform for surveys and individual variables and on downloading datasets and associated documentation.
  • 23 January
  • 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Sir George Williams

Conducting research


This hands-on workshop will introduce students to the modern, no-cost, digital note-taking tool, Obsidian (or Zettlr). Integrated with Zotero and used in an academic framework, these tools can foster productive research writing. The workshop will help students start practising the principles of a Zettelkasten technique to build a personal knowledge base of literature notes, interlinked ideas, long-form writing, visual concept maps, and more. It will show how to associate Obsidian notes with bibliographic information in Zotero as part of the research writing workflow. 
  • 09 February
  • 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Sir George Williams
Would you like to be able to keep a permanent copy of something that's online? Whether it's your thesis project website, source material for your research, or your favourite cat video, online content is at high risk of disappearing. This workshop will show you how to preserve web content using free and open-source tools.  This is an introductory-level workshop and no prior knowledge or technical skills are needed.
  • 04 October
  • 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Online
This workshop will focus on the main sources of social statistics in Canada, namely Statistics Canada's Website, more specifically the Data section and the Canadian Census. Provincial statistics (Institut de la Statistique du Québec) will also be mentioned. The second part of the presentation will present the concept of microdata and introduce students to data available through the Data Liberation Initiative (DLI). We will review the best methods to identify relevant surveys. The various types of data files (PUMFs, Master Files) will be described and students will be shown how to access those files via the Odesi database or by going to the Research Data Centre at McGill (QICSS). There will be a demonstration of Odesi which will focus on searching the platform for surveys and individual variables and on downloading datasets and associated documentation.
  • 26 September
  • 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Sir George Williams

Ethics, rights and responsibilities


Improve your understanding of the basic rules for documentation including an introduction to multiple styles. Also, learn when and how to quote or paraphrase. Understand the Academic Code of Conduct and your responsibilities as a graduate a student.
 
  • 23 May
  • 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
  • Online
Are you worried about unintentionally committing an Academic Offence? Do you want to avoid being expelled and ensure you are submitting work that fairly demonstrates your own competence? Learn everything you will need to know about the Academic Code of Conduct, various offenses, and sanctions while completing specialized activities at this workshop.
 
  • 29 May
  • 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Online

Funding and awards


This workshop is intended for current or future students in research-based graduate programs, who are preparing a Fall scholarship application to a federal or provincial government research agency.

There are many elements that need to be compiled before a complete scholarship application can be submitted. While many statements are written by the applicant, time is also required for 1) peer-review of those statements, 2) ordering official transcripts, 3) letters of support, and so on. The aim of this workshop is to present possible timelines that will help to anticipate the needs of most tri-agency and FRQ applications - due in the coming weeks and months - and to learn how to write a successful application, showcase your strengths, and make your proposal stand out among your peers.

Note: Students are ultimately still responsible for ensuring their own applications conform to the instructions and standards laid out on by each agency for the specific funding program(s) they select.

 
  • 07 August
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Online
This workshop is intended for current or future students in research-based graduate programs, who are preparing a Fall scholarship application to a federal or provincial government research agency.

Writing strategies and tips can often be applied globally, so this workshop aims to offer ways that graduate students can develop and improve their scholarship applications. For example, this workshop will offer writing tips to aid in the development of many standard and essential sections of the application (e.g. outline of proposed research, and other applicant statements). Funding agencies typically expect students to be the author of their own applications, but this does not mean writing in isolation – and does not exclude the important contributions and feedback of peers, research supervisors and other mentors.
  • 04 June
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Online
Are you planning on applying for future scholarships or awards? Is a deadline fast approaching? You don’t even know how to start writing your research proposal? This workshop is for you!

Aside from the purely financial benefit of receiving a scholarship, awards also serve to recognize your achievements and focus more on your studies and your research. In this workshop, you will learn how to write a successful application, showcase your strengths, and make your proposal stand out among your peers.x
  • 12 March
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Online
This workshop is intended for current or future students in research-based graduate programs, who are preparing a Fall scholarship application to a federal or provincial government research agency.

Research proposals vary tremendously between departments, research areas, and individuals, but there are also standard ways to present this material for each agency and scholarship program. Most fundamentally, this requires that all applicants read the program instructions carefully for the drafts they are creating. In this workshop, you will learn how to understand the main elements of an application and their relevance, write a successful application, and make your proposal stand out among your peers.
 
  • 10 July
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Online
This workshop is intended for current or future students in research-based graduate programs, who are preparing a Fall scholarship application to a federal or provincial government research agency.

Research proposals vary tremendously between departments, research areas, and individuals, but there are also standard ways to present this material for each agency and scholarship program. Most fundamentally, this requires that all applicants read the program instructions carefully for the drafts they are creating. In this workshop, you will learn how to understand the main elements of an application and their relevance, write a successful application, and make your proposal stand out among your peers.

 
  • 09 July
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Online
This workshop is intended for current or future students in research-based graduate programs, who are preparing a Fall scholarship application to a federal or provincial government research agency.

There are many elements that need to be compiled before a complete scholarship application can be submitted. While many statements are written by the applicant, time is also required for 1) peer-review of those statements, 2) ordering official transcripts, 3) letters of support, and so on. The aim of this workshop is to present possible timelines that will help to anticipate the needs of most tri-agency and FRQ applications - due in the coming weeks and months - 
and to learn how to write a successful application, showcase your strengths, and make your proposal stand out among your peers.
  • 06 August
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Online

This is a live Q&A session moderated by a representative from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Students will have the opportunity to ask specific questions about the NSERC doctoral (CGS D/PGS D) and postdoctoral (PDF) programs, whose application deadline dates are imminent.

  • 14 September
  • 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Online

Join us for an informative session on applying to the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS). Designed for prospective and first year doctoral students, this session will provide invaluable insights into the application process, eligibility criteria, and tips for crafting a compelling application package. 

The Vanier CGS program aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting candidates who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering and health. 

We will guide you through the key components of the Vanier CGS application, including the research proposal, leadership and community engagement, academic achievements, and letters of recommendation. Learn how to effectively showcase your academic excellence, research potential, and leadership skills to increase your chances of success.

  • 11 June
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Online

Intended for current or future international students in research-based graduate programs, this workshop provides comprehensive guidance to understand the Canadian funding landscape. Participants will gain insights into the intricacies of proposal development, navigating application requirements, and optimizing their chances of securing external funding.  

This session covers every aspect of the application journey, from understanding eligibility criteria and program requirements to crafting a standout research proposal and preparing a compelling CV. Participants will gain valuable tips on how to effectively highlight their academic achievements, research potential, and leadership abilities, aligning their application with the evaluation criteria of the selection committees.  

Note: Students are still ultimately responsible for ensuring their own applications conform to the instructions and standards laid out by each agency for the specific funding program(s) they ultimately select. 

  • 25 June
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Online

This workshop is intended for current or future students in research-based graduate programs, who are preparing a Fall scholarship application to a federal or provincial government research agency.  

Whether you are applying for Tri-Agency or FRQ awards, you might be required to write statements highlighting your academic journey, research experience or personal background. In this workshop, participants will learn to craft compelling narratives that showcase their strengths and get insight into the nuances of effective storytelling, honing their abilities to articulate their motivations, achievements, and future aspirations; skills and strategies necessary to stand out in competitive funding.  

Note: Students are ultimately still responsible for ensuring their own applications conform to the instructions and standards laid out on by each agency for the specific funding program(s) they select. 

  • 21 August
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Online

Knowledge and research dissemination


The publication of research is a fundamental part of scholarly activity in humanities and social sciences disciplines but the publication process can seem somewhat daunting to first-time authors. How do authors approach publishers and share their work? How do authors choose publishers? What are publishers’ expectations of their authors? This workshop will discuss differences among scholarly book publishers and key areas of collaboration between authors and scholarly publishers such as book proposals, transforming dissertation research into publications, approaches to scholarly writing, and peer review.
  • 23 January
  • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Online
This workshop aims to lessen the experience of information overload by focusing on the information search process from a holistic perspective.
Some of the techniques and strategies that will be explored include concept mapping to make connections and identify gaps in your current research, search techniques like citation searching and bibliometric tools, and browsable resources at Concordia like BrowZine and Sofia. We will also discuss ways of managing information overload such as research logs, search alerts, and literature matrices.  
  • 16 February
  • 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM
  • Online
Learn how to get, collaborate on, and share research or creative works with Creative Commons (CC) licences. Researchers frequently use these licences to enable open scholarship or open science processes. Whether you need images for a presentation, are seeking information for your own work, or want to mix sounds into new music, Creative Commons licences enable you to access and share with people around the world. In this workshop you will find out what the Creative Commons is and how to use CC licences. We will practice working with CC content and look at the ramifications of applying different licences to our own work. We will also explore some useful tools for finding CC-licensed work.
 
  • 24 October
  • 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
  • Online
What does research data management and preservation mean in the context of arts-based research-creation projects?  This workshop will discuss what Tri-Agency requirements exist and how they relate to the management of arts-based research materials, as well as provide guidance on the long-term preservation of digital files, including recommended file formats, storage practices, and tools for preserving specific types of content such as video or web-based art.  This workshop will also cover the resources and services that Concordia Library has on offer to assist students and faculty with management of their research materials and the archiving of their creations.
  • 15 February
  • 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Online

Organisation and time management


This series consists of two workshops.
 
Week 1: Time Realism
 
Do you ever feel like there are not enough hours in the day? Do you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list? In this session, we'll explore how to be more realistic about time and identify strategies to make the most of our time. You'll learn about the latest research in linguistics and cognitive science and what it can tell us about how we manage time in an easier, more intuitive, and ultimately more realistic way. The key to effective time management is thinking about your time more realistically.
 
Many time management books and articles make sensational claims, such as "get 10x more done in the next week with this one simple change!" This is not only unrealistic, but it can also be discouraging when we don't see results that match the hype. So if you're ready to learn how to manage your time more effectively, sign up for this workshop today!
 
Week 2: The Science of Prioritizing
 
Social media, emails, work, school, family, friends… it's easy to feel pulled in a million different directions. In this session, we'll explore how to better manage our time and attention in the face of constant demands. You'll learn about the most powerful and effective time management strategy, one that is backed by close to 60 years of scientific research.  This strategy is so effective that it has been adopted by some of the most successful people in the world, including Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and Elon Musk. You'll also learn about simple tools that will help you implement this strategy in your own life. We'll also cover the science of prioritizing. So, if you're ready to learn about the latest research on time management and attention, as well as some simple, yet powerful tools to help you take control of your time, then sign up for this workshop today!

 
  • 12 February - 19 February
  • 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
  • Online

Preparing a thesis or research paper


Finished writing your thesis, but stuck with the formatting requirements? Confused about the page numbering, what sections to include or not? Who to get in touch with about what? This workshop, then, might be able to provide answers for you. In this workshop, we will cover the different steps that you need to take to complete your program, but will also walk you through the specific formatting requirements.
  • 21 March
  • 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
  • Online