1. Introductory questions and needs analysis John Morgan Aberystwyth University

2. Establishing a focus 1: Topic interests Topic interests  What subject are you interested in?  Is it a new topic?  What do you have to say about it that could be considered ‘new’?

3. 2: Information and opinion  How much information do you have about the topic?  Have you formed a critical opinion on the subject that can be compared with other research in the same field?  Have you discussed this with a tutor or supervisor? Have you discussed it with your peers?

4. 3: Controversy  What controversies (if any) surround this topic?  Are they avoidable? If not, how do these issues compare with the questions on critical opinion?  If you are working from a new, specific, or controversial angle, have you considered other approaches to the issue?

5. 4: From resources to focus  Do you have enough sources?  Are they readily available? n.b. Do not create too much work for yourself at this stage.  Have you narrowed the focus adequately?

6. Identify one current writing assignment (compare with needs analysis timeline)  Essay (M)  Report (M)  Book review (M)  Case study (M)  Proposal (PhD)  Aspects of literature review (PhD)  End of year 1 methodological report (PhD)  Journal article  Conference paper  Other

7. Identify either the question or describe the requirements of the assignment  Safe areas (the things you are comfortable with)  Variables (the flexibilities allowed by the assignment)  Uncertainties (things you would seek advice on in relation to variables and other concerns about your writing)  Action (how you will work with the three above points)

8. Further support  Individual writing consultations are available in Welsh or English with RLF Writing Fellows Elin ap Hywel eea@aber.ac.ukeea@aber.ac.uk David Brodie dqb@aber.ac.ukdqb@aber.ac.uk  You can also access the RLF @ Aber web-site at:  http://www.aber.ac.uk/language+learning/rlf/ http://www.aber.ac.uk/language+learning/rlf/  For more information about the Royal Literary Fund:  http://www.rlf.org.uk/ http://www.rlf.org.uk/  To find out how many UK universities work with the RLF: http://www.rlf1to1.net/http://www.rlf1to1.net/

9. iWrite  As it very time consuming to manually register all course participants for Blackboard, all notes from the Postgraduate Writing Development Programme are available on iWrite (Interactive Writing Environment) at  http://users.aber.ac.uk/jpm/iwrite/units/in dex.html#pgr http://users.aber.ac.uk/jpm/iwrite/units/in dex.html#pgr