Academic Advice in Arts & Humanities
Undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate taught (PGT) students in Arts & Humanities can make an appointment or come to a class with the Effective Learning Adviser (or one of her Graduate Teaching Assistants) to talk about anything related to your academic work. Common topics include:
- academic writing (essays, dissertations, research proposals)
- argumentation
- engagement with literature, referencing and using/critiquing sources
- time and project management
- effective, evidence-based study and revision methods
We can advise you on current unmarked work or past assignments, including helping you in how you:
- interpret the question
- think about your argument
- plan your essay
- research and use your sources
- write and edit your work
- apply feedback
We can advise you within the context of your subject, but are unable to advise on specific content. Similarly, we encourage your ability to edit and assess your work and, therefore, cannot offer proof reading.
If you are a Postgraduate Research student (PGR), you can seek academic advice and support through the Researcher Developer team.
Dr Robyne Calvert
Effective Learning Adviser for the College of Arts & Humanities
Semester 2 Class Timetable
Class timetable
Essay Writing
Our Essay Writing course is designed to give you a step-by-step guide on how to write a successful essay in the Social Sciences or the Arts & Humanities. This course will run once in Semester 1 and again in Semester 2.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=10314
| Date | Time | Class | Class Description | Location |
| Thursday 23rd January | 12:00-13:00 | ILOs & Essay Questions | This class covers the importance of Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) and how to deconstruct and interpret essay questions. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 30th January | 12:00-13:00 | Researching your Essay | This class focuses on how to identify and review academic literature for your essay. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 6th February | 12:00-13:00 | Planning your Essay | This class explores how to create an effective plan to write your essay assignments successfully. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 13th February | 12:00-13:00 | Argumentation | This class discusses what we understand by an argument, what are its main distinctive features. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 20th February | 12:00-13:00 | Structuring your Essay | This class explores different ways to structure your essay to make sure it is organised around a central and coherent argument. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 27th February | 12:00-13:00 | Referencing | This class discusses why we reference in academia and how to reference your essay adequately. | 109 Molema Building |
| Thursday 6th March | 12:00-13:00 | Editing your Essay | This class focuses on the editorial process: how to go from a first draft to the final submission. | 109 Molema Building |
| Monday 10th March | 15:00-16:00 | ILOs & Essay Questions | This class covers the importance of Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) and how to deconstruct and interpret essay questions. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
| Tuesday 11th March | 15:00-16:00 | Researching your Essay | This class focuses on how to identify and review academic literature for your essay. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
| 15:00-16:00 | Planning your Essay | This class explores how to create an effective plan to write your essay assignments successfully. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
|
| Tursday 13th March | 15:00-16:00 | Argumentation | This class discusses what we understand by an argument, what are its main distinctive features. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
| Monday 17th March | 15:00-16:00 | Structuring your Essay | This class explores different ways to structure your essay to make sure it is organised around a central and coherent argument. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
| Tuesday 18th March | 15:00-16:00 | Referencing | This class discusses why we reference in academia and how to reference your essay adequately. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
| Wednesday 19th March | 15:00-16:00 | Editing your Essay | This class focuses on the editorial process: how to go from a first draft to the final submission. | Online (check SLD website for joining link closer to the time) |
Dissertation Classes
This course walks you through the process of writing a dissertation for the Arts & Humanities or the Social Sciences. The course consists of a combination of lectures and workshops where you will have a chance to practice the skills you learn.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=12843
| Date | Time | Class | Class Description | Location |
| Tuesday 14th January | 12:00-13:00 | Dissertation Topic & Question | This session explores how to find a dissertation topic and then turning this topic into a research question you can answer in your dissertation. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 15th January | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | This workshop offers you a space to think about your research topic and practice turning your topic into a productive research question | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
| Tuesday 21st January | 12:00-13:00 | Literature Review | This class focuses on the literature review: what it is and its purpose within your dissertation. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 22nd January | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | In this workshop you will practice mapping your research to write a better literature review. Bring a selection of articles or book chapters you are working or planning to work with. | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
| Tuesday 28th January | 12:00-13:00 | Theory | This class focuses on the purpose of theory in academia and how to use it in your writing. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 29th January | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | In this workshop you will practice mapping your research to write a better literature review. Bring a selection of articles or book chapters you are working or planning to work with. | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
| Tuesday 4th February | 12:00-13:00 | Methodology | This class focuses on the methodology: what it is, what the difference is between methods and methodology, and how to write about, explain, and justify your methodology. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 5th February | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | This workshop will give you a space to think with peers about what are the elements of a strong methodology and give you a framework to organise the information of your methodological chapter or section. | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
| Tuesday 11th February | 12:00-13:00 | Argument | This class explains how to construct a convincing argument that answers your research question. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 12th February | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | This workshop will give you a space to work on strengthening argumentation and criticality in your dissertation. | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
| Tuesday 18th February | 12:00-13:00 | Structure | This class explains how to ensure your argument connects and links all of your dissertation chapters together within a robust structure. | 256 Fore Hall (Main Building) |
| Wednesday 19th February | 12:00-13:00 | Workshop (sign-up in advance) | This workshop will allow you to practice how to find the connections between your different chapters. Bring a dissertation plan to the session. | Click here to sign up (Moodle login required) |
Mastering Academic Writing
> Moodle page for this series - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=12516
Our Mastering Academic Writing course consists of a series of resources and recorded lectures for those wanting to fine-tune their writing skills to an advanced level.
| Session Title |
| Explaining Yourself in Writing |
| Grammar in Writing |
| Sentence Structure in Writing |
| Logic and Flow in Writing |
| Formality in Writing |
Key Concepts in the Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences
> Moodle page for this series - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=41660
This course introduces students in the Arts & Humanities and the Social Sciences to some of the fundamental concepts they will encounter throughout their degree, no matter what they are studying.
| Session Title |
| Argument |
| Statistics |
| Critical Theory |
| Sources |
Academic Development
> Moodle page for this series - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=10312
Our Academic Development course includes resources and recordings on how to become an effective independent learner, studying for exams, carrying out effective group work, among other key skills you will need to master in your degrees.
| Session Title |
| Studying at the University of Glasgow |
| Learning Independently |
| Working in Groups |
| Presenting Effectivley |
| Reflecting and Revising for Assessment |
| Statistics for Art & Humanities and Social Sciences |
Appointments
Undergraduate and PGT students can make an appointment with one of the advising team (GUID required). The booking diary shows appointments available in the next 21 days only.
All appointments will take place online.
Dr Robyne Calvert
Robyne Calvert is the Effective Learning Adviser for the College of Arts and Humanities. Robyne has a PhD in the History of Art, and has researched and lectured in art, architecture and design history and theory at the University of Glasgow and The Glasgow School of Art for over a decade. She has supervised many UG and PGT dissertations, and has also been a primary PhD supervisor.
Teaching Requests
Robyne is keen to develop teaching collaborations across all courses in Arts & Humanities. To find out what teaching she can offer on your course, get in touch by email.
Research and Teaching
As a Cultural Historian, Robyne's research and teaching interests span a wide range of topics, including: art, architecture, design, fashion, heritage and museum studies, digital and material culture, critical and creative writing, and academic literacies. She received a Pasold Fund PhD bursary for her thesis 'Fashioning the Artist: Artistic Dress in Victorian Britain, 1848-1900' (University of Glasgow, 2012). She is an active public historian, has been an expert on BBC radio, television, and STV programmes, and most recently has been featured on the National Trust for Scotland’s 'Love Scotland' podcast with Jackie Bird. In April 2024 she published her first monograph, 'The Mack: Charles Rennie Mackintosh and The Glasgow School of Art', with Yale University Press.
Staff A-Z entry and publications
Room 316
McMillan Reading Room
University Avenue
University of Glasgow
G12 8QQ