EXTENDED: Call for applications: The 2016 TWSC Writeshop

The 2016 TWSC Writeshop
Third World Studies Center, Lower Ground Floor,
College of Social Sciences and Philosophy,
Palma Hall, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
7-9 November 2016

About the writeshop

The Third World Studies Center (TWSC) launches the 2016 TWSC Writeshop in continuing its commitment to build the capacity of early career researchers, junior faculty members, and graduate students in the social sciences. As a premiere social science research center in the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines-Diliman, the TWSC continues to develop critical, alternative paradigms to promote progressive scholarship by undertaking pioneering research and publishing original, empirically-grounded, and innovative studies.

Originally meant as a capacity-building workshop on social science research in 2010, the TWSC Writeshop transformed into a unique publication platform for early career researchers, junior faculty members, and graduate students in the social sciences. Since 2014, successful Writeshop participants were not only given the opportunity to interact with experts from the academe and the publishing industry, but also the opportunity to produce a publishable manuscript for the TWSC’s internationally refereed and CHED-accredited (A-2, Very Good - Excellent) journal Kasarinlan: Philippine Journal of Third World Studies. The 2016 TWSC Writeshop sustains this academic tradition and more.

The 2016 TWSC Writeshop marks another milestone as it transitions from module-based discussions to manuscript-driven mentoring in the form of intensive yet collegial small-group discussions. The mentors, established scholars in their respective fields and the Kasarinlan editorial staff, will bring into line problematization, researcher positionality and ethics, and crafting meaningful narratives based on empirical work to equip the participants in making a contribution in social science scholarship, i.e., by creating a publishable work. In seeing through the TWSC Writeshop’s goal, the Writeshop culminates with the publication of successful manuscripts in a special issue in Kasarinlan.

Who may apply

There will only be ten (10) successful applicants who will be called Writeshop Fellows. Applicants can be social science graduate students, early career researchers, and/or junior faculty members from any Philippine higher education institution. Applicants who are near completion of their theses/dissertations as well as those who have not yet participated in previous TWSC writeshops will be prioritized.

What to submit

Applicants must be able to submit the following to twsc.updiliman@up.edu.ph on or before 31 July 2016:

1. An unpublished article, authored solely by the applicant, with a word count of 6,000 - 8,000 words, inclusive of an abstract and a list of references, that can be developed into a full-length article for publication in the Center’s internationally refereed and CHED-accredited (A-2, Very Good - Excellent) journal Kasarinlan: Philippine Journal of Third World Studies. See author guidelines here http://bit.ly/1OFXsTa. The draft article must demonstrate theoretical rigor and must be based on empirical work. Submissions will be plagiarism-checked. The submission must conform to the prescribed template for purposes of the Writeshop. The template can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/jgq5xxr 
2. Soft copy of latest curriculum vitae with references.

What to expect after submission of requirements

1. All submissions will undergo plagiarism check by the Kasarinlan editorial staff. Submissions without plagiarized contents will undergo preliminary editorial evaluation by the Kasarinlan editorial staff. Ten submissions will be selected.
2. The ten applicants whose submissions were selected will be notified by email, including the terms of reference (TOR) for the Writeshop. They must convey their full understanding, agreement, and acceptance of the TOR by sending the signed TOR to twsc.updiliman@up.edu.ph.
3. There is no registration fee. Successful applicants based outside of Metro Manila may apply for subsidies, in the forms of per diem and reimbursed travel expenses subject to government accounting rules. Those who would like to avail of the above subsidies must send a signed letter addressed to the Director, Dr. Ricardo T. Jose to twsc.updiliman@up.edu.ph, with clear justification on why they are requesting for such.

What to expect during the writeshop

Day 1

Activity 1: Keynote speech on the state of the art of social sciences in the Philippines

Objective: To establish the research and publication milieu in which early-career researchers can stake their claim as potential authors.

Activity 2: Introduction of the Writeshop Fellows

Objective: To create a collegial atmosphere among the fellows.

Activity 3: Lecture on social science research and publication

Objective: To set the general parameters of problematization, research positionality, and ethics in social science research and publication.

Activity 4: Small-group discussion on problematization, research positionality, and ethics

Objective: To provide a platform for the fellows where they can engage in a dialogue with mentors and members of the editorial staff on the quality of theoretical engagement as well as ethical nuances of their manuscripts.

Conduct of small-group discussion: The fellows will be assigned to groups with two mentors and one member of the editorial staff each. The mentors will be provided with a copy of the manuscript before the writeshop to give substantive feedback. The discussion will revolve around, but will not be limited to problematization, research positionality, and ethics. The editorial staff will serve as facilitator in threshing out the following: 1) What research problem did you choose?; 2) How did you come up with this research problem?; 3) What is your stake in this research?

Day 2

Activity 5: Small group discussion on making sense of the findings and crafting narratives

Objective: To provide a platform for the fellows where they can engage in a dialogue with mentors and members of the editorial staff on the conduct of analysis and producing a coherent narrative out of the key arguments of their manuscripts.

Conduct of small-group discussion: The fellows will be assigned to groups with two mentors and one member of the editorial staff each. The mentors will be provided with a copy of the manuscript before the writeshop to give substantive feedback. The discussion will revolve around, but will not be limited to structure of the analysis and writing styles for journal articles. The editorial staff will serve as facilitator in threshing out the following: 1) How did you gather your data and from what sources?; 2) How did you analyze your data and why?; 3) What are your key findings?; 4) How do you narrate your findings to tell a story?; and 5) Is the conclusion really an ending?

Activity 6: Kasarinlan session by Managing Editor

Objective: To familiarize the fellows on plagiarism, CMOS referencing, and copy editing one's manuscripts.

Day 3

Culminating Activity: Writeshop Fellows’ Plenary Session

Objective: To provide a platform for the fellows to present their works in progress, their key learnings from the writeshop, and concrete plans for publication.

Closing Activity: Awarding of Certificates

For inquiries:

Elinor May K. Cruz

University Research Associate

Third World Studies Center

University of the Philippines-Diliman

Lower Ground Floor, Palma Hall

University of the Philippines

1101 Diliman, Quezon City

E-mail: twsc.updiliman@up.edu.ph

Telephone: +63 2 981 8500 ext. 2488

Telefax: +63 2 920 5428

Mobile: +63926 710 2926