Writing a Statement of Intent and Purpose: Crafting Your Scholarly Identity

Graduate school applications typically include a statement of intent or purpose, whereby prospective students describe their research background and expertise and begin to map out a research plan. But how do emerging scholars craft their identity in this high-stakes document? Research shows that the scholarly identity prospective students construct in these statements must demonstrate the relevance and timeliness of the research proposal to the chosen discipline, as well as demonstrating researcher competence. Therefore, this workshop draws on scholarly evidence and uses real-world examples to introduce participants to the macro-organization and some of the typical stylistic features of statements of intent and purpose.

Facilitator: Dr. Patty Kelly, Centre for Writing and Scholarly Communication

Location: IKBLC, Level 3, Dodson Room