From Research Idea to Publication: GenCGov Announces 2026 Writing Workshop

From Research Idea to Publication: GenCGov Announces 2026 Writing Workshop

GenCGov is launching Write, Connect, Publish, a practical five-week writing workshop designed to help researchers and professionals develop stronger academic and policy-focused writing. The programme responds to a common challenge: many researchers, legal practitioners and policy professionals have valuable ideas and practical experience but need structured support to turn them into clear, rigorous and publishable papers. Through expert-led sessions, practical exercises and peer learning, participants will strengthen their research and writing skills while working towards more coherent and publication-ready outputs.

Programme dates and time

The workshop will run from 6 October to 6 November 2026.

• Meeting days: Tuesdays and Thursdays
  Time: 4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. WAT
  Duration: Five weeks
  Number of sessions: Eight
  Sign Up: https://bit.ly/4A4n323

Who is the workshop for?

The programme is particularly relevant to early- and mid-career professionals working in law, social sciences, public policy, governance, development, civil society, research and academia.

It will also benefit doctoral researchers, legal practitioners, policy analysts and applied researchers seeking to produce work that connects academic analysis with practical and policy concerns.

Through expert guidance, practical exercises and peer learning, Write, Connect, Publish will create a supportive environment in which promising ideas can develop into stronger research outputs with genuine potential for publication and impact.

What the eight sessions will cover

1. Goal Setting and Demystifying the Academic Voice

The opening session will help participants clarify their writing goals and better understand the expectations of academic writing. It will explore how researchers can move from consuming existing knowledge to producing original work while addressing writing anxiety and imposter syndrome.

2. Research and Source Evaluation

Participants will learn how to locate, assess and organise credible research materials. The session will cover academic databases, the difference between scholarly and non-scholarly sources, critical source evaluation and effective note-taking strategies.

3. Thesis and Research Questions: Mapping the Argument

This session will focus on developing clear, focused and defensible research questions. Participants will examine how to align their questions with an appropriate methodology and use reverse outlining to test the structure and logic of their arguments.

4. The Art of the Literature Review

Participants will learn how to move beyond summarising individual sources and develop a literature review that synthesises existing research. The session will explore how to identify gaps, organise literature around key debates and establish an appropriate theoretical or conceptual framework.

5. Structure and Argumentation: Building Powerful Paragraphs

This session will examine outlining, logical flow, paragraph cohesion and the effective integration of evidence. Participants will be introduced to the MEAL approach — Main Idea, Evidence, Analysis and Link — as a practical method for developing stronger paragraphs.

The session will also address the use of signposting and transitions and the importance of balancing external evidence with the writer’s own analytical voice.

6. Academic Style and Clarity: Refining and Polishing

Participants will learn how to communicate complex ideas clearly and professionally. The session will address formal tone, precision, bias, unnecessary repetition and logical flow between sections.

It will also introduce policy-brief writing and help participants consider how research findings can be communicated effectively to policy and practitioner audiences.

7. Citations, Ethics and Integrity

This session will provide practical guidance on major referencing systems, including APA, MLA, Chicago and OSCOLA. Participants will examine the differences between paraphrasing and direct quotation, learn how to avoid accidental plagiarism and consider the ethical management of research data.

8. Drafting and Revision: Writing for Publication and Impact

The final session will focus on peer review, editing and preparing written work for publication. Participants will learn how to improve grammar, cohesion and conciseness, write stronger titles and abstracts, identify suitable journals or publishers and respond constructively to reviewer feedback.

The session will also consider the responsible use of artificial intelligence in academic writing, including the importance of accuracy, transparency, research integrity and human oversight.