Writing Center Workshop Descriptions

Graduate Research and Writing Workshops: An Overview

We are pleased to continue our workshops for graduate students. Each semester we will start with a research workshop designed to discuss the research process and to provide hands-on experience and practical strategies for conducting research. A follow-up workshop will focus on how to read and evaluate the research materials you’ve obtained. The third workshop will focus on writing, including how to overcome writer’s block, how to manage your writing time effectively, and how to synthesize your research materials into your writing assignments. Finally, the fourth workshop will teach you strategies for editing and revising your work. These workshops have been constructed based on your questions, comments and evaluations; as always, our aim is to meet your needs as graduate students. We encourage and welcome your feedback.

Welcome and Introduction, Research: Process and Practice, Dana Library – Electronic Classroom (Lower Level)

During this introductory workshop, we discuss the needs, rights and responsibilities of graduate students, and introduce you to Dana Library, its staff and available resources. Reference librarian Roberta Tipton will discuss the process of research and will provide practical tips for researching online and full text documents. With the constant changes made in cataloguing and archiving materials, this workshop will help you to search efficiently and effectively.

How to Read Your Research Materials:
Understanding and Evaluating Your Sources

Do you have lots of research, but don’t know what to do with it all? This workshop will help you master ways of reading so that you can determine whether what you’ve found is what you’re looking for, and how to understand and utilize the information you’ve uncovered. We’ll also take a look at evaluating sources in terms of authority, bias, and scope. Articles from various disciplines will be reviewed.

Writing Workshop: Where Are You in the Writing Process?

This workshop is designed to help you overcome writer’s block, gain confidence as an author, and manage your writing time effectively. You will work on organization of ideas, synthesis of research materials, and planning your next steps in the writing process. You may come to this workshop empty-handed, and we promise that you’ll leave with a piece of writing!

Are We There Yet? Editing and Revising Your Work

Once you’ve gathered and evaluated your research and written your paper, you may think you’re finally finished. Not quite. This workshop will help you develop a critical eye so that you will be able to edit and revise your work. Everyone will receive individual attention, and will leave with a written recommendation for editing/revision. We’ll also focus on what you’re doing well. Note that this workshop does require that you arrive with a piece of writing in hand.

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A calendar of workshops – including new titles -- with dates, times, and location will be available at the beginning of the fall and spring term; please consult the Graduate School web page for the most current information. These workshops have been designed so that you can attend one or several. As space is limited, we do ask that you let us know if you plan to attend, and cancel if you are unable to. Reminders will be sent out a week prior to scheduled workshops. We look forward to working with you!

Writing Under Pressure Workshop

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