Winter 2022 Writing and Research Workshops
The Graduate Writing Center offers a wide variety of writing workshops, ranging from general to more specialized topics. We also provide information on selected campus offices that provide assistance with research, data management, and data analysis.
All workshops are conducted on Zoom unless otherwise noted.
General Workshops
Strategic Reading
Drew Fleshman, Comparative Lit, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Feeling overwhelmed by your reading lists? Concerned that you are missing the point of what you have just read? Are you taking pages of notes for every article you read? This workshop will cover effective reading and note-taking strategies so that you read more efficiently, assess your reading with a critical eye, and annotate each work so that important concepts are easily accessible. Note: This workshop does not teach speed-reading techniques.
Thursday, January 13th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/917416
Time Management for Writing
Michelle Luna, Psychology, Graduate Writing Consultant
In this workshop, we will discuss effective strategies for goal setting and time management as they relate to research and writing projects, especially the writing component. We will also address some approaches to working effectively from home.
Thursday, January 20th, 5:15-6:45 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/920914
Introduction to Writing a Literature Review
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
This workshop will cover strategies and best practices for writing a literature review, including note-taking strategies, writing process issues, and common organizational patterns. The workshop focus will be on literature reviews for original research projects but will be generally applicable to all literature reviews.
Thursday, February 24th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/917854
Mindful Writing Retreat Sessions (Online)
Marilyn Gray, Director, Graduate Writing Center
The mindful writing retreat will integrate simple techniques from mindfulness to support the writing process and cultivate an approach to writing that fosters balance, self-care, and well-being. Please bring a current writing project because much of the retreat time will be allocated for writing. All sessions will be conducted remotely via zoom.
1) Friday, February 11th, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM (Half Day)
RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:
https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/924699
2) Friday, February 18th, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM (Half Day)
RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:
https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/924703
3) Monday, February 21st, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM (Full Day)
RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:
https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/924734
4) Friday, March 4th, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM (Half Day)
RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:
https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/924721
Humanities Writing Workshops
Getting Started on the Master's Thesis (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Jeanette Charles, History, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Abraham Encinas, English, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will give an overview of how to write a master's thesis or project of similar length (like a qualifying paper) for students in the Humanities and Social Sciences. It will include writing activities and discussion to help participants develop their thesis topics. We will also present strategies for organizing research and literature reviews, as well as tips for drafting and revision.
Wednesday, January 26th, 5:15-6:45 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/917430
Strategies for Writing the Humanities Dissertation Prospectus
Alana de Hinojosa, Chicana/o and Central American Studies, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop is geared towards giving prospectus writers the tools to write their prospectus over the course of two months. We will discuss literature review and argument development as well as how to turn the many different pieces of a prospectus into a coherent document. Nota bene: this is meant to be an addition to--not a substitution for--serious discussions with your advisor about what is expected of you in your home department.
Tuesday, February 8th, 5:15-6:45 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/917793
Social Sciences Writing Workshops
Getting Started on the Master's Thesis (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Jeanette Charles, History, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Abraham Encinas, English, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will give an overview of how to write a master's thesis or project of similar length (like a qualifying paper) for students in the Humanities and Social Sciences. It will include writing activities and discussion to help participants develop their thesis topics. We will also present strategies for organizing research and literature reviews, as well as tips for drafting and revision.
Wednesday, January 26th, 5:15-6:45 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/917430
Strategies for Writing the Social Sciences Dissertation Proposal
Estefania Castaneda Perez, Political Science, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Kalani Heinz, Anthropology, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Zachary Mondesire, Anthropology, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will give an overview of the main components of a dissertation proposal in the social sciences and cover strategies for writing the research questions, literature review, and methods sections, as well as some tips for getting through this sometimes daunting process. (These strategies should be adapted to your department's and advisor's expectations about the structure and content of your proposal.) If you have preliminary drafts of an abstract or research questions, please bring them.
Thursday, February 17th, 5:15-6:45 p.m.
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/917802
Science and Engineering Writing Workshops
Getting Started on the Master's Thesis (STEM Focus)
Adriana Mendez Leal, Psychology, Graduate Writing Consultant
Rob Ulrich, Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop will give an overview of how to write a master's thesis for students in STEM fields. It will include writing activities and discussion to help participants develop their thesis topics. We will also present strategies for organizing research and literature reviews, as well as tips for drafting and revision.
Tuesday, January 25th, 5:15-6:45 p.m.
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/917451
Dissertation Proposal (STEM) Workshop
Michelle Luna, Psychology, Graduate Writing Consultant
Zoe Pierrat, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop, geared toward students in STEM fields, will cover dissertation proposal structures and components, as well as writing process strategies and time management. In addition, we will address issues related to the oral defense portion of the proposal.
Thursday, February 10th, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/917784
ESL Workshops
For relevant workshop videos, go to:
https://gwc.gsrc.ucla.edu/workshop-videos#esl_workshops
Grants/Fellowships Workshops
For general introductory fellowship-writing workshops, go to:
https://gwc.gsrc.ucla.edu/workshop-videos#grant_and_fellowship_workshops
For specific fellowship workshops, request access to fellowship resources and archives here (UCLA graduate and professional students only):
https://gwc.gsrc.ucla.edu/fellowship-grant-archive
Statistical Software Workshops and Consultation
For walk-in consulting information, Stat books for loan, and the most up-to-date listing of seminars, please see the Statistical Consulting Services web page of the Institute for Digital Research and Education.
Research Workshops at the Library
To see the most complete, current schedule of UCLA Library advanced research workshops, consult the UCLA Library research workshop page.
Research Guides
Online research guides link to key resources and reference books for certain courses and disciplines. Subject guides, course guides, and general research guides are available.
Research Appointments
Graduate students are encouraged to contact the Library's subject specialists for more specialized and personalized assistance with research, library resources, and subject databases; find a complete list of all subject specialists here.
Copyright Questions
Contact the Library's copyright experts for assistance with copyright, publishing, intellectual property, and other related issues at copyright@library.ucla.edu.