Summer 2016 Writing and Research Workshops
The Graduate Writing Center offers a wide variety of writing workshops, ranging from general to more specialized topics, such as academic genres, writing in certain disciplinary areas, or writing English as a Second Language. We also provide information on workshops and services from selected campus offices that provide assistance with research, data management, and data analysis. Special thanks to our campus programming partners: the UCLA Library, Writing Programs, the Institute for Digital Research and Education, Counseling and Psychological Services, and the Career Center.
General Workshops
Time Management Strategies
Renee Hudson, English, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will cover time management strategies based on the three pillars of productivity: time, attention, and energy. Learn how to manage your time effectively, prioritize tasks, and schedule your week.
Thursday, June 30th, 5:15-7:15 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
UCLA IRB Review: Policy and Procedures
Paul Lillig, UCLA Office of the Human Research Protections Program (OHRPP)
This workshop will provide an overview of the UCLA IRB application process and related policies and procedures.
Thursday, July 14th, 2:00-2:45 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Management of Research Data
Jamie Jamison, Data Archivist, UCLA Social Science Data Archives
This workshop covers best practices for managing research data generated in the social sciences. Topics include: rationale for data management planning; best practices for collecting and organizing research data; and best practices for protecting privacy and confidentiality. The workshop provides tips on handling video, audio, qualitative and quantitative data formats and will provide a list of resources and contact information for additional support. The workshop also provides tips for preparing data plans for dissertation proposals and funding applications.
Thursday, July 21st, 3:30-5:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Editing for Style: How to Improve Your Writing
Stacey Meeker, Information Studies, GSA Director of Publications, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
I've been told that my writing is "dense" and "passive" and that my sentences don't "flow." How can I fix these problems? This hands-on workshop will cover strategies for improving writing at the sentence level. We will look at common problems like the overuse of weak verbs, passive voice, and nominalizations as well as offer specific tips to strengthen clarity and cohesion.
Friday, August 12th, 12:00-1:45 PM
Location: C onference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Writing the Personal Statement
Rebecca Hill, English, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will cover strategies for writing personal statements for fellowship applications, internships, and Ph.D. programs. Among other topics, we will discuss organization, introductions and conclusions, and use of examples. Students from all schools and departments are welcome to attend. If you are currently working on a personal statement, we encourage you to bring your draft to the workshop.
Wednesday, September 7th, 5:30-7:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Strategic Reading
Alexandra Verini, English, 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. Nota Bene: This workshop does not teach speed-reading techniques.
Friday, September 9th, 12:00-1:30 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Workshops on Writing Grants and Fellowships
Writing the Fulbright U.S. Fellowship Application
Jay Johnson, Fulbright Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Cherie Francis, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will cover strategies for writing the Fulbright U.S. fellowship application. We will address writing tips for fellowship applications as well as specific advice for this Fulbright fellowship. We will discuss the structure and content of key documents using examples.
Tuesday, July 12th, 1:00-2:45 PM
Location: Bunche Hall, Room 6275
Registration here: https://grad.ucla.edu/deans/event/?Event=FLBRGHT2016A
Applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Natsuki Atagi, NSF GRF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Diane Goldenberg, NSF GRF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Estevan Hernandez, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will discuss strategies for applying for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Open to US citizens in the Social, Physical, and Biological Sciences, this highly competitive fellowship provides three years of fellowship funding to successful applicants. The workshop will focus on the intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria for NSF grants, the structure of the research proposal and personal statement, suggestions for writing style, and tips for Fastlane submission.
Friday, August 26th, 1:30-3:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Eric Newman, Mellon Grant Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will first briefly review funding opportunities for graduate students in humanities, social sciences, and related fields. The workshop will then focus on strategies for writing effective applications for grants and fellowships to support graduate study and research, especially for students seeking doctorates and research MAs. The workshop will also cover tips for organizing the application process.
Thursday, September 8th, 4:00-6:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Science and Engineering Focus)
Natsuki Atagi, NSF GRF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Katelyn Caslavka-Zempel, NIH Fellowship Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will first briefly review funding opportunities for graduate students in sciences and engineering. The workshop will then focus on strategies for writing effective applications for grants and fellowships to support graduate study and research, especially for students seeking doctorates and research MAs. The workshop will also cover tips for organizing the application process.
Wednesday, September 14th, 5:15-7:15 PM
Location: Conference Room 2, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
We have some previously-recorded online workshops.
Humanities Writing Workshops
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Eric Newman, Mellon Grant Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will first briefly review funding opportunities for graduate students in humanities, social sciences, and related fields. The workshop will then focus on strategies for writing effective applications for grants and fellowships to support graduate study and research, especially for students seeking doctorates and research MAs. The workshop will also cover tips for organizing the application process.
Thursday, September 8th, 4:00-6:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) (map)
Social Sciences Writing Workshops
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Eric Newman, Mellon Grant Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will first briefly review funding opportunities for graduate students in humanities, social sciences, and related fields. The workshop will then focus on strategies for writing effective applications for grants and fellowships to support graduate study and research, especially for students seeking doctorates and research MAs. The workshop will also cover tips for organizing the application process.
Thursday, September 8th, 4:00-6:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) (map)
Science and Engineering Writing Workshops
Dissertation Proposal Workshop (STEM)
This workshop will cover dissertation proposal structures and how proposal structure may vary across discipline. We will also focus on writing the dissertation proposal components, including global introduction and background sections, as well as methods and abstracts. In addition, we will address issues related to the oral portion of the proposal. Please bring an outline of your proposal and an abstract if you have them.
Recommended for people currently working on their dissertation proposal, but all are welcome.
Monday, July 25, 5:30–7:30 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) (map)
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Science and Engineering Focus)
Natsuki Atagi, NSF GRF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Katelyn Caslavka-Zempel, NIH Fellowship Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will first briefly review funding opportunities for graduate students in sciences and engineering. The workshop will then focus on strategies for writing effective applications for grants and fellowships to support graduate study and research, especially for students seeking doctorates and research MAs. The workshop will also cover tips for organizing the application process.
Wednesday, September 14th, 5:15-7:15 PM
Location: Conference Room 2, Student Activities Center (basement level) (map)
ESL Workshops
Self-Editing Strategies for Non-Native Speakers of English
Alexandra Verini, English, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will provide concrete strategies and online tools to enable non-native speakers of English to make appropriate vocabulary choices and approach issues like article and preposition usage in their own writing projects.
Thursday, July 7th, 3:00-5:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) (map)
Statistical Software Workshops and Consultation
Current and former workshops: http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/seminars/default.htm
For walk-in consulting information, Stat books for loan, and the most up-to-date listing of seminars, please see the Statistical Consulting Servicesweb page of the Institute for Digital Research and Education. The Statistical Consulting Services also keep an extensive archive of past workshops.
Research Workshops
Research Workshops
Click the link below for more information about the research and teaching support offered by the UCLA Library: http://www.library.ucla.edu/support
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.
To see the most current schedule of UCLA Library workshops, consult the UCLA Library research workshop page.