Fall 2019 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
Strategic Reading
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
Brandon Archambault, Comparative Literature, 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.
1) Wednesday, October 2nd, 5:15-6:45 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 1-2, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
2) Thursday, October 3rd, 5:15-6:45 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 1-2, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Organizing Your Research Writing
Katherine Cho, Education
Writing is a lot of moving parts: from keeping track of articles you've been reading, to writing down ideas, creating a cohesive structure, drafting different versions, and more. Join this workshop to learn strategies on ways to organize the process of writing!
Thursday, October 10th, 3:00-4:30 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 1-2, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Getting Started on the Dissertation: How to Get Going and Keep Going
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
This workshop gives an overview of organization, time management, writing process issues and writing strategies. Recommended for people in the early stages of the dissertation, but useful for all stages.
Thursday, October 17th, 5:15-6:45 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Writing the Personal Statement
Bobby Smith, English, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will cover strategies for writing personal statements for fellowship applications, residencies, 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.
Thursday, October 24th, 5:30-6:30 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Getting Started on the Master's Thesis
Bobby Smith, English, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will give an overview of how to write a master's thesis. 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, November 6th, 5:10-6:50 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Master's Thesis Writing Program: Would you be interested in a writing consultant mentor while working on your master's thesis or qualifying paper? If so, please fill out the questionnaire linked here by January 8, 2020. The mentoring program will begin in winter quarter.
Workshops on Writing Grants and Fellowships
Applying for the NIH Training Fellowship
Karen Cheng, NIH NRSA Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will cover the application process and required components of an NIH NRSA application. We will discuss preparation, documents needed, and writing strategies. The workshop will mainly focus on NIH Grant F31, but F30 and F32 are very similar. The workshop will also address how to find appropriate materials/resources for a complete application.
Friday, September 27th, 12:00-1:30 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Adrienne Lynett, Graduate Writing Center Program Manager
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.
Tuesday, October 1st, 5:15-7:15 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 1-2, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Science and Engineering Focus)
Rob Ulrich, NSF GRF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Jaime De Anda, NSF GRF 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.
Tuesday, October 8th, 3:00-4:30 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 2-3, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Rob Ulrich, NSF GRF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Cherie Francis, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will discuss strategies for applying for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents 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, October 4th, 12:30-2:00 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 1-2, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Humanities Writing Workshops
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Adrienne Lynett, Graduate Writing Center Program Manager
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.
Tuesday, October 1st, 5:15-7:15 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 1-2, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Social Sciences Writing Workshops
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Adrienne Lynett, Graduate Writing Center Program Manager
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.
Tuesday, October 1st, 5:15-7:15 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 1-2, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Rob Ulrich, NSF GRF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Cherie Francis, 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, October 4th, 12:30-2:00 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 1-2, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Science and Engineering Writing Workshops
Applying for the NIH Training Fellowship
Karen Cheng, NIH NRSA Recipient, Graduate Writing Center, Consultant
This workshop will cover the application process and required components of an NIH NRSA application.. We will discuss preparation, documents needed, and writing strategies. The workshop will mainly focus on NIH Grant F31, but F30 and F32 are very similar. The workshop will also address how to find appropriate materials/resources for a complete application.
Friday, September 27th, 12:00-1:30 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Science and Engineering Focus)
Rob Ulrich, NSF GRF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Jaime De Anda, NSF GRF 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.
Tuesday, October 8th, 3:00-4:30 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 2-3, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Rob Ulrich, NSF GRF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Cherie Francis, 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, October 4th, 12:30-2:00 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 1-2, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Practical Tips for Writing a Scientific Paper
Karen Cheng, NIH NRSA Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Macrina Cooper-White, NDSEG Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will cover the basics of how to plan for, prepare, and organize science-specific writing, including term papers, manuscripts and abstracts. We will also cover style, common structure, active versus passive voice, and first pronoun versus third pronoun usage. We will offer tips for avoiding problems such as excess jargon and ambiguously stated hypotheses.
Thursday, November 14th, 5:15-6:45 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Writing a Dissertation in the Sciences
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
This workshop addresses dissertation structure and strategies for writing global introduction/background sections, global conclusions, and abstracts for dissertations/theses. We also discuss strategies for editing and integrating articles/chapters. We will focus on dissertations generally structured as a compilation of journal manuscripts, but writing strategies will be applicable to other potential thesis structures.
Thursday, November 21st, 5:15-6:30 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
ESL Workshops
Academic Writing Skills Workshop for ESL Graduate Students
Adrienne Lynett, Graduate Writing Center Program Manager
In this interactive workshop, ESL graduate students will learn skills and strategies to build their fluency, accuracy, and comprehensibility in English academic writing. In addition, we will discuss useful on-campus, online, and print resources that will help students to work independently to improve their writing. There will also be time for questions and answers about ESL writing issues and concerns.
Thursday, October 3rd, 3:00-4:30 PM
Location: Conference Rooms 1-2, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
Email Etiquette at the University
Adrienne Lynett, Graduate Writing Center Program Manager
A graduate student will write hundreds of emails — emails that invite professors to serve on thesis/dissertation committees, emails that ask for extensions on papers, emails in which graduate students introduce themselves to potential mentors or advisors. Designed for graduate students who speak English as a second or foreign language, this workshop breaks down the language necessary to make polite requests over email. It also covers basic email etiquette and includes opportunities to edit real example emails written by graduate students.
Tuesday, October 15th, 5:15-6:45 PM
Location: Conference Room 4, Student Activities Center (basement level) ( map )
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.