Writing and Research Workshops - Fall 2026 (draft)
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 and Note-Taking
Harmeet Kalsi, Education, Graduate Writing Consultant
Concerned about managing your reading workload in graduate school? Do you sometimes miss information or alternatively take too many notes when 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 strategically so that important concepts are easily accessible.
Time Details
- Friday, September 25th, 12:30-1:45 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for the Sept. 25 "Strategic Reading and Note-Taking" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information - Tuesday, September 29th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for the Sept. 29 "Strategic Reading and Note-Taking" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Strategies for Writing Successfully in Graduate School
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
Janel Pineda, Chicana/o and Central American Studies, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop will provide and overview of strategies and resources for developing as an effective writer and communicator in your field. It will explain the range of resource available across different stages of graduate school and some discipline specific approaches.
Time Details
- Wednesday, September 30th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for the Sept. 30 "Strategies for Writing Successful in Graduate School" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information - Thursday, October 1st, 5:15-6:15 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for the Oct. 1 "Strategies for Writing Successful in Graduate School" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Writing a Literature Review (Introduction and Overview)
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
This workshop will describe literature reviews across multiple contexts and genres. The workshop will also cover strategies and best practices for note-taking, preparatory steps, writing process issues, and organization.
Time Details
- Wednesday, October 14th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for Oct. 14 "Writing a Literature Review" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information - Thursday, October 15th, 5:15-6:15 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for Oct. 15 "Writing a Literature Review" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Public Speaking in Academia
Harmeet Kalsi, Education, Graduate Writing Consultant
Andrew Malmuth, Sociology, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop introduces the genres of public speaking in academia, ranging from teaching lectures to conference papers to job talks. The workshop includes suggested strategies to improve your presentation skills.
Time Details: Thursday, October 22nd, 5:15-6:45 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for "Public Speaking in Academia" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Writing the Personal Statement
Andrew Malmuth, Sociology, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will cover strategies for writing personal statements for fellowship applications, residencies, and PhD 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.
Time Details
Thursday, October 29th, 5:30-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for "Writing the Personal Statement" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Dissertation 101
Marilyn Gray, Director, Graduate Writing Center
This workshop will give an overview of the dissertation requirement in terms of structure, process, and role in one's career trajectory. The workshop will address the dissertation from multiple angles to deepen attendees' understanding of decisions and choices around the planning and execution of the dissertation.
Time Details
Wednesday, November 18, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for "Dissertation 101" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Mindful Writing Sessions (Half-Day, 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.
Time Details
- TBD
Humanities Writing Workshops
Strategies for Writing the Master's Thesis (Humanities and Social Science Focus)
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
Andrew Malmuth, Sociology, 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.
Time Details
Thursday, November 5th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for "Writing the Master's Thesis (Humanities and Social Science Focus)" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Social Sciences Writing Workshops
Strategies for Writing the Master's Thesis (Humanities and Social Science Focus)
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
Andrew Malmuth, Sociology, 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.
Time Details
Thursday, November 5th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for "Writing the Master's Thesis (Humanities and Social Science Focus)" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Strategies for Writing the Master's Client/Capstone Project
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
This workshop will give an overview of how to write a master's client project or other master's capstone with written deliverables (projects other than the academic thesis). It will include strategies for developing topics, timeline, goals, and document structure. We will also present effective strategies for drafting and revision, as well as managing the project overall.
Time Details
Tuesday, November 10th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for "Writing the Master's Client/Capstone Project" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Science and Engineering Writing Workshops
Applying for the NIH Training Fellowship
Elle Rathbun, NIH NRSA Recipient, Fellowship Writing Consultant
This workshop will cover the application process and required components of an NIH NRSA application. We will discuss preparation, documents required, and writing strategies for the F31, but the F30 and F32 are very similar. We will also address how to find appropriate materials/resources for a complete application.
Time Details
Tuesday, October 6th, 4:00-5:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for "Applying for the NIH Training Fellowship" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Strategies for Writing the Master's Thesis (STEM Focus)
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
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.
Time Details
Wednesday, November 4th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for "Writing the Master's Thesis (STEM Focus)" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
ESL Workshops
Writing Strategies for International Students
Amelia Ino, Comparative Literature, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop covers specifics of English communication in academic and professional settings with an emphasis on resources and self-editing skills for second language writers. We will discuss expectations for citation in the U.S. and ways to avoid plagiarism. We will address email etiquette in academic and professional communication. We will also discuss strategies and resources for improving English grammar, word choice, and style.
Time Details
Thursday, October 8th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for "Writing Strategies for International Students" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Workshops on Writing Grants and Fellowships
Telling Your New American Story: Applying to the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
Janel Pineda, 2023 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop will provide guidance on preparing a competitive application for the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans (https://www.pdsoros.org/), which provides up to $90K in support for graduate students from migrant backgrounds. Specifically, this workshop will focus on writing strategies for telling your New American story in a compelling, creative, and empowering way. We will brainstorm and begin drafting application components during the session. Although the application is not due until October 2026, we recommend getting started on your application essays well in advance, to allow for multiple drafts and revision.
Time Details
Thursday, September 24th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for "Applying to the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Applying for the NIH Training Fellowship
Elle Rathbun, NIH NRSA Recipient, Fellowship Writing Consultant
This workshop will cover the application process and required components of an NIH NRSA application. We will discuss preparation, documents required, and writing strategies for the F31, but the F30 and F32 are very similar. We will also address how to find appropriate materials/resources for a complete application.
Time Details: Tuesday, October 6th, 4:00-5:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom.
RSVP for "Applying for the NIH Training Fellowship" on 12twenty to receive Zoom information
Statistical Support and Consultation
For support with statistics, please see the statistical support website of the Office of Advanced Research and Computing. Graduate students are eligible for (remote) statistical consulting services on theses, dissertations, and journal publications (projects that are not coursework).
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. For workshops on coding and data science skills, see the Carpentries workshops page.
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.