Summer 2020 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.

All Summer 2020 workshops will be conducted remotely.

Past Workshops

Workshop Videos

General Workshops

UCLA IRB Review: Policy and Procedures
Moore Rhys, 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.
Tuesday, July 7th, 3:00-4:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events520865

Public Speaking in Academia
Rob Ulrich, Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, 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 as well as hands-on practice.
Thursday, July 23th, 1-2:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/519845

Writing the Personal Statement
Michelle Luna, Psychology, 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.
Wednesday, August 26th, 5:00-6:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/539593

Humanities & Social Sciences Writing Workshops

Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Humanities and Social Sciences)
Adrienne Lynett, Graduate Writing Center Program Manager
Jesslyn Whittell, English, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Cherie Francis, UCLA Graduate Division
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. We will also cover tips for organizing the application process.
Tuesday, August 18th, 3:00-5:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/536012

Science and Engineering Writing Workshops

Strategies for Writing Scientific Papers
Karen Cheng, Neuroscience, Writing Consultant
This workshop will focus on strategies for self-editing structure and style in scientific writing. We will review in depth tactics for improving flow, clarity, and conciseness, as well as general tips for healthy writing. Recommended for people at all writing stages.
Wednesday, July 1st, 1:00–2:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/519352

How to Make an Argument (STEM Focus)
Michelle Luna, Psychology, Writing Consultant
This workshop will focus on the components of creating an argument. We will talk about incorporating arguments into writing and examine examples of argument structures.
Wednesday, August 5th, 5-6:30 p.m.
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/524139

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
Cherie Francis, UCLA Graduate Division
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.
Thursday, September 3rd, 3:00-5:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/539588

Applying for the NIH Training Fellowship
Alex Sun, 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 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.
Thursday, September 16th, 5:00-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/547642

ESL Workshops

Self-Editing Strategies for Non-Native Speakers of English
Adrienne Lynett, Graduate Writing Center Program Manager
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.
Monday, August 3rd, 5-6:30 p.m.
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/519359

Grants/Fellowships Workshops

Writing the Fulbright U.S. Fellowship Application
Jay Johnson, Fulbright Recipient, Writing Consultant
Shannon Yu, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will cover strategies for writing the Fulbright U.S. fellowship application. We will discuss the structure and content of key documents using examples. We will address writing tips for fellowship applications as well as specific advice for this Fulbright fellowship.
Wednesday, July 15th, 4-5:30 p.m.
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/519364

Applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Rob Ulrich, Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, NSF GRF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Jaime De Anda, Bioengineering, NSF GRF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Shannon Yu, 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.
1) Monday, July 20th, 5:00-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/519842
2) Tuesday, September 8th, 3:00-4:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/547540

Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Humanities and Social Sciences)
Adrienne Lynett, Graduate Writing Center Program Manager
Jesslyn Whittell, English, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Cherie Francis, UCLA Graduate Division
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. We will also cover tips for organizing the application process.
Tuesday, August 18th, 3:00-5:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events/536012

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
Cherie Francis, UCLA Graduate Division
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.
Thursday, September 3rd, 3:00-5:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/events539588

Statistical Software Workshops and Consultation

Current and former workshops may be found here.

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

Introduction to Scrivener
This workshop will explore Scrivener, a writing application designed for long writing projects. The workshop will cover core concepts, importing documents and research into Scrivener, view modes, using metadata, tagging, keywords, and much more.
Thursday, July 16th, 1:00-2:30PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP at the library's website to register: https://www.library.ucla.edu/events/introduction-scrivener-71620

To see the most complete, current schedule of UCLA Library advanced research workshops, consult the UCLA Library research workshop page.

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.