UCLA
Graduate Writing Center

Winter 2023 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.

Past Workshops

Workshop Videos

General Workshops

Strategic Reading
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.
Drew Fleshman, Comparative Literature, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Thursday, January 19th, 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/1196985

Time Management for Writing
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
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 26th, 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/1196987

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.
Wednesday, February 1st, 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/1196988

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 10th, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM (Half Day)
    RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:
    https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1197691
  2. Monday, February 13th, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM (Half Day)
    RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:
    https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1197692
  3. Friday, February 24th, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM (Half Day)
    RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:
    https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1197693
  4. Wednesday, March 1st, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM (Half Day)
    RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:
    https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1197694

Humanities Writing Workshops

Getting Started on the Master's Thesis (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Jeanette Charles, History, 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.
Tuesday, February 7th, 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/1218110

Strategies for Writing the Humanities Dissertation Prospectus
Jeanette Charles, History, 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. Please note: 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.
Thursday, February 23rd, 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/1223110

Social Sciences Writing Workshops

Getting Started on the Master's Thesis (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Jeanette Charles, History, 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.
Tuesday, February 7th, 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/1218110

Strategies for Writing the Social Sciences Dissertation Proposal
Kalani Heinz, Anthropology, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Brande Otis, Education, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Jessie Stoolman, 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 16th, 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/1218178

Science and Engineering Writing Workshops

Getting Started on the Master's Thesis (STEM Focus)
Adriana Mendez Leal, Psychology, Graduate Writing Consultant
Paheli Desai-Chowdhry, Biomathematics, 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.
Thursday, February 9th, 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/1218850

Dissertation Proposal (STEM) Workshop
Aidan Howenstine, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 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, March 2nd, 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/1223111

Creating Effective Figures and Visual Aids for Conference Presentations and Publications
Aidan Howenstine, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Graduate Writing Consultant
Zoe Pierrat, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop focuses on strategies for designing effective figures and visual materials for conference presentations, publications, and other contexts. The workshop will also introduce different software packages that can be used to create high-quality figures, and offer further resources for learning these programs.
Tuesday, March 7th, 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/1243373

Strategies for Writing Scientific Papers
This workshop will focus on strategies for self-editing structure and style in scientific writing. It will also address strategies for improving flow, clarity, and conciseness, as well as general tips for healthy writing.
Monday, March 27th, 1:00–2:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive Zoom information: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1266466

Creating Effective Figures and Visual Aids
This workshop focuses on strategies for designing effective figures and visual materials. The workshop will also introduce different software packages that can be used to create high-quality figures and offer further resources for learning these programs.
Tuesday, March 28th, 1:00–2:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive Zoom information: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1266471

Organizing and Managing Larger Projects
This workshop will give an overview of how to organize and manage large scale writing projects, especially in STEM fields.
Wednesday, March 29th, 1:00–2:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive Zoom information: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1266472

ESL Workshops

For relevant workshop videos, go to:
https://gwc.gsrc.ucla.edu/workshop-videos#esl_workshops

Grants/Fellowships Workshops

Writing the Fulbright-Hays Fellowship Application
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
Ross Fenimore, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will cover strategies for writing the Fulbright Hays fellowship application. We will discuss the structure and content of key documents using examples. We will cover writing tips for fellowship applications as well as specific advice for the Fulbright-Hays.
Wednesday, February 8th, 4:00-5:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1236896

Writing the Wenner Gren Dissertation Fieldwork Grant Application
Jessie Stoolman, Wenner Gren Recipient, Anthropology, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop will introduce students to the application process for the Wenner Gren Dissertation Fieldwork Grant. We will provide strategies for addressing the application's various prompts and review examples of successful applications.
Thursday, March 9th, 4:00-5:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1242043

For general introductory fellowship workshop videos, 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.