Winter 2024 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.
General Workshops
Strategic Reading
Jesslyn Whittell, 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. Note: This workshop does not teach speed-reading techniques.
Time Details: Thursday, January 18th, 5:15-6:30 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
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.
Time Details: Tuesday, January 23rd, 5:15-6:30 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
Project Organization for Writing
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
In this workshop, we will discuss how to set up an organized system for a large-scale research and writing project, especially the writing components.
Time Details: Tuesday, February 6th, 5:15-6:30 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
Time Management and Productivity Tips for Writing
Marilyn Gray, Graduate Writing Center Director
In this workshop, we will discuss effective strategies for time management, goal setting, and productivity when conducting large-scale research and writing projects, especially for the writing components.
Time Details: Thursday, February 8th, 5:15-6:30 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
Navigating Graduate School: Academic Success Strategies for First-Generation College Students*
Kimberly Miranda, Chicana/o and Central American Studies, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will provide useful strategies for navigating graduate school successfully. We will focus on tips and tricks that will help you succeed, as well as elucidate aspects of the "hidden curriculum," or things you're expected to know but not explicitly taught. We will cover a broad spectrum of topics such as managing writing requirements, using organizational tools to stay on track, communicating effectively with mentors to meet your needs, and networking at conferences to build professional relationships.
*We are defining a first-generation college student as a student whose parent(s) or guardian(s) did not complete a four-year degree in the United States.
Time Details: Friday, February 23rd, 5:00-7:00 PM
RSVP on Handshake for in-person location and Zoom information
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 16th, 1:30 PM-4:00 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation:https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1470200
2) Friday, March 1st, 1:30 PM-4:00 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation:https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1470206
3) Friday, March 8th, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation:https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1470210
4) Friday, March 15th, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation:https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1470212
Humanities Writing Workshops
Getting Started on the Master's Thesis (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Jeanette Charles, History, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Amelia Ino, Comparative Literature, 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: Wednesday, January 31st, 5:30-6:45 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
Strategies for Writing the Humanities Dissertation Prospectus
Jeanette Charles, History, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Lika Balenovich, Comparative Literature, 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.
Time Details: Wednesday, February 21st, 5:30-6:45 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
Social Sciences Writing Workshops
Getting Started on the Master's Thesis (Humanities and Social Science focus)
Jeanette Charles, History, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Amelia Ino, Comparative Literature, 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: Wednesday, January 31st, 5:30-6:45 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
Strategies for Writing the Social Sciences Dissertation Proposal
Tom Jacobson, Edcation Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Brande Otis, Education, 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.
Time Details: Thursday, February 29th, 4:30-6:00 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
Science and Engineering Writing Workshops
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (STEM Focus)
Adriana Mendez Leal, NSF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Marie Payne, NSF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Ross Fenimore, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will first briefly review funding opportunities for graduate students in STEM 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.
Time Details: Friday, January 19th, 12:30-2:00 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
Getting Started on the Master's Thesis (STEM Focus)
Adriana Mendez Leal, Psychology, 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.
Time Details: Friday, January 26th, 12:30-2:00 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
Dissertation Proposal (STEM) Workshop
Aidan Howenstine, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Graduate Writing 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.
Time Details: Tuesday, February 13th, 5:15-6:45 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
ESL Workshops
For relevant workshop videos, go to:
https://gwc.gsrc.ucla.edu/workshop-videos#esl_workshops
Grants/Fellowships Workshops
Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (STEM Focus)
Adriana Mendez Leal, NSF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Marie Payne, NSF Recipient, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Ross Fenimore, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will first briefly review funding opportunities for graduate students in STEM 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.
Time Details: Friday, January 19th, 12:30-2:00 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive a Zoom invitation
General introductory fellowship workshop videos
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.
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.