For the fall 2020 semester, all Wednesday Workshops will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Workshop attendees can request attendance vouchers. For questions about our workshops, please email us at w-center@iup.edu.
September 2
MLA Documentation
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
This workshop introduces the MLA documentation style (8th edition), including how to quote and summarize from an original source. It's a hands-on workshop in which students see examples and do exercises. Topics include citing within the text, using signal phrases, creating the Works Cited page, and documenting online sources.
September 9
APA Documentation
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
In this workshop, students are introduced to the APA documentation style (7th edition), including how to quote and summarize from an original source. It's a hands-on workshop in which students see examples and do exercises on their computers. Topics include citing within the text, using signal phrases, creating the References page, and documenting online sources.
September 16
Résumé Writing
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate - Business Writing Series
This workshop introduces students to developing the content and designing an effective résumé. We explore effective résumé samples, how to frame experience to diverse audiences, and different content that goes in a résumé. Students also can learn new features in MS Word that will make their résumé distinctive. Students can get started on one during this workshop or polish up one they've already written.
September 23
Cover Letter
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate - Business Writing Series
This workshop introduces students to writing an effective cover letter. After reviewing models of successful cover letters, we'll discuss the purpose of the cover letter, how to tailor a cover letter to fit a specific job, and how to highlight relevant experiences. Students will get a chance to draft a cover letter for intended positions.
September 30
Avoiding Plagiarism
Level: Advanced Undergraduate/Graduate
This workshop introduces undergraduate and graduate writers how to avoid plagiarism in their writing, including through papers written in coursework and at the honors thesis, MA thesis, or dissertation stage. The workshop will cover cultural expectations, reading and citation strategies, managing large numbers of sources, and self-citation. We will also discuss iThenticate, which is used by the graduate school for submission of a thesis or dissertation.
October 7
American Academic Conventions for International Students
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate International Student or Multilingual Writer
This workshop offers international students and multilingual writers insights and information about American academic conventions and strategies for successful writing in US institutions of higher education. The workshop will cover understanding writing assignments, rhetorical considerations of audience and organization, managing sources and source use, and common challenges that international and multilingual writers face.
October 14
Writing for Publication for Graduate Researchers
Level: Graduate
This workshop, geared towards students who are looking to publish, will provide a comprehensive overview to the publication process. The workshop will discuss finding and selecting a target journal, building an argument with data or texts, understanding the concept of contributions to the field, handling peer review, and the submission process. We'll also explore the difference between writing in coursework and writing for publication.
October 21
How to Complete Your Thesis or Dissertation Successfully
Level: Graduate
Description: This workshop offers graduate students strategies for successfully writing a thesis or dissertation, focusing in several areas: time management and handling feedback. The workshop offers research-supported strategies for time management, goal setting, and creating space for writing to help you successfully create time for writing. The workshop also covers how to manage feedback from your advisor and committee members and strategies for engaging in extensive revisions on your thesis or dissertation.
October 28
Writing with Statistics: Data Visualization, Storytelling, and Persuasion
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate, Business Writing Series
Twenty-first century workplace contexts require effective communication skills, and in the digital age these skills include how to use statistics and numbers to tell stories to potential customers or the public. This workshop explores the importance of data visualization, sharing strategies and suggestions for how to effectively and ethically present statistical data in both written and visual formats, and how to use these effectively for informative and persuasive purposes.
November 4
Writing for Publication for Undergraduate Researchers
Level: Undergraduate, Hatchery Journal Series
This workshop focuses on writing for publication for undergraduate students. The workshop will cover the differences between course papers and publications, how to write for an interdisciplinary audience, and considerations of format, genre, and purpose. A special emphasis on the submission guidelines and submitting for the Hatchery will be covered.
November 11
Clarity and Conciseness in Writing
Level: Undergraduate or Graduate
This workshop explores the critical importance of clarity and conciseness in a variety of writing contexts (including academic and professional settings). Specifically, the workshop introduces students to the paramedic method, a method that can be used at the sentence and paragraph level to make writing more direct, active, and precise. We'll also explore purpose and audience-driven strategies for clarity and conciseness that can be used to reduce wordiness and provide clarity.
November 18
Word Beyond the Basics
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
Most people use only a fraction of the many useful features in MS Word. This workshop focuses on features that are easily overlooked or hard to find, such as renumbering pages, hanging indents, modifying internal margins, and inserting a table, chart, or table of contents. This workshop is particularly useful for graduate students who are preparing to format their thesis or dissertation.