For the spring 2021 semester, all Jones White Writing Center Wednesday Workshops will take place over Zoom. All workshops will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom link. Workshop attendees can request attendance vouchers. For questions about our workshops, please email us at w-center@iup.edu.
January 27
Writing Your Literature Review
Level: Advanced Undergraduate/Graduate
This workshop helps students understand the value of a literature review and offers strategies for how to effectively write one at the graduate level. It covers structuring a literature review, reading strategies, organization strategies, writing strategies, synthesis, and appropriate citation strategies (APA).
February 3
Avoiding Plagiarism, Addressing Patchwriting, and Ethical Citation Practices
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
This workshop covers advanced citation practices for including avoiding plagiarism, avoiding patchwriting (inappropriate paraphrase, a common misunderstanding), addressing self-citation and more.
February 10
MLA Documentation (8th Edition)
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.
February 17
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.
February 24
DIY Personal Statements
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
Personal statements are an important component of applying to jobs, internships, or graduate schools. This workshop will help students plan and write a draft of a personal statement.
March 3
DIY Résumés
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
Most students will need a résumé at some point during or after their college years, and they 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.
March 10
Cover Letter Workshop
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.
March 17
Principles of Scientific Communication in STEM Fields
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
Description: This workshop provides a thorough introduction to effective communication in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. We cover common genres in STEM (research report, lab report), typical audiences, and basic principles (clarity, technical accuracy, brevity).
March 24
Writing your IRB Application
Level: Advanced Undergraduate/Graduate
Co-sponsored by the IUP Institutional Review Board, this workshop will cover strategies for successfully writing an IRB application for engaging in human subjects research at IUP. The workshop will cover the major sections of writing the IRB application and the IRB process.
March 31
Interactive Workshop: Synthesizing Sources, Building and Refining Arguments, and Writing Literature Reviews
Level: Advanced Undergraduate/Graduate
For this interactive workshop, participants are asked to bring a working draft of a literature review you are currently working on and learn a variety of techniques for effective source synthesis, argument building, and organizing your literature review.
April 7
Proofreading Your Work
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
This workshop helps students build the kinds of careful reading skills that are needed to proofread their papers, including reading slowly, using A Writer's Reference, and following rules of thumb.
April 14 (7:00-9:00 p.m.; two-hour workshop)
Introduction to Grant Writing for Academics
In this two-hour workshop, Writing Center Director Dana Driscoll will walk you through the basics of finding and submitting a successful grant proposal. We'll discuss major grant databases and finding grants, knowing how you are a “good fit” for a grant, sections of the grant, timelines, and tips for writing.
Writing Center