Classroom Workshops

 

When and How to Schedule

Each interactive workshop is facilitated and led by UWC consultants. All workshops are roughly 45-60 minutes in length except the 15-minute University Writing Center Introduction, which is often paired with other workshops. We cannot guarantee that all workshop requests will be fulfilled. Please be patient as we do have limited staffing and resources. Please request workshops at least 2 weeks in advance to allow time for processing and preparation.

The University Writing Center (UWC) offers a number of workshops that can be facilitated in the UWC itself or for various courses or organizations across the IUPUI community. The goal of all workshops is to model active pedagogies of the UWC, asking writers to be engaged learners. Each workshop is interactive and lasts around 1-hour, unless noted otherwise.

Workshop Offerings

Take a look at the workshop catalog below to find which workshops best support your course plans. Please note that we are also happy to offer any of these workshops to student groups/organizations.

UWC Introduction

The Introduction to the University Writing Center is an overview of the services the UWC offers.

This presentation is often given in conjunction with workshops. Instructors may also bring classes on a “field trip” to the UWC early in the semester for this introduction.

Resources: Facilitators will need access to a computer-connected projector. Workshop can be delivered via Zoom.

Length: 15 minutes

Avoiding Plagiarism

The Avoiding Plagiarism Workshop presents information about the various reasons writers plagiarize, including but not limited to culturally specific expectations for citation, confusion about citation practices, stress, and time management concerns. Then, the facilitator guides participants through strategies to avoid plagiarism. For instance, the facilitator will review the differences between summary, paraphrasing, and quotation and ask participants to practice, ideally with sources they’ve already collected.

Resources: Writers will need to bring their own research and have access to computers. Facilitators will need access to a computer-connected projector. Workshop can be delivered via Zoom.

When to schedule: Writers should already have begun collecting research at the time of this workshop. Please note that avoiding plagiarism is also addressed briefly during the Citation Workshop.

Length: 45-60 minutes

Citation

The Citation Workshop presents a general approach to citation and can focus on the basics of a particular style (e.g. MLA, APA, or Chicago). The workshop briefly addresses the relationship between plagiarism and citations using real life examples and sources. Most importantly, this workshop provides time for students to work on their own citations and introduces them to important resources.

Resources: Writers will need to bring their own research and have access to computers. Facilitators will need access to a computer-connected projector. Workshop can be delivered via Zoom.

When to schedule: Writers should have already collected research and begun the writing process at the time of this workshop.

Length: 45-60 minutes

Notetaking for Research-Driven Writing

The Notetaking for Research-Driven Writing Workshop shares various notetaking strategies with participants, asking them to try several during the workshop. Participants will be asked to practice with both model materials and their own research sources. Methods include annotating reading, creating double-entry journals, and making notecards. Workshop can be delivered via Zoom.

Resources: Facilitators will need access to a computer-connected projector.

When to schedule: Writers should have collected at least a few sources for their research-driven writing before the workshop. They will be asked to take notes from these sources during the workshop. Writers should have access to computers as well as a paper notebook, loose-leaf paper, or notecards.

Length: 45-60 minutes

Thesis-Driven Writing

The Thesis-Driven Writing Workshop reviews the process of creating a strong argumentative essay using traditional thesis-driven writing. The facilitator reviews components of an argument, focusing on the role of thesis statements. Participants review the ways a thesis is connected to the overall structure of the essay. The facilitator stresses that all thesis statements are “working thesis statements,” recognizing that the focus of an essay may change during the writing process. Participants are given time to draft a thesis statement to guide ongoing writing.

Resources: Facilitators will need access to a computer-connected projector. Workshop can be delivered via Zoom.

When to schedule: Students should have a working knowledge of the assignment they are being asked to create a thesis statement for. At the time of the workshop, the facilitator will ask participants to reference their assignment sheet. Ideally, participants will have narrowed potential topics their thesis-driven essay will focus on.

Length: 45-60 minutes

Writing Process

The Writing Process Workshop introduces students to the varied and unique processes writers experience. Our presenters provide different writing processes, then ask students to map their own writing process. The goal of this workshop is to give students an awareness of their own process in the hopes that visualizing them will offer insight into where students struggle, and where they excel.

Resources: Facilitators will need access to a computer-connected projector. Workshop can be delivered via Zoom.

When to schedule: This workshop is valuable at any time during the writing process. Workshop can be delivered via Zoom.

Length: 45-60 minutes