Academic Writing Workshops - SPRING 2008
Miss a workshop? You can stop by the Writing Center at any time and pick up handouts from the workshops. Stop by for our walk-in hours and bring your questions about these or any other writing skills (and be prepared to write!)
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TOPIC: Freewriting
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L-125 |
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L-125 |
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Description:
Your page is blank and you need to write one thousand words by 10am tomorrow. Do you:
a) Stare at the screen until you come up with a really boring thesis statement.
b) Try to write an outline and get as far as numbering all the blank lines.
c) Go watch television. Maybe you’ll be inspired by America’s Next Top Model.
d) Write a few words and scratch most of them out. Then write a few more and run the spellchecker. Then get a snack, come back, and realize it’s all bad (except for the spelling, which is excellent). Start over.
e) Do ten minutes of freewriting.
The correct answer is e) Do ten minutes of freewriting. But what is freewriting? How do you use it to write a paper? Come to our workshop to learn and practice freewriting techniques that will have you generating enough writing that you’ll have plenty of raw materials to shape into an essay! Bring a pen and paper.
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Topic: He Said/She Said: Quoting, Paraphrasing, Citing From a Text
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Description:
Struggling with how (and why) to quote from a text? Not sure when you need to paraphrase and when you need to directly quote? Worried you might accidentally plagiarize? Confused about how to lead into a quote and what to do next?
Come to our workshop, where we’ll work on incorporating sources into your own writing. Learn the skills necessary to join in an academic conversation with published authors by quoting, paraphrasing, and citing in proper format (we’ll work on MLA but most of what we talk about will apply to APA as well).
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Topic: Finding A Thesis
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L-125 |
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L-125 |
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Description:
In 1896, American poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Sometimes a scream is better than a thesis” (Journals). Unfortunately, most faculty members still prefer a thesis (it’s easier on the ears).
Come to our workshop, where we’ll talk about what a thesis is (and isn’t) and how and where to find one. Not all theses are equal, and we’ll talk about finding one that fits the scope of your paper, be it 500 words or 5000. If you’ve started writing, bring your work with you! (and if you haven’t, bring a pen and paper and be prepared to do a bit of freewriting).
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Topic: Starting Your Research Paper
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L-125 |
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L-125 |
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Description:
So you have to write a research paper. What’s your first step? You might think you need to start with a thesis, but most academics don’t start there; instead, they start with figuring out a question (or two) they’d like to answer through their research.
Come to our workshop, where we’ll look at research questions appropriate for different kinds and lengths of research papers. We’ll also talk about the next steps (planning your research and finding good sources of information.) If you have a research paper assignment, bring your curiosity as well as a pen and paper.
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Topic: Paraphrasing
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L-125 |
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L-125 |
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Description:
Know you don’t need to directly quote from the text, but aren’t sure how to put the idea into your own words? Not sure if you need to paraphrase statistical information or quote it? Come to our workshop, where we’ll work on how and why to paraphrase and learn techniques that will keep you from plagiarizing.
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Topic: MLA
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L-125 |
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L-125 |
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Description:
How do I do a Works Cited? What if I don’t know who wrote the web site I’m using? My teacher said I need to do an annotated bibliography, but I don’t know what that is. I’m quoting someone who quoted someone else. How do I cite that?
Come to our workshop to ask these and any other questions you have about citation. We’ll provide manuals and help you discover how to use them to find the answers to all your MLA questions.
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Topic: When is a Paragraph?
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L-125 |
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L-125 |
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Description:
Do you know when to start a new paragraph? Have you ever wondered why some writers’ paragraphs go on for pages while other writers’ paragraphs have, at most, two to three sentences? Does a paragraph need a topic sentence?
Come to our workshop, where we’ll look at some professional, published paragraphs as well as any drafts of paragraphs you’re currently writing and try to answer your most pressing paragraphing questions.
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Topic: Drafting Part I: Drafting and Organizing the Middle
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L-125 |
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L-125 |
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Description:
Whether you’re writing literary criticism or a personal essay, the most important part of your essay is the middle. Learn strategies for organizing the middle, and why it’s okay to start writing before you know what you want to say.
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Topic: Drafting Part II: Your Introduction and Conclusion
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L-125 |
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L-125 |
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Description:
You may think you need to write your introduction first (before writing anything else), but most professional writers revise both their introduction and conclusion after they’ve finished drafting the middle (body) of their essay.
Bring your latest draft and we’ll look at revising for strong beginnings and endings.
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Topic: Mastering The Timed Essay: 5 Paragraph Essay Tests
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L-125 |
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L-125 |
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Description:
Worried about passing the BCC English Mastery Test? Still having nightmares about your Accuplacer essay exam? The 5 paragraph essay is nearly as much fun to read as it is to write, but it’s still the most common requirement on timed essay exams.
Come to our workshop, where we’ll cover tips and tricks for writing the timed essay. We’ll look at planning, writing, and proofreading your five paragraph essay.
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