Writing Center Workshops and Presentations
The Writing Center offers writing-related workshops for undergraduate classes and student organizations.
Most of our workshops are intended to be about 40 minutes long, but can be tailored to fit into your class plans. We also offer a short Introduction to the Writing Center presentation (usually about 10 minutes).
To request one of the workshops listed below, please email writadmin@umd.edu at least two weeks prior to your anticipated workshop date. For a new workshop tailored to your class, please try to email us at least three weeks in advance. In your email, include the following information:
- Your name and contact information
- Your course or group title
- Estimated number of workshop participants/attendees
- The course/group meeting day, time, and location
- Your preferred date and time for the presentation/workshop, plus one or two alternatives
- The prompt and/or assessment rubric for the assignment students will be completing, if appropriate
- Anything else you’d like us to know about your presentation topic, course, students, or preferred length of presentation
Introduction to the Writing Center
A short (~10 minute) overview of the Writing Center’s mission and offerings, showing students how to make an appointment and how to prepare for a consultation with a peer tutor.
Writing Personal Statements
This workshop walks students through the do’s and don’ts of writing personal statements as part of their applications to graduate school, law school, medical school or other professional programs. Workshop participants get practice analyzing sample personal statements and the opportunity to work on their own personal statements.
Citation and Source Use
This workshop helps students understand why and how to cite sources in their academic and professional work. Presenters emphasize writing as a conversation and discuss cultures of citation to emphasize the importance of giving credit to sources, authors, artists, and peers. We can tailor this workshop to emphasize MLA, APA, or another citation style of your choice.
Why We Write: A Human-Centered Approach to Writing With or Without AI
In this workshop, we facilitate conversation about using generative AI as part of students’ writing processes. We guide discussion and debate about the ethics of using LLMS such as ChatGPT for writing in academic, professional, and personal contexts. This workshop assumes that students want and need opportunities to speak openly and honestly about the ways that these technologies are influencing their reading and writing. Taking an open, non-judgemental stance, we encourage student participants to critically consider their own use (or non-use) of generative AI for writing and the ways that their AI practices may be influencing their learning.
Writing to Time: Preparing for In-Class Essays and Written Exams
This workshop prepares students to complete handwritten, in-class essays. We cover strategies for studying ahead of time as well as pre-writing, drafting, and revising under time constraints. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to create their own study materials and to get feedback from tutors as they prepare for their in-class essay writing.
Request a New Workshop
If you don’t see a workshop listed above that fits your needs, please reach out to us at writadmin@umd.edu to request a new workshop tailored to your goals. Past workshops have included topics such as Writing Strong Research Questions, Using Plain Language for Technical Communication, and Reflective Writing. We also are available to help facilitate peer review workshops to help your students provide one another with strong feedback on their writing.