In-class workshops and presentations
We are proud to offer the following in-class presentations.
Ten-minute Connors Writing Center introduction
This presentation is a great way to make students aware of the services that are available to them at the Writing Center. The CWC Outreach Coordinator will discuss who we are, what we do, where we are located, when we are open, and so on. We will also answer any questions pertaining to the Writing Center. Some presenters may opt to show a short video; we recommend this for all courses with a writing component. All of our long presentations include a version of this intro.
Number of presenters: 1
Time needed: 10 min
Link: Connors Writing Center video
Peer conferencing workshop
Many instructors use peer workshopping in the classroom to get students talking and actively taking part in each other’s education. It is a great resource and is the model upon which the Writing Center is built. However, the peer workshop is only as productive as the students conducting it can make it.
This workshop is designed to maximize the benefit of peer workshopping in the classroom. Through a variety of techniques (role playing, modeling, discussion, etc.) students are shown what are effective and ineffective, helpful and unhelpful, and productive and unproductive methods of peer workshopping. The presentation includes a brief intro to the Writing Center.
Number of presenters: varies by class size
Time needed: 50-120 min
Handout: Peer conferencing [PDF]
MLA/APA citation style
Whether it is MLA or APA, both presentations focus on the unique requirements of the citation style, not only in the Works Cited/References list, but also when citing in the text. What is appropriate to cite? What can be incorporated into the text itself? What must be left in the parenthetical citation? How do I cite a film? An article without page numbers? A website? These are just a few of the questions students are encouraged to bring to the class. While our presenters might not know every answer off the top of their heads, they will teach the students how to look up answers in the citation handbooks. The presentation also includes a brief intro to the Writing Center.
Number of presenters: 1-2
Time needed: 50 min
Handout: APA style [PDF]
Handout: MLA style [PDF]
Basic grammar review
This is a fast-paced refresher on some of the most important and most often forgotten grammar rules. The in-class presentation is PowerPoint-based, with several interactive breaks. The PowerPoint is available online for review after the session. The presentation also includes a brief intro to the Writing Center and a discussion of how we can help students with grammar on a one-on-one basis.
Number of presenters: 2
Time needed: 50 min
PowerPoint: Grammar and Style Review [PowerPoint]
Handout: Grammar practice [PDF]
Personal statement workshop
Nearly every application these days wants to know "a little about you." The trick is that they are really still looking for something specific, not just what you did on your summer vacation. This presentation is geared towards those writing personal statements as part of the application process for scholarships or further education. It focuses on identifying what the institution is looking for and how each applicant meets those qualifications. More than that, it encourages applicants to find what is unique about themselves that they can offer above and beyond those standard qualifications. The goal is to create a short essay that is both informative and interesting enough to stand out in the readers' minds. Part of the session is discussion and part is in-class writing and workshopping (as time allows). The presentation includes a brief intro to the Writing Center and the personal statement resources we can provide.
Number of presenters: varies by class size
Time needed : 50-120 min
Handout: Personal statements [PDF]
Brainstorming
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to get started. This presentation offers several approaches to getting over that first hurdle in the writing process. Students will be presented with multiple techniques to generate ideas. It also discusses types of learners and how knowing your learning style can help you better utilize your prewriting time. While having a specific assignment in mind is helpful, this presentation is also effective as a general intro to brainstorming. Either way, it is most helpful very early in the process. The presentation also includes a brief intro to the Writing Center.
Number of presenters: 1-2
Time needed: 50 min
PowerPoint: Brainstorming: Accelerate Your Thinking, Planning and Writing
Link: What's Your Learning Style? (University of South Dakota website)
List of Fives workshop
This workshop is a guided idea-generation exercise. It is just one of several approaches to generating dozens of topic ideas for a paper and it can be applied to just about any assignment. The presentation begins with a brief intro to the Writing Center. The Outreach Coordinator will lead the class in "unpacking" the assignment (if available), and then lead the class through a multi-tiered brainstorming technique.
The ultimate goal is not only to have each student leave with a few specific topics that have met the requirements of the assignment, but also to give them one specific technique to help them generate their own ideas for future assignments. The presentation can be lengthened to include more time to generate lists, to practice in-class writing, and to conduct peer workshopping of the material created. This presentation is most helpful early in the project and when a specific assignment is in mind.
Number of presenters: Varies by class size
Time needed: 50-120 min
Handout: List of Fives techinque (for instructors) [PDF]
Managing stress in the writing process
Nothing is worse than staring at the blank page, except maybe staring at your professor’s notes on everything that must be fixed. Whether it is getting started or overcoming writer's block, writing can be a stressful process. Often it is merely because a writer has waited too long to start; other times it is because the writer is completely overwhelmed by the size of the project.
One part study skills, one part stress management, this discussion-based workshop is designed to give students the knowledge to avoid the stresses of writing when possible and to get past them when those stresses are unavoidable. One of the main things students will learn from this workshop is that they are not alone in their apprehension about the writing process; most of their peers feel the same. The presentation also includes a brief intro to the Writing Center and the resources available to help beat stress. We also highly recommend this presentation to Resident Assistants and RDs.
Number of presenters: 1-2
Time needed: 50 min
Handout: Stress management [PDF]
Researching and resources
With research papers, often "bad writing" is not so much a product of a "bad writer," but rather ineffective research methods. This presentation takes students through the process of researching, from finding and evaluating sources to selecting appropriate quotes and stats. When possible, it gives specific tools to aid in the research process and tips on how to read more effectively. The presentation also includes a brief intro to the Writing Center and the research resources available.
Number of presenters: 1-2
Time needed : 50+ min
Handout: Researching on the Internet & evaluating online sources [PDF]
Handout: Writing a research paper [PDF]