The Writing and Communication Centre offers free online asynchronous workshops for University of ݮƵ students and postdocs on topics related to writing and communication.
Find them on by self-registering for the course “WCC Workshops.”
Whether dz’r getting started on a writing project and need help planning, want to learn strategies for revising your own writing, or need guidance on how to share your ideas in presentations or online, our workshops guide you through the writing process. We also offer workshops that introduce writers to different academic and professional genres, so if dz’v been asked to write something dz’v never had to write before, our workshops can give you the information you need to get started.
All our workshops have been developed by expert Writing and Communication Centre (WCC) staff and are designed to help you understand the principles of communication, reflect on what it means for you as a communicator, and practice the skills dz’v learned.
Accessingour workshops
To access our workshops, you'll need to self-register for “WCC Workshops” on LEARN.
How to self-register on LEARN:
- Log into the LEARN website using your UݮƵ credentials
- Click on Self-Registration in the menu at the top of the LEARN homepage
- Scroll down to WCC Workshops and click on the link
- Follow the registration instructions on LEARN
Welcome to the NEW Workshop THEMES!
The WCC workshops have been reorganized and moved into one of the followingeight themes:
- Academic Writing Foundations:The workshops in this section will support you in identifying what tasks are involved in your project or assignment, support you in planning, and guide you through the writing process.
- Integrating Research:The workshops in this section are designed to support you with organizing the information found in primary/secondary research, synthesizing the research, and integrating evidence into your writing.
- Drafting and Revising:The workshops in this section are designed to support you in learning how to best communicate the ideas you have developed and then revise the structure, paragraphs, and polish sentences so that you get your ideas acrossclearly.
- Presenting and Publishing:The workshops in this section will guide you in preparing your work for different venues and confidently engaging with different types of audiences.
- Oral and Digital Communication:The workshops in this section will support you in organizing, preparing, and presenting with clarity and impact— whether your audience consists of peers, interdisciplinary groups, or the public.
- Genres:The workshops in this section will support you in understanding some of the common genres that are used when communicating with others.
- Science Communication:The workshops in this section will support you in understanding what Science Communication is, how and why you should engage in it, where you might find it, and how to create your own effective communication depending on your purpose, audience, and context.
- Professional Growth: The workshops in this section will guide you through some of the genres dz’r likely to participate in or be asked to produce. .
Additionally, each workshop now includes a thorough description of what participants can expect to see in the workshop, and the intended learning outcomes (IOLs).
Workshop Descriptions
Academic Writing Foundations
Your Ideal Writing Process
This self-directed workshop explores the writing process and how to decide which writing strategies and habits work best for you. You will be introduced to the BASE habits of successful writers, which are essential for understanding what kind of habits dz’v developed over the years and areas worth improving.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Use different strategies for inventing, composing, and revising your writing
-
Develop positive writing habits for each stage of your writing process
Visit to access the workshop
Writing at the University Level
This self-directed workshop supports first year students to navigate the transition to writing at the university level. You will explore the common challenges and break down key differences between writing in high school and university. Also, you will be introduced to various academic writing genres, to give you a taste of what you might see in an assignment, and strategies for success.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
- Describe the main changes between high school and university level writing
- Understand the expectations and standards associated with writing at the undergraduate level
-
Recognize how genre impacts style in academic writing
Visit to access the workshop
Breaking Down Assignments
This self-directed workshop was designed specifically with first year students in mind. This general guide will support you in completing any university-level written assignment, followed by more specific guides for completing a lab report, a research essay, a reflection, a journal review, and a case study report.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Interpret assignments in a way that emphasizes strong comprehension and time management
-
Apply an effective approach to working through assignments that you can use and customize for your own writing
Visit to access the workshop
From Topic to Thesis
This self-directed workshop will support you in selecting an appropriate topic and strategies for turning that topic into a thesis statement. As you write your paper, your thesis statement will need to change, since the writing process will include more research, more critical thinking, and different arguments. This is normal! Think of the thesis you come up with during this workshop as a tentative thesis—a starting point for the rest of the essay.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Understand and explain what a useful topic needs to do and be
-
Create your own topic
-
Develop your topic into a preliminary thesis statement
-
Identify what a strong, final thesis statement looks like
Visit to access the workshop
Organizing Your Writing
This self-directed workshopwill help you learn how to lay down the foundation of your paper with a focused thesis statement and how to construct a complete paragraph in an academic essay. Also, this workshop will go over how to use transitions at sentence-level, paragraph-level, and section-level.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Structure your argument and paragraphs to keep your ideas on track
-
Transition between sentences, paragraphs, and whole sections of your paper
Visit to access the workshop
Getting it Done: Productive Writing Strategies for Big Projects
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of developing individualized writing practice and habits to complete a large writing project, such as a thesis, journal article, or dissertation. You will assess your own writing practice and learn a wide range of strategies to write productively, efficiently, and sustainably over a long period of time, which are essential in helping you make progress towards completing your long project.
By the end of this 120 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Identify the habits and beliefs that make up your current writing practice
-
Identify areas for growth or development in your writing practice
-
Understand and choose writing strategies from four distinct areas to apply to your own writing practice
Visit to access the workshop
Writing to Learn
This self-directed workshop will introduce you to a learning strategy called Writing to Learn (WTL). To stay on top of your schoolwork, dz’l want to find effective strategies to help you learn and retain information when dz’r studying. ±’l cover what Writing to Learn means, how ’s helpful, when it can be used, and how you can apply it to your studies to help you succeed.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Understand and describe the concept of WTL and its benefits
-
Apply WTL strategies confidently in various learning contexts
-
Demonstrate your understanding of WTL through a variety of low stakes, ungraded learning activities.
Visit to access the workshop
Group Communication
This self-directed workshop will prepare you to work in groups by targeting your group communication skills. ±’l look at methods to conduct group work effectively, and problem-solving techniques for different group communication dilemmas.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Recognize that communicating effectively in a group is a life skill
-
Apply a procedure for conducting group work that will help prevent miscommunication and increase group efficiency
-
Demonstrate problem-solving skills when faced with common problems that occur in group work
Visit to access the workshop
Getting and Giving Feedback
This self-directed workshop was designed with first year students in mind. You will learn how to get the most out of your review sessions so you can improve your own writing. Peer review. Love it or hate it, ’s a part of the writing process for academic, professional, and business writing. We recommend you explore the workshop on your own and then return to complete the individual steps during your assigned peer review.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Ask for focused feedback
-
Review the work of others
-
Respond to feedback you receive
Visit to access the workshop
Rock Your Thesis Guidebook
This self-directed guidebook offers an orientation to the thesis- or dissertation-writing process. We’ve divided the guidebook into four main sections, each of which explores a distinct stage of the thesis-writing journey. If dz’r in the early stages of your thesis-writing journey, we recommend skimming the whole workshop to learn about all of the stages involved in completing your thesis and your degree. Then, as you approach each stage of your project, review the module focused on that stage more carefully, try out the strategies we recommend, and complete the exercises we’ve included to move your project forward.
Module 1 (Plan Your Project) will help you to recognize the goals of thesis-writing, identify key milestones, and manage the thesis as a project.
Module 2 (Articulate Your Research) supports you through contextualizing your project within a larger research field through a literature review and articulating the significance and contribution of your own research.
Module 3 (Draft and Revise) gives you the opportunity to apply global and local revision strategies and guides you through managing the distinct stages of the revisions process.
Module 4 (Submit and Defend) Prepares you for completing the stages of your degree that occur after you submit your thesis, including defending your thesis with confidence!
Although it would take approximately four hours to complete this workshop from beginning to end, we’ve designed it so that you can return to it in stages throughout your degree rather than complete it all at once.
By the end of this workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Identify the milestones involved in completing your thesis project and your degree
-
Understand the regulations that govern the thesis-completion process
-
Recognize common challenges graduate students face while completing their thesis or dissertation
-
Apply a range of strategies for completing each stage of your project
-
Know when and who to reach out to for support along the way
Visit to access the workshop
Integrating Research
Be sure to also check out which will help you with your research.
How to Read for Research
This self-directed workshop explores the importance of reading for research, also called critical or active reading. You will learn how to read strategically and critically, and how to take notes for research, which are essential for understanding your research material and making connections to other sources that dz’v read.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Prepare for reading something for a research project
-
Use the structure of the source to read more efficiently
-
Take effective notes so you can us the source in your essays and report
-
Organize your work so that you can use it aging in the future
Visit to access the workshop
Writing with Quantitative Data
This self-direct workshop explores how to write with quantitative data, why it is presented in a certain way, and what that means. This workshop was designed with first year students in mind to teach you how to integrate quantitative data into your writing to help you create a comprehensive story.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Define the concept of quantitative data
-
Understand why you would integrate quantitative data into your writing
-
Learn how to integrate quantitative data into your writing
Visit to access the workshop
Integrating Evidence: Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation
This self-directed workshop provides anexploration of effectively integrating sources into your academic papers and presentations. You will learn how to seamlessly integrate evidence through the sources you encounter, which are essential to strengthen your argument, show an authorial voice, and contribute to the conversation in your field.
By the end of this 60 minworkshop, you'll be able to:
-
Understand roles & success criteria of summaries, paraphrase, and direct quotations
-
Support your own arguments by applying summary, paraphrase, and quotation strategies
-
Seamlessly integrate evidence into your writing through effective citation and signal strategies
Visit to access the workshop
Grad Literature Review A
This self-directed workshop will explore the process of writing a literature review as a component of a larger document, like a thesis or dissertation. You will learn and work through your own process for researching, organizing, and writing your literature review.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Review the purpose and tasks of a literature review
-
Create or revise guiding research questions to frame your search
-
Critically appraise content in a variety of disciplines
-
Discover organizational approaches for literature reviews
Visit to access the workshop
Grad Literature Review B
This self-directed workshop elaborates on how to situate your research within the context of your subject area. You will learn how to identify other researchers' experience with a topic, ensure you are not replicating others work, and refine your topic, research question, and methodology. These are essential components to help your reader situate your work in the larger scholarly conversation.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to :
-
Effectively present the backstory (context) of your subject area
-
Situate your own research within that context
-
Make sound choices about organizing yourreview
-
Work within the structural and writing conventions of traditional literature reviews
Visit to access the workshop
Rock Your Thesis Guidebook
This self-directed guidebook offers an orientation to the thesis- or dissertation-writing process. We’ve divided the guidebook into four main sections, each of which explores a distinct stage of the thesis-writing journey. If dz’r in the early stages of your thesis-writing journey, we recommend skimming the whole workshop to learn about all of the stages involved in completing your thesis and your degree. Then, as you approach each stage of your project, review the module focused on that stage more carefully, try out the strategies we recommend, and complete the exercises we’ve included to move your project forward.
Module 1 (Plan Your Project) will help you to recognize the goals of thesis-writing, identify key milestones, and manage the thesis as a project.
Module 2 (Articulate Your Research) supports you through contextualizing your project within a larger research field through a literature review and articulating the significance and contribution of your own research.
Module 3 (Draft and Revise) gives you the opportunity to apply global and local revision strategies and guides you through managing the distinct stages of the revisions process.
Module 4 (Submit and Defend) Prepares you for completing the stages of your degree that occur after you submit your thesis, including defending your thesis with confidence!
Although it would take approximately four hours to complete this workshop from beginning to end, we’ve designed it so that you can return to it in stages throughout your degree rather than complete it all at once.
By the end of this workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Identify the milestones involved in completing your thesis project and your degree
-
Understand the regulations that govern the thesis-completion process
-
Recognize common challenges graduate students face while completing their thesis or dissertation
-
Apply a range of strategies for completing each stage of your project
-
Know when and who to reach out to for support along the way
Visit to access the workshop
Drafting and Revising
From Topic to Thesis
This self-directed workshop will support you in selecting an appropriate topic and strategies for turning that topic into a thesis statement. As you write your paper, your thesis statement will need to change, since the writing process will include more research, more critical thinking, and different arguments. This is normal! Think of the thesis you come up with during this workshop as a tentative thesis—a starting point for the rest of the essay.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Understand and explain what a useful topic needs to do and be
-
Create your own topic
-
Develop your topic into a preliminary thesis statement
-
Identify what a strong, final thesis statement looks like
Visit to access the workshop
Organizing Your Writing
This self-directed workshop will help you learn how to lay down the foundation of your paper with a focused thesis statement and how to construct a complete paragraph in an academic essay. Also, this workshop will go over how to use transitions at sentence-level, paragraph-level, and section-level.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Structure your argument and paragraphs to keep your ideas on track
-
Transition between sentences, paragraphs, and whole sections of your paper
Visit to access the workshop
Revising Your Academic Paper
This self-directed workshop teaches general processes and strategies to effectively revise your academic paper, no matter the discipline or what kind of writing it is (essay, lab report, policy brief, research paper, reflection, etc.). You will learn how to refine and reveal what already exists within your draft.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Understand that revisions happen at different levels-beginning with structure, then moving to paragraphs and sentences, following by individual words and punctuation
-
Identify and apply specific revision strategies related to each level of revisions
-
Effectively prioritize and plan the process of revising and editing your own academic paper from start to finish
Visit to access the workshop
Grammar Studio I : The Most Common Grammar Trouble Spots
This self-directed workshop is open to undergraduate and graduate students at all levels of experience. You will explore the mechanics of English, experiment with how its pieces fit together, and practice proofreading and editing.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Identify the most common grammar errors that writers make
-
Recognize basics parts of sentence and speech in the English language
-
Correct mistakes in your own writing
-
Self-assess your learning of grammar rules through practice and repetition
Visit to access the workshop
Grammar Studio II: Advanced Sentence Structure and Punctuation
This self-directed workshop focuses on advanced sentence structure and punctuation. We welcome undergraduate and graduate students at all levels of experience to explore the mechanics of English. You will explore ways to build simple and complex sentences, learn how to spot your own sentence patterns and style, and make your writing flow.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Identify the difference between independent and dependent clauses and use them correctly in academic prose
-
Apply punctuation signs and rules correctly to construct advanced, clear sentences in English
-
Assess your own learning of grammar rules through practice and repetition
-
Correct grammar and syntax errors found in your own academic writing
Visit to access the workshop
Grammar Studio III: Clarity at the Sentence Level
This self-directed workshop explores the ways words and phrases fit together and teaches you how to build simple and complex sentences. We welcome undergraduate and graduate students at all levels of experience to explore the mechanics of English.Learn to spot your own mistakes and make your writing flow.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Improve the clarity and conciseness of advanced, complex sentences
-
Identify common word and phrase choices that detract from the flow of your writing
-
Reflect on your writing process and apply the workshop’s contents to your prose
-
Correct grammar and syntax errors found in your own academic writing
Visit to access the workshop
Getting and Giving Feedback
This self-directed workshop was designed with first year students in mind. You will learn how to get the most out of your review sessions so you can improve your own writing. Peer review. Love it or hate it, ’s a part of the writing process for academic, professional, and business writing. We recommend you explore the workshop on your own and then return to complete the individual steps during your assigned peer review.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Ask for focused feedback
-
Review the work of others
-
Respond to feedback you receive
Visit to access the workshop
Journal of Undergraduate Health Research (JUHR) Author's Workshop
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of the revisions required before submitting your article to JUHR. You will learn how to apply "big picture" revisions and the sentence level "final details," which are essential in constructing (and submitting) a clear and well-organized article.
-
Learn what is expected in research and opinion articles, so you can check you have all the necessary elements in your own work
-
Learn big picture strategies to improve the quality of your work and practice what you have learnt with exercises
-
Learn to recognize common sentence-levels problems and practice correcting them
Visit to access the workshop
Presenting and Publishing Workshops
Design and Deliver I: Structure and Delivery
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of how to confidently give a talk about your topic. You will learn how to use different modes of communication (audio, visual, etc.), which are essential for presenting an engaging and effective message to your audience.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Identify strategies to effectively and successfully deliver your presentation
-
Understand how to communicate with a listening audience
-
Apply appropriate tactics to engage and retain your audience's attention
Visit to access the workshop
Design & Delivery II: Designing Visual Support
This self-directed workshop focuses on the strong visuals to support your presentation, using the assertion-evidence model. You will learn the concept of visual rhetoric and how to use the many elements to communicate your message. By understanding the concepts of using visuals to support your message, you can create slides that are interesting, informative, and engaging.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Understand how text and images work together to create meaning
-
To make informed choices about the different options for visual support
-
Designing and using Assertion-Evidence Model to support your presentation with effective visuals
Visit to access the workshop
Designing Academic Posters
This self-directed workshop explores a common genre of academic presentations—poster presentations. It will help you break down poster design into three main stages: making your poster focused, ordered, and visual; designing visuals; and assessing and revising your poster. Whether you are providing a short-spoken presentation with your poster or sharing your poster without being present, in both cases, an academic poster is a primarily visual document that the audience can skim to understand the core message and important highlights of a research project.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Understand the genre of the academic poster and use that information to plan your own poster design
-
Use multimodal communication to express your ideas in your poster
-
Apply basic visual design principles to design and revise your poster
Visit to access the workshop
Group Communication
This self-directed workshop will prepare you to work in groups by targeting your group communication skills. ±’l look at methods to conduct group work effectively, and problem-solving techniques for different group communication dilemmas.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Recognize that communicating effectively in a group is a life skill
-
Apply a procedure for conducting group work that will help prevent miscommunication and increase group efficiency
-
Demonstrate problem-solving skills when faced with common problems that occur in group work
Visit to access the workshop
Public Scholarship Online
This self-directed workshopfocuses on how you can use Twitter as a quick and easy way to start experimenting with new language, personas, and audiences. You will learn how to communicate your research for an audience of more than just fellow academics.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Identify the value that public scholarship can bring
-
Set yourself up for success as an academic on Twitter
-
Think about the type of public scholarship you want to create-videos, blogs, posts, podcasts
Visit to access the workshop
Journal of Undergraduate Health Research (JUHR) Author's Workshop
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of the revisions required before submitting your article to JUHR. You will learn how to apply "big picture" revisions and the sentence level "final details," which are essential in constructing (and submitting) a clear and well-organized article.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Learn what is expected in research and opinion articles, so you can check you have all the necessary elements in your own work
-
Learn big picture strategies to improve the quality of your work and practise what you have learnt with exercises
-
Learn to recognize common sentence-levels problems and practise correcting them
Visit to access the workshop
Oral and Digital Communication
Design and Deliver I: Practice Presentation Skills
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of how to confidently give a talk about your topic. You will learn how to use different modes of communication (audio, visual, etc.), which are essential for presenting an engaging and effective message to your audience.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Identify strategies to effectively and successfully deliver your presentation
-
Understand how to communicate with a listening audience
-
Apply appropriate tactics to engage and retain your audience's attention
Visit to access the workshop
Design and Deliver II: Designing Visual Support
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of using strong visuals to support your presentation. By using the assertion-evidence model, your message will be supported with informative, engaging, and interesting slides.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Understand how text and images work together to create meaning
-
Make informed choices about the different options for visual support
-
Designand usethe Assertion-Evidence Model to support your presentation with effective visuals
Visit to access the workshop
Designing Academic Posters
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of designing a poster presentation. You will learn key concepts of the genre and visual principles, which are essential for your audience to skim and understand the core message and highlights your research project.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Understand the genre of the academic poster and use that information to plan your own poster design
-
Use multimodal communication to express your ideas in your poster
-
Apply basic visual designprinciples to design and revise your poster
Visit to access the workshop
Group Communication
This self-directed workshop will prepare you to work in groups by targeting your group communication skills. ±’l look at methods to conduct group work effectively, and problem-solving techniques for different group communication dilemmas.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Recognize that communicating effectively in a group is a life skill
-
Apply a procedure for conducting group work that will help prevent miscommunication and increase group efficiency
-
Demonstrate problem-solving skills when faced with common problems that occur in group work
Visit to access the workshop
Public Scholarship Online
This self-directed workshop focuses on how you can use Twitter as a quick and easy way to start experimenting with new language, personas, and audiences. You will learn how to communicate your research for an audience of more than just fellow academics.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Identify the value that public scholarship can bring
-
Set yourself up for success as an academic on Twitter
-
Think about the type of public scholarship you want to create-videos, blogs, posts, podcasts
Visit to access the workshop
Basics of Podcasting
This self-directed workshop explores the basics of podcasting, so you can communicate to a general audience about your topic. You will learn the basic skills needed to start your very own podcast.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Understand how writing for listeners is different than writing for readers
-
Organize your ideas for a podcast
-
Use your voice to add information and emotion
-
Identify strategies to revise your audio globally and locally
Visit to access the workshop
Genres
Writing at the University Level
This self-directed workshop supports first year students to navigate the transition to writing at the university level. You will explore the common challenges and break down key differences between writing in high school and university. Also, you will be introduced to various academic writing genres, to give you a taste of what you might see in an assignment, and strategies for success.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Describe the main changes between high school and university level writing
-
Understand the expectations and standards associated with writing at the undergraduate level
-
Recognize how genre impacts style in academic writing
Visit to access the workshop
Intro to STEM Writing
This self-directed workshop explores the expectations of STEM writing in university and examines a common genre within STEM writing—the standard lab report. You will also learn the sections of a Lab Report, and how to integrate quantitative data into your writing to tell your story and showcase your analytical skills.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, ydz’l be able to:
-
Understand the rhetorical situation in STEM writing
-
Conduct a genre analysis of a standard lab report by identifying the function and content of each section
-
Learn how to integrate quantitative data into your writing using text, tables, or figures
-
Learn strategies for writing effectively
Visit to access the workshop
Writing an Op-Ed
This self-directed workshopis an exploration of the writing genre, policy briefs. You will learn what an op-ed is and how to write one, so you can feel confident writing them in both academic and professional settings.
By the end of this 50 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Communicatewhat a op-ed is, and what makes oneeffective
-
Apply a basic op-edstructure to your own writing
-
Integrate visual support and design principles into your op-ed to make it engaging
Visit to access the workshop
Writing a Policy Brief
This self-directed workshopis an exploration of the writing genre, policy briefs. You will learn what a policy brief is and how to write one, so you can feel confident writing them in both academic and professional settings.
By the end of this 50 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Communicate what a policy brief is, and what makes oneeffecitve
-
Apply a basic policy brief structure to your own writing
-
Integrate visual support and design principles into your policy brief to make it engaging
Visit to access the workshop
Basics of Podcasting
This self-directed workshop will explore a great way to communicate information to the general public-podcasting. You will learn the basics of podcasting including: the single-speaker podcast genre, the steps needed to sketch your podcast outline, and some tips on recording and revising.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Understand how writing for listeners is different than writing for readers
-
Organize your ideas for a podcast
-
Use your voice to add information and emotion
-
Identify strategies to revise your audio globally and locally
Visit to access the workshop
Graduate Literature Review A: Organizing Research
This self-directed workshopwill explore the process of writing a literature review as a component of a larger document, like a thesis or dissertation. You will learn and work through your own process for researching, organizing, and writing your literature review.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Review the purpose and tasks of a literature review
-
Create or revise guiding research questions to frame your search
-
Critically appraise content in a variety of disciplines
-
Discover organizational approaches for literature reviews
Visit to access the workshop
Graduate Literature Review B: Writing It
This self-directedworkshopelaborates on how to situate your research within the context of your subject area. You will learn how to identify other researchers' experience with a topic, ensure you are not replicating others work, and refine your topic, research question, and methodology. These are essential components to help your reader situate your work in the larger scholarly conversation.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to :
-
Effectively present the backstory (context) of their subject area
-
Situate their own research within that context
-
Make sound choices about organizing their review
-
Work within the structural and writing conventions of traditional literature reviews
Visit to access the workshop
Critical Analysis
This self-directedworkshopis an exploration of critical thinking and writing skills in the process of writing, regardless of the discipline. You will learn what critical analysis is and how to do it, so you can feel confident engaging with text and sharing your ideas.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Define what critical analysis is and how it intersects with comparative analysis
-
Apply a process of performing critical analysis that incorporates critical reading and critical writing strategies
-
Integrate evidence from primary and secondary sources to produce a strong analytical paper
Visit to access the workshop
Statements of Positionality
This self-directedworkshopwill explore the common requirements of a statement of positionality in academic writing, from dissertations to journals articles to job applications. We will provide you with the tools you need to define your own positionality and teach you key tips and strategies for writing a strong statement of positionality.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
-
Define the concepts of “positionality,” “power,” and “reflexivity” and understand how they relate to the research process
-
Identify the qualities of strong positionality statements
-
Use reflexivity tools to help you concretely and explicitly define your own positionality on paper
-
Communicate in a clearly structured statement your positionality significance in the broader context of your research
Visit to access the workshop
Science Communication
Fundamentals of Science Communication
This self-directed workshop will explore how online texts are written, for whom, and for what purpose. You will learn how people present science research on different online platforms. As well, we will guide you in assessing your own online presence, and help you determine areas of strength and areas where you may want to set goals for improvement.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
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Identify and describe the characteristics of online genres of science communication
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Analyze and evaluate online (and your own) genres of science communication
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Empower and encourage you to practice and develop your online science communication skills
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Clarity in Science Communication
This self-direct workshop provides background on clarity in science communication and strategies for expressing research clearly and effectively. You will learn to explain your research and ideas to audiences from different disciplines and non-science backgrounds, use strategies to meet different contexts, and identify audience needs to express your research clearly.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
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Understand principles and expectationsof clear science communication
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Apply strategies for improving communication
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Explore science communication models and resources
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Communication Quantitative Data in the Sciences
This self-directed workshop will explore how qualitative data is shared by scientists in academics, professionals, and social spaces. You will learn who is sharing data in science today, what the impacts are of presenting data in both image and words, and exploring and integrating quantitative data into your science communication.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
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Identify the story your data tells
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Choose appropriate presentation formats for different types of data
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Present data effectively to different audiences
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Sharing Research in the Age of Misinformation
This self-direct workshop explores how experts present controversial research to the public and deal with misinformation or respond to individuals that do not agree with their ideas altogether. Scientists often increase the likelihood of encountering or stimulating conflict as they engage with one another, and the public, in order to establish new theories and truths. You will learn what misinformation is, how to combat it, and strategies to elevate your own message above all the noise, in order to become a strong science communicator.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
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Explain what misinformation is, how it spreads, and how it intersects with science communication
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Apply theories of misinformation and storytelling to both prevent the spread of false information and elevate evidence-based narratives
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Conduct scholarship publicly, in ways that are both effective and ethical
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Exploring Online Science Communication
This self-directed workshop will explore how online texts are written, for whom, and for what purpose. You will learn how people present science research on different online platforms. As well, we will guide you in assessing your own online presence, and help you determine areas of strength and areas where you may want to set goals for improvement.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
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Identify and describe the characteristics of online genres of science communication
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Analyze and evaluate online (and your own) genres of science communication
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Empower and encourage you to practice and develop your online science communication skills
Visit to access the workshop
Introduction to STEM Writing*
This self-directed workshop explores the expectations of STEM writing in university and examines a common genre within STEM writing—the standard lab report. You will also learn the sections of a Lab Report, and how to integrate quantitative data into your writing to tell your story and showcase your analytical skills.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
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Understand the rhetorical situation in STEM writing
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Conduct a genre analysis of a standard lab report by identifying the function and content of each section
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Learnhow to integrate quantitative data into your writing using text, tables, or figures
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Learn strategies for writing effectively
*Workshops with an asterisk(*) are specific to a STEM audience
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Writing with Quantitative Data*
This self-direct workshop explores how to write with quantitative data, why it is presented in a certain way, and what that means. This workshop was designed with first year students in mind to teach you how to integrate quantitative data into your writing to help you create a comprehensive story.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
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Define the concept of quantitative data
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Understand why you would integrate quantitative data into your writing
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Learn how to integrate quantitative data into your writing
*Workshops with an asterisk(*) are specific to a STEM audience
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Principles of Clarity in Scientific Writing*
This self-directed workshop will introduce you to a series of specific principles and strategies that you can apply to improve the clarity and readability of your writing. You will learn what clear and concise writing is and how to do it, so that you can feel confident sharing your ideas no matter the audience.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
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Understand the principles that guide clear and concise writing in STEM disciplines
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Use these clarity in scientific writing principles to identify where your writing may need revisions to improve reader comprehension and enjoyment
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Apply the clarity in scientific writing principles to your writing as appropriate for your intended audience
*Workshops with an asterisk(*) are specific to a STEM audience
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Professional Growth
Tri-Agency Scholarships: Writing Your Research Proposal
This self-directed workshop explores how to write your research proposal for a Tri-Agency scholarship application. You will learn about the research proposal as a genre, strategies for describing your research and its significance, and review successful proposals to help guide your decisions on your own project.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
- Understand the research proposal as a genre and recognize its components
- Apply strategies used in successful Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) proposals to your own proposal
- Make appropriate stylistic and revision choices in your own proposal
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Writing and Articulating Your Diversity Statement
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of diversity statements (or sometimes known as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion statements) as a genre. You will be introduced to writing and articulating your statement for an academic application or questions related to your commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion asked in an interview or networking conversation.
By the end of this 45 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
- Understand the value of writing and articulating your commitment to diversity, and continuously reflecting on those commitments
- Write an outline and a paragraph of your diversity statement for an academic application
- Reflect on how to articulate your commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in an academic interview or in a networking conversation
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Research Statements for Academic Job Applications
This self-directed workshop explores the research statement as a genre. You will examine common organizational patterns, review sample research statements, and begin outlining your own research statement. These topics are essential in thinking through your own research statement when applying for an academic position.
By the end of this 45 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
- Understand the purpose, goals, and conventions of research statements
- Become familiar with common organizational patterns for research statements
- Apply this new knowledge by outlining your own research statement
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Statements of Positionality
This self-directed workshop will explore the common requirements of a statement of positionality in academic writing, from dissertations to journal articles to job applications. We will provide you with the tools you need to define your own positionality and teach you key tips and strategies for writing a strong statement of positionality.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, dz’l be able to:
- Define the concepts of “positionality,” “power,” and “reflexivity” and understand how they relate to the research process
- Identify the qualities of strong positionality statements
- Use reflexivity tools to help you concretely and explicitly define your own positionality on paper
- Communicate in a clearly structured statement your positionality significance in the broader context of your research
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Rock Your Thesis Guidebook
This self-directed guidebook offers an orientation to the thesis- or dissertation-writing process. We’ve divided the guidebook into four main sections, each of which explores a distinct stage of the thesis-writing journey. If dz’r in the early stages of your thesis-writing journey, we recommend skimming the whole workshop to learn about all of the stages involved in completing your thesis and your degree. Then, as you approach each stage of your project, review the module focused on that stage more carefully, try out the strategies we recommend, and complete the exercises we’ve included to move your project forward.
Module 1 (Plan Your Project) will help you to recognize the goals of thesis-writing, identify key milestones, and manage the thesis as a project.
Module 2 (Articulate Your Research) supports you through contextualizing your project within a larger research field through a literature review and articulating the significance and contribution of your own research.
Module 3 (Draft and Revise) gives you the opportunity to apply global and local revision strategies and guides you through managing the distinct stages of the revisions process.
Module 4 (Submit and Defend) Prepares you for completing the stages of your degree that occur after you submit your thesis, including defending your thesis with confidence!
Although it would take approximately four hours to complete this workshop from beginning to end, we’ve designed it so that you can return to it in stages throughout your degree rather than complete it all at once.
By the end of this workshop, dz’l be able to:
- Identify the milestones involved in completing your thesis project and your degree
- Understand the regulations that govern the thesis-completion process
- Recognize common challenges graduate students face while completing their thesis or dissertation
- Apply a range of strategies for completing each stage of your project
- Know when and who to reach out to for support along the way
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