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Writing Workshops

The Writing Center offers workshops in different areas of composition. If you have any questions about these writing workshops please call the Writing Center at 831-2144.  Online versions of workshops are now available. We are also adding narration to our online workshops. Workshops with the following icon: , have narration. Click on a workshop name to go to online workshop.

It is strongly encouraged that you view the Workshops before you attempt to view the Handouts or try the Quizzes.

Workshops offered include:

• Brainstorming & Organization Workshops

  • Audience Analysis using SOAP
    This workshop helps students analyze and address the audience for whom they are writing. It familiarizes students with SOAP (Subject, Occasion, Audience, Purpose) to identify their target audience, and then choose appropriate language and logic to appeal to that audience.

  • Generating Ideas/Brainstorming
    This workshop provides students with a variety of techniques geared toward generating ideas and initiating the writing process. The workshop begins by addressing questions related to audience consideration and narrowing or broadening of a topic. Different methods of identifying a topic are provided. Once topics have been chosen, students are shown several brainstorming techniques, such as clustering and free writing, and how to use them so the topic can be expanded and organized into an essay.

  • Outlining Workshop
    This workshop will review the general outline format. Also, strategies for using outlines to help develop essays and research papers will be discussed. Finally, the differences between topic outlines and a formal sentence outline will also be discussed. Outlining exercises will follow the presentation.
    

• Grammar & Punctuation Workshops

  • Comma Usage
    The main purpose of the comma workshop is to help students become more comfortable with their comma usage. As part of this workshop, a review of the basic elements of the sentence is given. This leads to a discussion of the more frequently misapplied comma rules, as well as references to run-on's and sentence fragments. Students are asked to participate by going over some example sentences to identify correctly and incorrectly used commas.

  • How to Use A Writer's Reference
    Covers the Menu System, the Index, the Glossary, and Correction Symbols for the book's sixth edition. Provides tutorials so students can practice using this valuable resource.

  • Parts of Speech
    Many students struggle with sentence structure because they are unfamiliar with the eight parts of speech involved in constructing a sentence. This workshop covers every part of speech in detail and then gives examples on how each part of speech may be used. The students are asked to apply their knowledge by devising their own sentence for each part of speech as it is discussed.
    

• Sentence Structure Workshops

• Fragments
  Because fragments are among the most common mistakes college writers make, the Writing Center has designed a workshop in which students are taught how to identify and correct the different types of fragments. Students are exposed to groups of words that constitute fragments either because of the absence of a subject or verb or the expression of a complete thought. Exercises are provided to practice the concepts covered.

• Run-on's
  Because run-on's are another common mistakes college writers make, the Writing Center has designed a workshop in which students are taught how to identify and correct the different types run-on's. Moreover, distinctions are drawn between the two kinds of run-on's, the fused sentence, and the comma splice. To supplement instruction, students are asked to complete exercises covering these concepts.

• Sentence Variety
  This workshop was created to help students understand the mechanics of writing varieties of sentences. It covers the different components and ways of writing sentences using dependent clauses, coordinating conjunctions, transitions, etc. This workshop also briefly covers proper comma usage and run-on sentences.
  

• Paragraph & Essay Structure Workshops

  • Paragraph Development
    This workshop identifies what a paragraph is and reviews the basic elements of paragraph writing. The workshop then focuses on a series of steps intended to help the student identify the main idea, effectively use supporting details, and finally develop a concluding sentence. Sample topic sentences are evaluated for clarity with emphasis placed on the order and unity of paragraph writing. Students practice brainstorming and writing topic sentences and supporting details.

  • Thesis Statements
    The goal of this workshop is to help students identify the main characteristics of a strong thesis statement. Students are also made aware of some common errors to avoid while structuring a thesis. A practice session provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge by strengthening some existing weak thesis statements. In addition, they are asked to construct their own thesis statements based on different sample topics. The importance of the introductory paragraph is discussed and demonstrated along with the placement of the thesis sentence.
     

• Critical Analysis Workshops

  • Critical Analysis
    This workshop gives students a general introduction to the premise of a critical analysis. Students review the generic structure and format of an analysis. In addition, students examine the various elements of fiction such as plot, character, setting, point of view, and theme. Sample critical analyses are presented for review and discussion.

  • Film Review
    This workshop gives students a general introduction to film reviews. Since may students often simply summarize the film, the difference between summary and review/critical analysis is emphasized at the beginning of the workshop. Students also learn some terms that can help them provide a more in-depth review of the film.

   

• Research Papers

  • American Psychology Association (APA) Documentation Style
    This workshop is designed to help students understand the APA style of documenting sources within a research paper and reference page. It begins with a general overview of APA style, and provides sample entries on how to cite books, online periodicals, etc.

  • Modern Language Association (MLA) Bibliography Cards/Works Cited
    The workshop helps students understand the concept of in-text citations and works cited page. There is a brief discussion on note taking and tips on how to avoid plagiarism. A sample works cited page is demonstrated to show the differences between the many kinds of sources and how to arrange the name of an author, a title of the work, a publisher's name, etc.

  • MLA Bibliography Cards
    The Bibliography Cards workshop supplies step-by-step explanations on how to construct bib cards and properly format in-text citation. Students receive suggestions on what type of note cards to use, what information to include, and how to write the information.

  • MLA Format
    This workshop goes over MLA style formatting for papers. Formatting headers, cover pages, and works cited pages is discussed.
     

• Essay Types Workshops

  • Cause and Effect Essay
    This workshop is designed to introduce students to the premise of a cause and effect essay. Students will be guided through: brainstorming, gathering information/research, organization of ideas, and structure. Once all the steps are discussed, students will be able to view an actual sample of a cause and effect essay.

  • Classification Essay
    This workshop defines what classification and division essays are, how they are organized and structured, and looks at several example essays.

  • Persuasive Essay
    Many students find that the persuasive essay is perhaps one of the most challenging types of essays they encounter. Therefore, the Writing Center has devised a workshop to help students understand methods of argumentation and learn how to develop a persuasive essay. To do this, the major components of an argumentative essay are reviewed followed by discussion of brainstorming techniques, developing a persuasive thesis, and paragraph organization.

  • Writing From Recall
    This workshop provides students with useful information for writing a recall essay. The workshop starts by defining two typical assignments that involve recalling an important or significant person/event in a person's life. Then, the workshop presents various ways to generate ideas for writing this kind of essay. Finally, it reviews basic essay structure and grammatical concepts that should be taken into account such as sentence structure and verb tense.
    

• Other

  • Proofreading & Revision
    This workshop shows students different techniques which can be used to proofread papers; they will learn to apply the skills to their own work. This workshop is recommended for all levels of writing.

  • Cover Letter and Resumés
    The purpose of this workshop is to introduce students to cover letters and resumés and their importance during the job search process. This workshop will go over the format and organization for creating effective cover letters and resumés.

  • English 0310 Exit Exam
    Covers division criteria for English 0310 Exit Exam, structure of the five-paragraph essay, thesis, addressing the topic and audience, and making sure the essay is persuasive.  Two past exit exams (one passed, one failed) are covered to demonstrate what is expected.