Workshops
The Graduate School offers many workshops, of varying length, to support graduate students with their writing. All workshops are open to enrolled University of Maryland graduate students free of charge. Please see the Events section for the current workshop schedule.
We welcome suggestions for workshops and will design and provide programs for specific departmental needs upon request. Please contact Dr. Linda Macri, Director of Graduate Writing Initiatives, with questions.
Dissertation Retreats
Summer Thesis & Dissertation Retreat
July 9-13, 2018, 10am-4pm daily
The Thesis & Dissertation Retreat will afford participants time to write along with opportunities for one-on-one writing consultations with Writing Fellows and presentations about topics such as setting goals and structuring writing time. Participants must have an approved prospectus or thesis topic and must commit to attending each day.
The retreat is limited to 25 students. A $40 fee (to cover meals and refreshments) will be required to secure a place. Applications are available here and will be accepted until June 29 or until registration is full, whichever comes first.
Early Stage Dissertation Retreat
June 18-22, 2018, 10am-4pm daily
The Early Stage Dissertation Retreat is aimed specifically at students at the beginning stages of writing a dissertation proposal or a dissertation. In this retreat, graduate students will identify and practice effective strategies for writing productivity, work on an individualized plan for writing and degree completion, have the opportunity to meet with a subject area librarian, meet for a one-on-one consultation with a Writing Fellow, build a peer writing support community, and, of course, spend time writing. Participants must commit to attending each day.
The retreat is limited to 25 students. A $40 fee (to cover meals and refreshments) will be required to secure a place. Applications are available here and will be accepted until May 29, 2018 or until registration is full, whichever happens first.
Proposal Workshop for ARHU graduate students
Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30am, May 30-June 27
Limited to 20 participants
Many graduate students take their qualifying exams in the spring semester and then plan to write their dissertation proposals over the summer. But this first stage of the dissertation process is markedly different from the work you have done in graduate school so far, and many students find that writing a dissertation requires a new set of skills. To help you make the most of your summer, the Graduate School Writing Center is offering a Proposal Writing Workshop series for students in ARHU this summer. We’ll meet weekly for five weeks to explore the skills, habits, and resources you’ll need to complete your proposal (and, later, your dissertation). After the initial meeting, we’ll spend time during each session doing small group peer review, ensuring that participants get regular feedback on their writing. Workshop sessions will focus on honing your research question, structuring your proposal, writing your literature review, and organizing your research and writing processes. Applications are available at go.umd.edu/ProposalWorkshop
How to Write a Literature Review: An Introduction to Writing and Research in Graduate School
New to research at the graduate level or just need a refresher? Not sure how to move from research to writing? Join us for this workshop, offered in conjunction with librarians from the Research Commons, focusing on entering an academic conversation through research and writing. The workshop will cover graduate-specific library privileges, effective research and citation practices, writing from sources, and a general introduction to the literature review process.
Thursday, February 15, 2018, from 10am-12pm, 6137 McKeldin. Register here.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018, from 1-3pm, 6137 McKeldin. Register here.
A recording of presentation from Fall 2016 can be viewed at here and the slides from February 2018 are available here.
Three Minute Thesis Workshop: How to Create a Successful Presentation
Tuesday, February 27, 2018, 10-11:30am
Wednesday, February 28, 3:30-5pm
The 3MT competition challenges students to communicate the significance of their research projects to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes. Learn how at this workshop. Post-candidacy doctoral students are invited to compete in the Graduate School's 3MT Competition, but all students are welcome to attend the workshop and learn more about crafting brief, narrative presentations of your research. Register for either day here.
Snack Writing: Take a Bite Out of Your Writing
Tuesday, October 17, 9:30-11:30am, Graduate Student Life Office, Stamp Student Union
Wednesday, October 18, 2-4pm, Graduate Student Life Office, Stamp Student Union
You might think you need to sit down for hours at a time to accomplish much in your writing project, but there's good research that suggests that "snack" writing, rather than "binge" writing, can be an effective way to make progress on your writing projects. Come join the GS Writing Center and the Graduate Student Life Office for a snack writing break to discover how to use just 25 minutes to move your writing forward. And, of course, we'll have snacks!
Grant Geography: Finding, Writing, and Submitting Successful Grant Applications
Tuesday, October 24, 2-3:30pm
Wednesday, October 25, 2-3:30pm
Thursday, October 26, 11am-12:30pm
This event will provide students with several tools for finding funding opportunities and guidance on how to frame your research in a grant application. Participants should bring a rough draft of their project summaries for this hands-on workshop.
Revising and Editing Your Own Writing
You have a draft of that seminar paper or dissertation chapter – but now what? How do you move toward the next draft? Where do you begin to revise? How can you be an effective editor of your own work? In this two-hour workshop, writing fellows offer guidance on how to conceptualize and achieve effective revision. Space is limited to 12 students, and students must have a draft of a paper in progress when they attend.
Offered in the last month of the semester.