Reading and writing focused workshops for CSUN students offer opportunities to refine skills for any stage of the writing process, from close reading texts to proofreading final drafts.
Click below to read about / sign up for our reading and writing workshops!
Outlining and Pre-writing: Strategies for Organization
We have all felt it before: the panic, the paralysis, the mental block that always seems to arrive after the writing is assigned. Where to start? How to turn scattered thoughts into organized gold? What can help every writer turn away from procrastination and towards productivity?
No matter what type of assignment you are working on, pre-writing and outlining are helpful tools in the writing process. Come to the outlining and pre-writing workshop where you will learn tips and tricks to help you
Day/Time: Tuesday February 19th, 3:30-4:30pm
Location: LRC, 3rd Floor, Oviatt Library
Presenter: Sean Click here to sign up for the Outlining and Prewriting Workshop
Crafting a Standout Personal Statement
Applying to graduate school but not sure how to approach the personal statement? Need some help "promoting yourself"? Wondering what is the difference between personal statement, statement of purpose, and goal statement?
Come find answers to all of these questions and more at the Personal Statement Workshop! We will discuss the form, content, and style of one of the most important documents you will ever write.
Day/Time: Wednesday, February 20th, 3:00pm
Location: LRC, 3rd Floor, Oviatt Library
Presenter: Melissa Click here to sign up for the Personal Statement Workshop
The Essay Refresher
Has it been a while since you had to complete a formal writing assignment? Do you need a refresher on the basics of college-level essay crafting? Come join us at the Essay Refresh where you will learn about:
Date and Time: Thursday, February 21st, 3:30pm
Location: LRC, 3rd Floor, Oviatt Library
Presenter: Click here to enroll in the Essay Refresher Workshop
Paragraph like a pro!
Everyone has heard some rules about paragraphing, but likely everyone has also seen professional writers break those rules. In the powerful paragraphs workshop, our goal is to help you understand the rules of unification and coherence so that you can learn to craft well-developed, cohesive paragraphs that readers can follow with ease no matter your writing situation. We will discuss:
Join us!
Date and Time: Tuesday February 26th, 3:30pm
Location: LRC Classroom, 3rd Floor, Oviatt Library
Presenter: Sean Click here to sign up for the paragraphing workshop.
Working with Sources
Academic assignments often call for you to locate, assess, and implement a variety of quality sources from multiple locations and mediums. Using sources effectively is hard work, but luckily the LRC has some tips and tricks to help you along the way. Come to the Working with Sources workshop where we will help you to:
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 27th at 1:30pm
Location: LRC, 3rd Floor, Oviatt Library
Presenter: Melissa Click here to sign up for the workshop on working with academic sources
MLA Formatting
You've worked hard on your paper. Make sure your research is carefully presented in the correct format.
This workshop will help you follow MLA format in your parenthetical citations, your list of works cited, and the incorporation of evidence into your discussion.
Date and Time: Thursday, February 28th at 2:30pm
Location: LRC, 3rd Floor, Oviatt Library
Presenter: Loretta Click here to sign up for the MLA Formatting Workshop
APA Formatting Workshop
Many students learn MLA format in their composition classes. Then they need to adjust to APA style in their majors or GE courses. If you have questions about APA format--the running heads, the references, the parenthetical citations, and the general writing style--this workshop is for you.
* Basic formatting for documents and references
* How to cite correctly within your text
* How to integrate sources into your writing
Date and Time: Thursday, February 28th at 4:00pm
Location: LRC, Oviatt Library
Presenter: Loretta Click here to sign up for the APA workshop on 2/28
Writing the Literature Review
Assigned a literature review and not sure where to begin? Come to this workshop, which will teach you:
¨ What the purpose of a literature review actually is
¨ How to create a focus for your lit review
¨ How to smoothly integrate sources into your writing
¨ Correct formatting
The Annotated Bibliography
Getting started on some research? Need to write an annotated bibliography, but aren't sure how?
Come learn why you've been asked to write an annotated bibliography and what information it should include.
Visual Thinking Strategies
Visual thinking is a vital skill for generating and developing new ideas and projects. It can help you to organize your thoughts and improve your ability to think and communicate. It can also function as an effective tool for conveying complex information.
At the Visual Thinking workshop, we will provide tools and techniques to help you use visual rhetoric in order to better:
Date and Time:
Effective Presentations
The ability to give effective presentations is not just an academic skill, it is a crucial life skill that everyone should develop. Strong content, delivery, and presence is a winning combination that is both powerful and memorable. Come learn how to plan, design, and implement the kind of presentation that will shine! We will cover how to:
Day/Time:
Location: LRC, 3rd Floor, Oviatt Library
Presenter:
Good Writing that Works and Flows
"Wow! That's good writing!" "That sentence is really working!" "This essay really flows!" These are all things writers want to hear about their work.
We invite you to join us at this dynamic workshop where you will learn techniques and methods for creating effective, fluid, concise writing.
Date and Time:
Avoiding the 5 Most Frequent Grammar Errors
Are you struggling with run-ons and fragments? Confused about punctuation? In our “Avoiding the Five Most Frequent Errors” workshop, you will learn:
• How to correct run-ons
• When to use commas and apostrophes
• How to identify incomplete sentences
• How to avoid commonly misused words
• How to find and fix errors on your own
Date and Time:
Grammar Errors for non-native English speakers
Are you having trouble with grammar when you write in English? Could you use some strategies for locating the grammar mistakes in your essays and assignments? Come get help with:
Strategies for Proofreading and Revision
Are typos, misspellings, grammar, and punctuation errors stopping your work from looking polished and professional?
Do you want to learn how to re-enter your work with "fresh eyes" in order to find ways to improve it?
This one-hour workshop will provide you with techniques for editing and revising your writing before you hand in your assignment.
Date and Time:
Location: LRC, 3rd Floor, Oviatt Library
Presenter:
Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay
One thing that practically every college student could use is more money to put towards their educational expenses, yet many scholarships every year go unclaimed. Stop letting procrastination and intimidation get in the way! Go for that scholarship! Come let us help you get started. We will discuss:
Date and Time:
Location: LRC, Oviatt Library
Presenter:
Creating a Powerful Résumé
Applying for a job? Competing for an internship? Working on an admissions packet for grad school and need to spruce up your work history? Come to the LRC and learn how to put your best foot forward, on the page, in our résumé /cv workshop
This workshop provides detailed explanations, as well step-by-step processes, for creating an effective and attention grabbing résumé /cv.
Date and Time:
Location: LRC Classroom, 3rd Floor, Oviatt Library
Presenter: Eric D.
Cover Letters that Wow
Is your cover letter competitive enough to get you that highly selective internship or full-time job?
Come to our cover letter workshop and learn how to craft a cover letter that speaks for you. Learn how to:
Date and Time:
Mastering the Text: Close Reading and Annotation
Reading in college is a challenging activity, but there are strategies you can use to navigate these texts smoothly. Come to the Close Reading and Annotation workshop where you will gain skills to help you:
Day/Time:
Location: LRC, 3rd Floor, Oviatt Library
Presenter:
Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting: How to Integrate Seamlessly
Everyone knows that they need to use evidence from source materials in academic writing, but knowing when and how to use them will add credibility and complexity to your writing. Come to this workshop on summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting where you will learn:
Day/Time:
Location: LRC, 3rd Floor, Oviatt Library
Presenter:
