GRADUATE STUDENTS

Grad Students with writing projects are invited to make a 30- or 60-minute appointment with one of our Faculty Writing Consultants to discuss graduate projects, theses, or dissertations. 

You can work together with one of our faculty consultants on a range of writing issues. Just bring in a question or concern, such as: 

My advisor says my writing is too informal.

My advisor says my sentence structure is hard to follow. 

How do I transition from this section to the next?

How do I wrap up this section?

How do I integrate my sources?

Is my literature review well-organized?

Given the time limit, only relatively short sections of a long project can receive attention. Come to the appointment focused with a plan for what you want to work on. 

Many of our consultants are faculty in the English or Linguistics departments and have years of experience working with graduate student writers. You can read their bios and find out about their available hours here.

Asynchronous Graduate Feedback

The Asynchronous Graduate Student Feedback service is for graduate-level students working on their thesis or other larger projects (12 to 25 double-spaced pages at a time).

Here's how it works:

1. You email us at onlinelrc@csun.edu with a brief description of your work and any specific questions or goals you may have. 
2. If your submission request is approved, we will assign your work to a faculty consultant.
3. Once we are done with your work, your document will be emailed back to you with comments. This takes 3-7 days, depending on traffic. 
4. You will also have the opportunity to make an appointment to meet live with one of the consultants to discuss the comments and design a plan for your revisions.

Please note:

• We need explicit permission from your professor if you would like feedback on your comprehensive exam responses.
• If you email us on a Friday afternoon or during a weekend, you may not hear back from us until the following business day (most likely a Monday).
• In order to ensure the most productive experience, please check your email frequently and respond to us in a timely manner.
• In times of heavy traffic, we may take over a week to provide feedback.
• Although our consultants are happy to look at an assignment at any stage, asynchronous tutoring works best on projects that are further along in their development. For help with brainstorming, conceptualizing, and projects that are not fully formed, we recommend coming in to the Writing Center and meeting with consultants in person. 
• The consultant will not make any changes to your paper, but instead will make suggestions on how you can improve your work.
• Possible reasons why your request for feedback would not be approved: 
  • you are an undergraduate student
  • you are requesting feedback on a personal statement or application
  • you are not following our rules and policies outlined above

If you have any questions, please  send us an email at onlinelrc@csun.edu

We look forward to working with you!

Graduate Workshop Series and Drop-In Support Hours (DISH)

DISH is a weekly, open support session designed specifically for graduate students working on larger projects.

DISH will be held twice a week throughout the semester to try to provide all interested students an opportunity to build and engage with a graduate-student specific learning community. During Spring 2023, DISH will take place on Fridays from 12:30-3:00pm and on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:30pm. These sessions will begin on Friday, February 3. Each week will begin with either an interactive workshop or a quick tips session designed to help students at different stages within the graduate project writing process. The remainder of the sessions will allow students a space to work independently on your project with an Upper Division Writing Consultant on hand if you need any assistance.

You do not need a reservation for these sessions NOR do you need to use the sessions for the specific workshop that is offered (drop in as you see fit). DISH is meant to provide an open space for graduate students to network with others, help keep themselves accountable for completing their projects, work independently with access to a writing consultant for questions, and/or learn from the workshops provided.

Click here for the Zoom Link for DISH and Workshops (it will be the same link every week)  or use the Meeting ID: 922 2944 7384

Schedule

• Friday, February 3: Introduction to DISH

• Tuesday, February 7: Introduction to DISH

• Friday, February 10: SMART Goals and Time Management

• Tuesday, February 14: SMART Goals and Time Management

• Friday, February 17: Keeping Track of Sources 

• Tuesday, February 21: Keeping Track of Sources

• Friday, February 24: Reading Scholarworks like a Writer

• Tuesday, February 28: Reading Scholarworks like a Writer

• Friday, March 3: Researching Smarter, Not Harder

• Tuesday, March 7: Researching Smarter, Not Harder

• Friday, March 10: Independent Work

• Tuesday, March 14: The Literature Review

• Friday, March 17: The Literature Review

• Tuesday, March 21: No DISH - Spring Break

• Friday, March 24: No DISH – Spring Break

• Tuesday, March 28: Independent Work

• Friday, March 31: No DISH – Cesar Chavez

• Tuesday, April 4: Utilizing Your Chair & Committee

• Friday, April 7: Utilizing Your Chair & Committee

• Tuesday, April 11: Methodology

• Friday, April 14: Methodology

• Tuesday, April 18: Writing Through Writer’s Block

• Friday, April 21: Writing Through Writer’s Block 

• Tuesday, April 25: Formatting your Thesis

• Friday, April 28: Formatting your Thesis

• Tuesday, May 2: Bringing it All Together

• Friday, May 5: Bringing it All Together

• Tuesday, May 9: Proofreading and Revising

• Friday, May 12: Proofreading and Revising

• CSUN Graduate Studies Thesis/Dissertation and Graduate Project Information

http://www.csun.edu/research-graduate-studies/thesisdissertation-and-graduate-project-deadlines

This page from our University shows deadlines and offers links to pdf’s on formatting guidelines for theses/dissertations/projects.  It also links you to necessary guidelines for research on human/animal subjects.