Transition Open Workshop Series
This semester the Learning Commons in association with the Writing Department and Learning Skills is offering a new Transition Open Workshop Series. These workshops integrate instruction on academic writing, researching, and learning skills (for example, time management, note-taking, etc.).
They are designed primarily to help students making the transition from college to university, though they can be of benefit to anyone seeking help with the challenges of university life and academic work and are open to all students in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies.
Topics include strategies for effective research, the difference between descriptive and analytical writing, reading and note-taking skills, guidelines for efficient essay writing, and how to avoid plagiarism.
Students who attend workshops will also have the opportunity to have one-on-one writing instruction. The workshops will take place in the late afternoon/early evening on weekdays and late morning/early afternoon on Saturdays.
Workshop Descriptions
- What is Analysis?
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One of the biggest challenges students face when they come to university from college or high school is figuring out what it means to think "critically" and write "analytically". The expectations associated with writing move away from memorizing and describing information and towards evaluating, analyzing, and generating an argument about a particular set of topics.
This workshop will show students how to distinguish between the description of a topic and an analysis of it – a skill that starts at the earliest stages of research and reading.
- Understanding and Remembering What You Read: The Essentials of Note-taking and Reading Skills
Writing is already a difficult task and many students find essays even tougher if they haven't really understood what they've read. This workshop introduces students to some strategies for reading and note-taking that can make the writing process a much easier, more enjoyable, and successful experience. Understanding what you read requires that you know what the author's main arguments are and how the author goes about making those arguments – this workshop will give you the skills to do so.
- Prevent Plagiarism (Before it Strikes)!
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An issue students' encounter with academic writing is establishing their own voice. These students have a clear idea of what they would like to write, they have gathered information and researched the topic thoroughly, but they find difficulty in expressing their ideas. This workshop will work with students on methods to effectively paraphrase, summarize, and quote materials to avoid plagiarism. It will also discuss MLA citation.
- Writing Efficiently for an Academic Audience
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Does writing take you twice as long as your classmates? Would you like to learn to write more efficiently? This workshop will provide tools for you to use when starting your writing assignments. Topics discussed in this workshop include: meeting the requirements of an academic audience, developing your purpose and scope, generating content through brainstorming ideas and free-writing, effectively organizing and outlining your goals, overcoming writer's block and writing under pressure, and revising and editing your writing.
- Strategies for Effective Research (I): Introduction to Academic Research and Research Using Academic Journals
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You have your topic – now what?
Whether you can't seem to find any relevant sources or you find yourself confronted with a mountain of information and don't know where to begin, this two-part workshop series outlines some effective strategies for getting started on the research process, locating academic sources, and finding the information you need. While they are complements to each other, each workshop in the series is designed to be complete on its own and attending both is recommended but not necessary.
Part I: An introduction to doing academic research that explains what good academic sources are, as well as how to refine a topic and start researching it. We will look at how to use abstracts, introductions, and reference lists to find academic journal articles that are relevant for your topic.
- Strategies for Effective Research (II): Research Using Books, Tracking Research, and Tips for Reading Strategically and Efficiently
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Part II: In this session we examine how to use indexes, contents tables, and reference lists to find books that are relevant for your topic. Further, we look at how to find the information you need within them by learning to read strategically.
