Workshop Videos - Graduate Writing Center

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Workshop videos

Workshop Videos

The GWC's library of filmed workshops is hosted on the NPS Video Portal and on our Stream channel; the available videos, along with workshop descriptions and related resources, are linked in the menu below.

Stumped when you face a blank page? Acquire tried-and-true techniques for starting a paper: brainstorming, clustering, concept mapping, pre-writing, and outlining. Master practical methods to clear the cobwebs and stare down that blank page. By trying out the various techniques during the workshop, you will discover which ones work best for you.

  • Video (39:40, summer 2020)

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Not sure how an analysis differs from an argument? How an introduction should be different from a conclusion? How a thesis statement differs from an abstract? Are you unclear about the role of alternative explanations, what goes in a bibliography, what to footnote other than sources, or the point and structure of a literature review? Come learn how the building blocks of academic papers fit together, making your papers more readable and complete.

  • Video (48:36, fall 2014)

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Learn how to use Zotero, a free tool that you can use to centrally collect, manage, and format your references in APA, Chicago, IEEE, and other citation styles. We also show you how to use Zotero's Word plug-in to cite while you write your papers or thesis.

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Constructing a research question is probably the most important task for any research paper you write. An overly broad question becomes mission impossible, while an excessively narrow question won't help fill the pages. Learn strategies for identifying answerable, interesting questions that will keep you motivated and your reader engaged.

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You employ persuasion every day, but are you comfortable crafting formal academic arguments? This workshop covers the strategies and conventions of written argumentation that are essential to your NPS studies and career. Hands-on exercises help you organize your lines of attack, remedy any gaps in your defense, anticipate your adversary's counterargument, and deliver the decisive blow through a convincing refutation.

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What is graduate-level research? Without guidance, most students simply read a pile of books, then string together as many quotations as possible, creating slapdash, wandering papers that are painful to write and torturous to read. In this workshop, you will learn how to explain your research goals, explore potential research questions, and use other tactics that will make your research focused, efficient, meaningful, and, yes, even fun to write and read!

  • Video (36:05, fall 2016)

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Does your professor want you to use LaTeX to write your thesis or dissertation? Are you passionate about beautifully formatted equations? Do you want to leave the formatting woes of Microsoft Word behind for a brighter tomorrow with LaTeX?

The LaTeX Crash Course introduces you to using LaTeX to write your thesis or dissertation. Learn the skills you need to start using LaTeX immediately.

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Develop your research skills and learn how to use the library search, library databases, research guides, Google Scholar, and more!

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A master's degree requires mastering a field, and that mastery is demonstrated in a literature review, a required component of most theses and many papers. It is not, as is often believed, a multi-title book review; rather, it is a comprehensive analysis of the literature relevant to your research question. More than a summary, it identifies strengths and inadequacies in the existing literature, which dovetails with your goal of adding new knowledge to your field. In this workshop, you will learn how literature reviews are constructed and how to make yours justify your research.

For maximum benefit, print or display the sample literature review, linked below, before viewing this workshop.

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You take notes and learn the subject matter, so why is it so difficult to communicate your knowledge during tests? And where does all the time go? Knowing a few key strategies can make all the difference. This workshop will provide you with winning techniques for studying more effectively, taking useful notes, preparing for exams, and performing better during tests; you’ll also receive practical, step-by-step methods for a "time investment" daily schedule.

Academic, or research-based, writing is distinct from other forms of writing: our primary purpose is to describe knowledge, which, at the graduate level, is most likely to address the logical connections between ideas—a task that calls for structured writing. This workshop introduces basic techniques that produce readable papers— comprehensive introductions, topic sentences, and embedding structure in language—and effective tools for composition. You will learn a systematic process for learning and writing that will focus your effort where it counts the most.

For maximum benefit, print or display the sample journal article, linked below, before viewing this workshop.

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You've all heard what you shouldn't be doing: don't violate the Honor Code, don't plagiarize, don't forget the rules of academic integrity. This workshop focuses on what to do to avoid these serious problems. We give you the skills to confidently incorporate others' words, ideas, analyses, models, and images into your own writing. You will gain experience summarizing, paraphrasing, and incorporating quotes from source material.

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So much reading, so little time! Learn and practice a surefire method for reading at the graduate level. Prof. Zachary Shore's "search and destroy" technique allows you to comprehend and synthesize an author's key arguments in 15 minutes. Though this method takes practice to perfect, the payoff is high in terms of comprehension, time saved, and enhanced critical thinking.

For maximum benefit, print or display the article linked below before viewing this workshop.

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Level II teaches the "destroy" half of Professor Shore's "search and destroy" technique. Learn how to critically examine a text for its strengths and weaknesses.

For maximum benefit, print or display the article linked below before viewing this workshop.

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Are you more comfortable solving equations than drafting sentences? Come focus on the precise skills you need to write clear technical reports and theses. In this workshop, we dissect a well-written report, decide what makes it effective, identify steps you can use to emulate its features, and review editing and proofreading strategies appropriate for technical writing.

  • Video (36:11, summer 2021)

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Is it time to begin your thesis? Not sure how to start? This workshop covers academic research and writing in general, as well as the specifics of the NPS thesis process. Learn how to navigate the process and launch your thesis with confidence.

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You’ve just received a prompt for a class paper. You read it once, twice, and still can't figure out what you're being asked to do or what kind of paper you're being asked to write. Sound familiar? This workshop identifies specific types of papers you may be asked to write at NPS and offers strategies for decoding and understanding instructors' prompts.

  • Video (59:01, summer 2020)

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