Registering for Workshops

Spring '25 workshops will be "in-person" = here at the ARC, or marked "Online" = held via Zoom. To sign up for a workshop, please complete the following steps: 

(These steps work similarly for 1 to 1 tutoring sessions.)

1. Click on the blue Accudemia logo the left side of your screen.
2. Log on to Accudemia. (First time logging in? Use your SID as both the User ID and the password.)
3. Click on "Schedule Appointment" at the bottom of the page, or use the "Quick" dropdown menu at the top of the page and select "New Appointment." 
4. For Service, choose "Writing Support - Remote" or "Writing Support - In-Person."
5. For Activity, search for "WSP Workshop" and choose the activity/workshop subject (ex. Grammar, Writing, Reading, or Formatting) and the date you want to attend. (See WSP workshop schedule below.)
   • NOTE: If you have trouble, you can also search by date or tutor name. 
   • You will have to use the "Prev" and "Next" buttons or the calendar icon to select the date. 
6. Click on the the green box with the available time you want. 
7. Click "Confirm" in the green box when you are ready to finalize the appointment. 

For online/remote workshops (and 1 to 1 sessions), you will automatically receive a link to the workshop in your UCR email.

NOTE: Workshops are co-facilitated by professional staff and trained tutors. 

Click the titles below to see the list of workshop topics and dates. 

Writing and Reading Workshops (Beginning Week 2)

Workshops are open to all UCR undergraduates. Spring 2025 workshops will be hosted via  "in-person" or online/Zoom.  Please check each date for one of the two formats.  Register through Accudemia to receive the Zoom meeting link. 

• Writing Workshops

  Writing 

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  TL;DR: Essay Structure & Writing Process

  This 40 minute workshop/presentation will address the typical parts of an essay, what the parts do, and how to anticipate your audience's reading expectations. NOTE: We will be offering separate workshops focused on introductions, thesis statements, and conclusions. Feel free to bring essay prompts if you have additional questions.

  Date Offered:

  Wednesday, April 9, from 10:00 to 10:45 (In-Person at the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

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  Explaining Examples/Using Sources

  During this 40 minute workshop/discussion, we will address what plagiarism is, why it is a serious matter, and how you can avoid it. The session will begin with some informal discussion with attendees about their experience and understanding of plagiarism. We will then discuss the significance of reading, understanding, and citing sources. We will also address how to incorporate the sources (quote, paraphrase, and or summary) and what interpreting a source can look like. NOTE:  It is appropriate for attendees to bring in specific examples and/or general questions about citing sources. 

  Dates Offered:  

  Thursday, May 15, from 11:00 to 11:45(In-Person at the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

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  Outlining Your Essay

  This 30 - 40 minute workshop will address outlining strategies for approaching drafts of essays and papers. Attendees will practice developing main ideas, identifying evidence, analyzing the significance of the evidence, and connecting the analysis back to the thesis. Attendees are encouraged to come with questions or a writing assignment that they would like to develop an outline for.  (NOTE: Ask the tutors about reverse outlining.)

  Dates Offered:

  Thursday, April 24, 10:00 to 10:45 (In-Person at the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

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  TL;DR: Introductions & Thesis Statements

  This 40 minute workshop will focus on the purpose, or function, of introductions. We will look at such elements of an introduction as:  hooking the audience, establishing the range and relevance of the topic, establishing the purpose of the text, and writing a thesis statement. NOTE: Attendees should feel free to bring specific questions and/or drafts to the workshop.

  Date Offered:

  Wednesday, April 23, from 10:00 to 10:45  (In-Person at the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

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  TL;DR Writing Body Paragraphs

  This 40 minute workshop will focus on the purpose, or function, body paragraphs. We will look at “topic sentences,” supporting evidence, and explaining the connection between the evidence, topic sentence, and thesis statement.  Attendees should feel free to bring specific questions  to the workshop.

  Date Offered:

  Wednesday, April 30, from 10:00 to 10:45 (In-Person at the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

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  TL;DR: Writing Conclusions

  This 30-40 minute workshop will focus on how to write well-rounded conclusion paragraphs. We will take a look at the four steps "typically" required of a conclusion paragraph – summary, synthesis, “So what?” and zoom out – and describe how to tackle each step, as well as what each step entails. Those in attendance should feel free to bring any questions or drafts they may have.

  Dates Offered:

  TBA (In-Person at the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

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  Writing Timed/In-Class Essays

  This 30 minute workshop will focus on reading and annotating writing in-class writing prompts. We will address language that (1) contextualizes/situates the assignment, (2) directive verbs, and (3) how to clarify expectations for the assignment based on the prompt and writing situation. We will also be looking at outlining essay drafts (thesis statements, topic/controlling idea sentences, and evidence) to organize ideas you want to communicate. You should feel free to come with questions as there will be time at the end of the workshop to discuss specific concerns.

  Dates Offered:

  Tuesday, May 27, from 1:00 to 1:45 (In-Person @ the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

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• Grammar Workshops

  Grammar Topics

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  Sentence Structure 

  This 40 minute workshop will present four common sentence types: 1) the simple sentence, 2) the compound sentence, 3) the complex sentence, and 4) the compound-complex sentence. Additionally, we address sentence chunks, such as independent clauses and dependent clauses. The goal is to increase awareness of sentence control and clarity. NOTE: Please feel free to bring drafts with you if you have specific questions. 

  Dates Offered:

  Monday, April 14, from 2:00 to 2:45 (Online/Zoom)

  Wednesday, May 28, from 11:00 to 11:45 (In-Person at the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

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  Using Commas

  This 40 minute workshop will review basic grammar like: parts of speech (ex. nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs), BUT we will primarily be focused on comma usage and identifying comma errors. 

  Date Offered:

  TWednesday, April 16, from 10:00 to 10:45  (In-Person at the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

   

• Reading Workshops

  Reading Workshops

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  Reading for Meaning/Close Reading

  This 45 minute workshop will focus on reading and responding to texts (ex. essays, articles, books, etc.). While reading a text, we might highlight ideas and words that stand out to us. When these highlighting marks and underlines begin to lose focus--yet look colorful--we need to be able to annotate the text with questions, phrases and words that help us make connections to the text, topic, author, and/or class situation we are reading it for.  This workshop will include strategies for annotating (assigned) readings and making relevant connections. 

  Dates Offered:

  Thursday, April 10, from 10:00 to 10:45 (In-Person @ the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)   

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  Reading Research Articles 

  This 45 minute workshop will address the common organization of "original research articles" and "review articles."  We will be looking at pre selected STEM and behavioral science articles. Feel free to bring your own article as we will be looking at the purpose of specific sections. We will also be looking at the difference between an "original research article" and a "review article."

  Dates Offered: 

  Thursday, May 8, from 10:00 to 10:50 (In-Person @ the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)   

  Sample Articles below:

  Two sample research articles (Samples will be analyzed during the workshop.)

  1. Computer Science Research Article: 
  2. Psychopathology Research Article

  Two sample literature review articles (Samples will be analyzed during the workshop.)

  1. Periodic Limb Movement During Sleep REVIEW ARTICLE 
  2. Computational Biology REVIEW ARTICLE

  Sample science article for general audience

  1. New Position Statement Declares that Sleep is Essential to Health

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• Formatting Workshops

  Formatting

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   MLA Citation Style

  In this 50 minute Q & A workshop, we will address MLA "in-text" citations and the "Works Cited" page. Some attention will be given to paper format. However, the goal will be to highlight the format MLA prescribes and the function of the format. 

  Dates Offered:

  Monday, April 21, from 2:00 to 2:50 (Online/Zoom)

  Monday, April 28, from 2:00 to 2:50 (Online/Zoom)

  Wednesday, June 4, from 1:00 to 1:50 (In-Person @ the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

   

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   APA Citation Style

  In this 50 minute Q & A workshop, we will address the following topics from the APA 7th Edition: the "title page," "in-text" citations, and the "References" page. Attention will be given to paper format if specific questions are asked. However, the goal will be to highlight the format APA prescribes and the function of the format. 

  Dates Offered:  

  Wednesday, May 7, from 11:00 to 11:50(In-Person @ the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

  Monday, May 26, from 2:00 to 2:50(Online/Zoom)

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• Language Circles (Italian, Spanish, more to come)

  Language and Conversation Circles (Spanish, Italian, English)

  This 30 to 45 minute session is the ideal time to ask a tutor questions about language usage in less formal conversation. To focus conversations, the topics will be identified by the students, and occasionally the tutors. The goal of this session is to develop comfort talking about a variety of issues, and for language circles in Spanish, Italian, or other language, the focus will include pronunciation, vocabulary, and maybe grammar.  Feel free to ask questions, share opinions, or simply listen to the surrounding conversation. We will address culturally specific conversation strategies as they come up in the session. (Walk-ins welcomed!)

  Italian - Offered:  Sign up with Daniele

  Wednesdays, from 1:00 to 1:50 (In-Person @ the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)  

  Spanish - Offered:  Sign up with Angel

  TBA (In-Person @ the ARC, Skye Hall, Room 156)

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Program Information

These information cards will help you use the Writing and Reading Support services.