Close Reading and Annotating
March 5, 2025, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Ever tried to get through something “really deep" or "complex,” so you read the article over and over again and still don’t understand it? Then this workshop is for you! Learn helpful strategies for figuring out meaning and enhancing your comprehension skills. Learn to mark up your reading assignment the smart way, allowing you to dive deeper into understanding information that you are asked to write about.
- To read “actively” not passively
- How to have “conversations” with journals and articles you read by annotating them
- To improve your critical thinking by questioning and connecting as you read
Prewriting and Outlining
March 10, 2025, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Have you ever jumped into writing an essay, only to discover you’re stuck in the middle and can’t write your way out? Taking just a few extra steps before writing an essay draft can be a good investment in successful writing. Learn the 7 steps of pre-writing in this workshop that can make an improved difference in your final essay.
- To assess which of strategies are best for individual writing projects
- To incorporate critical thinking into the pre-writing and outlining process
- To recognize research as a component of writing rather than separate from the writing process
- To practice a variety of outlining and pre-writing strategies
MLA Format
March 12, 2025, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
This workshop is a one-stop-shop for all things MLA! What exactly is MLA, you ask? Well, it’s not the Major League Association, and it’s not the Money Lenders Academy -- it’s the Modern Language Association’s writing style standard that determines what essays, like yours, should LOOK like! This workshop is a must (or a refresher) for students taking Humanities classes such as English Literature, modern languages, and cultural studies, to name a few. Register now – you'll be glad you did!
- General MLA formatting: its purpose and function
- How to create an MLA template for future assignments
- How to create and organize a Works Cited page
- How to effectively incorporate quotes</p>
Annotated Bibliographies
March 14, 2025, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Before you are expected to start writing an essay, instructors often ask you to create an annotated bibliography. Have you been assigned an annotated bibliography and are not sure where to begin? Wondering why and how it is useful for writing an essay? We can help you create annotated bibs that will allow you to get the most out of your research and develop strong ideas for your paper.
- How annotated bibliographies are useful in the pre-writing process.
- What information belongs in an annotated bibliography.
- Formatting and structural patterns of an annotated bibliography
- To assess emerging themes you find during the research process and begin to consider how to use this assessment to develop a thesis/ argument/ focus for an academic paper
MLA Format
March 19, 2025, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
This workshop is a one-stop-shop for all things MLA! What exactly is MLA, you ask? Well, it’s not the Major League Association, and it’s not the Money Lenders Academy -- it’s the Modern Language Association’s writing style standard that determines what essays, like yours, should LOOK like! This workshop is a must (or a refresher) for students taking Humanities classes such as English Literature, modern languages, and cultural studies, to name a few. Register now – you'll be glad you did!
- General MLA formatting: its purpose and function
- How to create an MLA template for future assignments
- How to create and organize a Works Cited page
- How to effectively incorporate quotes
Researching Smarter Not Harder
March 26, 2025, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Sometimes your essay is only as good as the outside sources used to support your thesis. Learn all about keywords and practice the search and research process in this workshop! We’ll provide you with tips and strategies that will help you navigate SMC’s Library databases (and others) for specific and targeted sources that will strengthen your paper’s argument!
- To apply research to the formulating and refining of research question(s)
- To employ keywords to help you refine and expand your research
- To evaluate and analyze sources to help you find other sources
- To organize and keep track of the sources you will use in your paper
Writing Powerful Paragraphs
March 31, 2025, 2 to 3:30 p.m.
The end of boring and dull paragraphs is near! Did you know that every paragraph can pack its own punch by provoking and/or persuading readers? Think of your paragraphs as building blocks that provide a foundation for your argument and learn how to make them solid by attending this workshop!
- How the use of rhetorical strategies and transitional phrases can promote clarity and ease of understanding for your readers
- How to fully develop one controlling idea for each paragraph
- To create strong topic sentences that guide the direction of the rest of the paragraph
- How paragraph arrangement differs depending on its location in the essay
Essay Refresher
April 9, 2025, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Have you ever struggled to write an essay? Do you kinda-sorta remember the parts of an essay but feel completely lost when anyone asks you about them? Come and brush up on your essay writing skills ! Review pre-writing strategies and brainstorming, writing effective thesis statements, incorporating research, and avoiding common “pitfalls.” In this workshop, we’ll go over the whole package to prepare you for any writing assignment!
- To recognize and understand the fundamentals of essay structure
- To practice specific strategies for essay development
- To consider effective organizational approaches for essay writing
- The function of counterarguments (also known as rebuttals or refutations)
Writing with "Flow"
April 22, 2025, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Learn how to write sentences that result in a seamless paper; you know, kind of like streams that blend easily into a river! A paper with “flow” helps readers easily follow your logic and understand your point. This workshop will help you to “smooth out” your writing, which can be very satisfying!
- How to avoid “choppy” sentences and combine similar ideas
- To use transitions and bridges, sentence-to-sentence and paragraph-to-paragraph
- To make connections between research and ideas
- To avoid vague “filler” sentences and awkward sentence construction
APA Format
April 24, 2025, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
What is APA style? Hint: it’s not a fashion trend. It’s actually a standardized format created by the American Psychological Association that is most commonly used in the social, behavioral, and natural sciences, nursing, communications, education, business, and engineering disciplines. If you’re taking a class in any of the above areas, we promise that this workshop will be very useful in your writing assignments!
- General APA formatting: its purpose and function
- To create your own APA template to use for future APA-style projects
- To practice creating a correct APA reference
- To recognize and utilize various correct APA in-text citations</p>
Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting
May 1, 2025, 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Learn and practice the “art” of summarizing and know when to paraphrase and when to quote! See the different ways to integrate quotes using helpful templates. Smoothly integrate outside sources and put more of your voice into your own writing. Supporting your argument with reliable facts and evidence will be your ‘take-away’ from this workshop!
- The key differences between these three methods of source integration and when to use them
- How to use sources accurately and effectively
- Avoiding plagiarism
Revision Strategies
May 7, 2025, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Sometimes professors allow you to revise your essay for a better grade. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you have an opportunity to improve your grade by strengthening your essay in many ways. This workshop helps you to “re-see,” critically assess, and successfully rework your writing. Reserve your spot today!
- To distinguish the difference between revision and simply proofreading
- To assess rhetorical strategies that may/may not be effective in your writing
- To re-examine your prompt for expectations to help set revision goals
- To understand and implement suggestions and feedback from your professors
MLA Format
May 14, 2025, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
This workshop is a one-stop-shop for all things MLA! What exactly is MLA, you ask? Well, it’s not the Major League Association, and it’s not the Money Lenders Academy -- it’s the Modern Language Association’s writing style standard that determines what essays, like yours, should LOOK like! This workshop is a must (or a refresher) for students taking Humanities classes such as English Literature, modern languages, and cultural studies, to name a few. Register now – you'll be glad you did!
- General MLA formatting: its purpose and function
- How to create an MLA template for future assignments
- How to create and organize a Works Cited page
- How to effectively incorporate quotes
Proofreading Strategies
May 19, 2025, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization errors? (-10 pts. each). Misused words and missing conjunctions? (-10 pts. each). Faulty thesis, no citations, and poor transitions? (-10 pts. each). Get the maximum number of points on your paper simply by proofreading your writing before you turn it in. We’ll help you learn how!
- To distinguish the difference between proofreading and revision
- Standard proofreading/editing marks and using your class’s rubric
- Tips and techniques to help you find sentence-level errors
- How carefully and critically re-reading your work can uncover your writing strengths and weaknesses</p>