Request a Classroom Workshop
All of our workshops can also be presented via Zoom. If you would like a workshop for a synchronous online class, provide the Zoom link (or let us know that you will send the link when it is available) when you fill out the classroom workshop request form.
For a classroom workshop, a CRLA-certified University Writing Center consultant (or two) will come to your location and present from the list of workshop topics in the dropdown selections at the bottom of this page. As indicated by the dropdown menus, workshops can be geared to undergraduate or graduate audiences. Some customization of standard workshops can be accommodated. We also offer writing studios, where CRLA-certified University Writing Center consultants will come to your location to help students while they work on writing drafts or speech outlines or practice their presentation. For studios, we provide feedback on an individual basis or other revision activities as needed.
For a classroom workshop, a CRLA-certified University Writing Center consultant (or two) will come to your location and present from the list of workshop topics in the dropdown selections at the bottom of this page. As indicated by the dropdown menus, workshops can be geared to undergraduate or graduate audiences. Some customization of standard workshops can be accommodated. We also offer writing studios, where CRLA-certified University Writing Center consultants will come to your location to help students while they work on writing drafts or speech outlines or practice their presentation. For studios, we provide feedback on an individual basis or other revision activities as needed.
Before you request a classroom workshop, we request that you read our policies:
- At least 2 weeks' notice is required to schedule in most cases.
- Customized classroom workshops may require more than the 2 weeks' minimum notice.
- If you request more than 2 classroom workshops in a semester, priority will be given to classes who have not yet received a workshop that semester for requests beyond the initial 2.
- We cannot guarantee the first choice of date. (Note: We cannot book workshops or studios on Wednesdays at 8AM as we conduct our staff trainings at that time, and we are not available on Saturdays or holidays.)
- An instructor or assistant with authority must be present during workshops.
- We will email you before the workshop. To ensure the best experience for participants, we ask that you respond immediately to the email and mention any modifications or changes you’d like to see.
Click this link to use our scheduling system to submit a classroom workshop request. (You must have a TAMU Net ID.)
Workshop Topics & Descriptions
- Overview of UWC Services for Undergraduates (15-20 minutes) — This introduction to the University Writing Center discusses how we work, who works here, how to schedule an appointment, and how to get the most out of a UWC consultation. This workshop is most useful toward the beginning of the semester.
- Avoiding Plagiarism (35-45 minutes) — Plagiarism often stems from an unfamiliarity with expectations for academic writing. This workshop reviews when citations are necessary; why scholars use citations; how citations connect to ethical scholarship; and how to summarize, paraphrase, and quote effectively. The workshop examples can be customized for APA, MLA, or Chicago citation styles.
- Grammar and Punctuation for Writers (50-75 minutes) — Structured as a Jeopardy! game, this workshop covers the topics of common grammar errors, sentence structure concerns, punctuation usage, stylistic choices, and more. Each question includes an explanation screen that goes into detail about the rule or guideline discussed. Students compete in teams for points, and we bring prizes such as University Writing Center stickers while supplies last.
- The Writing Process (30-40 minutes) — This workshop covers how students might improve their essay writing by altering their writing process. Topics covered include the difference between topic and thesis, how to read an assignment with intention, and the steps of the drafting process. If students have an upcoming writing assignment, we can help them jumpstart the brainstorming and planning process. This workshop is most useful toward the beginning of the semester or writing assignment.
- Managing Group Writing Projects (25-35 minutes) — Collaborative writing projects can be challenging and daunting for students. This workshop presents strategies for successfully preparing, developing, and completing writing projects with groups. Strategies include setting a timeline, establishing member roles, and determining a writing and editing process.
- Writing Clearly and Concisely (50-75 minutes) — In this workshop, students learn revision tips for sentence-level concerns to help minimize wordiness and clarify meaning while maintaining the complexity demanded by academic writing standards. As one of our most hands-on workshops, "Writing Clearly and Concisely" is most effective if students have drafts they can bring to class as there are built-in opportunities for direct application of the revision tips.
- Oral Presentations (40-50 minutes) — Fear of public speaking and lack of preparation often hinder students from giving effective presentations. This workshop covers the process of preparing a presentation, including invention, organization, incorporation of visual aids, practice, and delivery. Students also learn how to create effective slides and have an opportunity to critique sample slides during the workshop.
- Research Posters (20-40 minutes) — This workshop helps students plan and compose research posters. We review the basic components most posters include while emphasizing audience awareness, discuss basic elements of design, and provide presentation preparation best practices. Students also have an opportunity to evaluate sample posters.
- Scientific Writing (30-45 minutes) — This workshop explains important aspects of writing scientific papers, focusing on audience expectations for the genre, organization (IMRaD), and the goals of scientific writing. We also discuss research techniques.
- Abstracts (20-40 minutes) — This workshop begins by defining abstracts and their function in academic writing. We distinguish between informative and descriptive abstracts and show samples of each type. After we consider the writing process for writing abstracts, the workshop concludes with an analysis of sample abstracts.
- Writing Studio (50-75 minutes) — For a writing studio, University Writing Center consultants visit your class and provide individual feedback on student drafts. We can also offer peer review exercises as needed. Writing studios can last for the full class time or a portion of the class time as requested.
As of Spring 2025, students who attend a graduate-level classroom workshop from the University Writing Center can earn GRAD Aggies credit. Please let our classroom workshop coordinator know if you are interested in your classroom workshop counting as GRAD Aggies credit for your students.
- Overview of UWC Services for Graduate Students (15-20 minutes) — This introduction to the University Writing Center familiarizes graduate students with our services and covers how they can get the most out of a Writing Center visit. We discuss how we work, who works here, how to schedule an appointment, and what programs are designed specifically to meet the needs of graduate students. This workshop is most useful toward the beginning of the semester. *This workshop does not count toward GRAD Aggies credit.
- Academic Integrity (30-40 minutes) — This workshop focuses on issues of academic integrity, such as using outside sources and constructing in-text citations, as they apply to graduate students. The workshop examples can be customized for APA, MLA, or Chicago citation styles.
- Managing Graduate Writing Projects (50-75 minutes) — This workshop offers suggestions and guidance to graduate students as they embark on writing projects. We discuss methods of selecting an appropriate topic, conducting research, planning to meet academic goals and deadlines, and staying motivated. We also conduct an overview of Texas A&M resources for pursuing and organizing research.
- Writing Clearly and Concisely (50-75 minutes) — In this workshop, students learn revision tips for sentence-level concerns to help minimize wordiness and clarify meaning while maintaining the complexity demanded by academic writing standards. As one of our most hands-on workshops, "Writing Clearly and Concisely" is most effective if students have drafts they can bring to class as there are built-in opportunities for direct application of the revision tips.
- Oral Presentations (40-50 minutes) — Fear of public speaking and lack of preparation often hinder students from giving effective presentations. This workshop covers the process of preparing a presentation, including invention, organization, incorporation of visual aids, practice, and delivery. Students also learn how to create effective slides and have an opportunity to critique sample slides during the workshop.
- Research Posters (20-40 minutes) — This workshop helps students plan and compose research posters. We review the basic components most posters include while emphasizing audience awareness, discuss basic elements of design, and provide presentation preparation best practices. Students also have an opportunity to evaluate sample posters.
- Abstracts (20-40 minutes) — This workshop begins by defining abstracts and their function in academic writing. We distinguish between informative and descriptive abstracts and show samples of each type. After we consider the writing process for writing abstracts, the workshop concludes with an analysis of sample abstracts.
- Grant Writing (45-60 minutes) — This workshop reviews the common requirements of a grant proposal and the preparation and writing process. Topics include considering collaborators, condensing large project descriptions, and understanding your audience to determine language use.
- Integrating Sources (45-75 minutes) — This workshop focuses on strategies for ethically integrating source material in graduate-level writing projects such as seminar papers, journal articles, and theses/dissertations. We review directly quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing academic texts.
- Introductions & Conclusions (45-75 minutes) — Focusing on clarity and cohesion, this workshop covers the importance of understanding audience and rhetorical moves when introducing and concluding an academic text, including activities to analyze sample introductions and conclusions.
- Presenting at Academic Conferences (60-75 minutes) — In this workshop, students will learn ways to maximize conference experiences, present ideas in a professional manner, and network during and after conferences.
- Writing Studio (50-75 minutes) — For a writing studio, University Writing Center consultants visit your class and provide individual feedback on student drafts. We can also offer peer review exercises as needed. Writing studios can last for the full class time or a portion of the class time as requested.