Writing Seminars

Undergraduate Writing Seminars

Writing Support Centre seminars are directed toward undergraduate students but open to everyone in the Western community AND they are free. Our seminar series address approaches to common writing assignments, discipline-specific writing, and issues of grammar and style.

Registration for our writing seminars is now open! Register by clicking on the seminar titles from the folloiwng list. Contact us at wsc@uwo.ca if you have questions.

Winter 2023 Undergraduate Writing Seminars Schedule

Winter 2023 Seminars:

Series 1 – Learning to Become a Scholar

- Transitioning from High School Writer to University Scholar - 12:30pm January 23
  clarifies the specific expectations that your professors have for your work so that you will be better prepared for university-level writing.
- Understanding Assignment Instructions - 12:30pm January 24
  provides strategies for deciphering your professors’ assignment instructions. Figuring out the expectations of your professors is critical for achieving results from all your hard work.
- Overcoming Writer's Block - 12:30pm January 25
  focuses on the different stages of the writing process and provides a more organized approach to keep you on track.
- Structuring and Organizing Your Paper - 12:30pm January 26
  demonstrates how to use writing strategies and visual learning techniques such as storyboarding to ensure your paper has continuity and flow.
- Referencing Your Paper - 12:30pm January 27
  presents citation as a necessary means of avoiding accusations of plagiarism, and as an approach to strengthening the credibility of the claims in your paper.

Series 2 – Writing Foundations: What Every Writer Needs to Know

- Writing More Clearly - 11:30am February 6
  What do your professors want? Clarity!
- Concise Writing - 11:30am February 7
  demonstrates how to eliminate wordiness, condense information, and maintain meaningful content.
- Crafting a Thesis Statement - 11:30am February 8
  demystifies this critical element of academic writing and demonstrates how to communicate the purpose of your paper clearly and concisely. Every paper requires a clear identifiable thesis statement.
- Editing and Proofreading - 11:30am February 9
  is a review of what to check before you submit your written work.

Series 3 – Disciplinary Writing: Writing for Your Audience

Writing in the Social Sciences - 11:30am February 27
addresses how to critically engage with your topic, integrate evidence to support your thesis, use terminology appropriately, and make sure your paper is specific to the course.
Writing in the Arts and Humanities - 11:30am February 28
uses examples of different mediums to demonstrate how to undertake a close reading as an essential step in researching and writing.
Writing in the Sciences Cancelled - to be rescheduled
examines ways to write engaging scientific papers that audiences can comprehend.
Writing in Nursing and Health Sciences Cancelled - to be rescheduled
explores ways to communicate complex health information to a wide audience, so not only academics but also the public can learn about issues vital to them.

Series 4 – I've Never Written That Before: Exploring Different Genres

- Annotated Bibliographies - 11:30am March 13
  explains the expectations and different steps involved in writing an annotated bibliography, including resources for citing.
- Writing Essay Exams - 11:30am March 14
  focuses on how to organize useful study notes and make use of memory skills before exploring different exam structures.
- Writing a Book Review - 12:30pm March 15
  explains the purpose of a book review and how to evaluate the contributions of authors in terms of their credibility and the evidence they present.
- Executive Summaries - 11:30pm March 16
  are the gateway to business communication. No one will read your 80-page proposal if the exec summary is not persuasive. Learn how to write a concise, yet evocative, summary that perfectly pitches your idea.

Series 5 – Professional Writing: Writing That Will Take You Places

- Writing Resumes - 11:30am March 27
  You know the importance of a well-written resumé. Join us and learn how to highlight your vast experiences in a limited space.
- Cover Letters - 11:30 am March 28
  After joining our previous seminar, you have written a fabulous resumé. But don’t forget about the cover letter! In this session, you will learn to write a cover letter that brilliantly complements your resumé and that will get you noticed.
- Letters of Intent - 12:30pm March 29
  invite applicants to detail the agendas, academic or otherwise, they plan to pursue should they be offered admission into a program. This seminar explains the key compnents of each type of letter of intent.
- Personal Statements - 11:30am March 30
  examines common pitfalls and explains how to connect with your intended audience.
If you do not see a seminar or workshop that addresses your writing needs or questions, let us know. Suggest a seminar or workshop topic: wsc@uwo.ca

Certificate of Academic Engagement

WSC Seminars are Western Co-Curricular Record approved. To get credit you must attend four Seminars.

Student Experience

Undergrads