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 writing seminars is now open! Click on the links below to register. Contact us at wsc@uwo.ca if you have questions. 

Click here to view the Fall 2024 Writing Seminars Schedule

Series 1 – Learning to Become a Scholar

  • Transitioning from High School Writer to University Scholar 
    clarifies the specific expectations that your professors have for your work so that you will be better prepared for university-level writing.
  • Understanding and Planning Your Written Assignments  
    explains how to determine your professors' expectations for your work as well as how to use strategies like storyboarding to plan out your final product.
  • Overcoming Writer's Block 
    focuses on the different stages of the writing process and provides a more organized approach to keep you on track. 
  • Referencing Your Paper 
    using examples from APA and MLA, 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 Oct. 7, 2024, 11:30 a.m.
    What do your professors want? Clarity! 
  • Concise Writing Oct. 8, 2024, 11:30 a.m.
    demonstrates how to eliminate wordiness, condense information, and maintain meaningful content.
  • Crafting a Thesis Statement Oct. 9, 2024, 11:30 a.m.
    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 Oct. 10, 2024, 11:30 a.m.  
    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 Oct. 21, 2024, 11:30 a.m.
    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 Oct. 22, 2024, 11:30 a.m. 
    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 Oct. 23, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
    examines ways to write engaging scientific papers that audiences can comprehend. 
  • Writing in Nursing and Health Sciences Oct. 25, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
    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 Nov. 4, 2024, 11:30 a.m.
    explains the expectations and different steps involved in writing an annotated bibliography, including resources for citing. 
  • Writing Essay Exams Nov. 5, 2024, 11:30 a.m.
    focuses on how to organize useful study notes and make use of memory skills before exploring different exam structures.
  • Writing a Book Review Nov. 6, 2024, 12:30 p.m.
    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 Nov. 8, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
    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 Nov. 18, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
    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 Nov. 19, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
    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 Nov. 20, 2024, 12:30 p.m.
    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 components of each type of letter of intent. 
  • Personal Statements Nov. 22, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
    examines common pitfalls and explains how to connect with your intended audience.

Series 6 – Effective Presentations

  • Slide Design Dec. 2, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
    Visual communication is a crucial-- yet often overlooked-- aspect of delivering a dynamic presentation. In this session, we will explore how to craft an engaging PowerPoint slide deck.
  • Organizing Your Presentation Dec. 4, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
    Have a high stakes presentation and want to organize your material for greatest impact? Join us for a session on how to create a presentation people want to hear.  

 

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

 

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

CCR Approved

 

 

 

 

Student Experience