All academics have been here before in their writing process: staring at a blank page or screen and wondering how they will get from point A to point B before ripping their hair out. Endurance has been the name of the game for academics and students alike in higher education. In moments of frustration and...
Welcome back, Highlanders! The Graduate Writing Center would like to welcome all our incoming graduate students! At the writing center, we provide graduate students with assistance, feedback, and practical help in improving their writing on multiple levels. Please schedule an appointment and come by if you need any help with the writing process. On another...
Summarizing a great deal of books and articles is a task many of us in graduate school learn how to do. There are several ways to start summarizing. In the long run, our notes can store some important ideas for us to draw from later, especially when we need to write new essays or take...
It is amazing how many documents we need to learn how to write and submit as we begin applying for potential teaching positions. When you apply, one document you will likely submit (along with a long resume) is called a teaching philosophy statement (TPS). This piece of writing should not necessarily talk about your immense...
Summer is meant for beaches, long naps, sitting in a hammock reading a book, and ice cream that melts too quickly. In addition to our favorite summer activities, this break can be the perfect time to develop your writing skills! Summer activities at the Graduate Writing Center are a perfect opportunity for accountability in the...
The weather is warming up, and the beach is starting to sound more and more tempting. As someone eager for summer vacation, I find it hard not to look ahead and put school in the rearview mirror. Unfortunately, the harsh reality of a grad student is that the grind truly never stops. Here are five...
Staying productive in your writing during the summer can be challenging. This week’s blog has advice on how to enjoy your summer and make progress on your research and writing.
The Graduate Writing Center’s Lead Consultant reflects on why she enjoys working in the writing center and how it has helped her prepare for her professional future
If you are on the job hunt for faculty or other academic positions, it is never too early to start preparing your written materials. However, applying for jobs can be a tedious and daunting task. To help you in this process, here's a checklist of materials you may be required to submit: Curriculum Vitae Cover...
As you settle into the rhythm of the new academic year, you may find yourself receiving requests for letters of recommendation from former students, research assistants, or others who have worked under your purview. Especially if you have never written one before, you may find yourself looking for some tips and tricks. Here is a...
Summer is finally here, and it’s a great opportunity to recharge and refocus your goals. While it’s tempting to make very ambitious plans, it can be easy for time to slip away without the structure of the regular academic year. Luckily, there are ways you can organize your summer break to meet your writing goals...
Let’s face it, writer’s block is that office creep always lurking and never welcome. So, how do we evade writer’s block without a personal HR department? Well, we don’t. So, let’s talk about how to deal with our dreaded companion…writer’s block. [ Image Description: Michael Scott, a character from The Office, looking at the camera...
We can all acknowledge that this past quarter has been challenging. If you’re like me, you found the sudden shift from in-person to on-line work an unexpected (and unwanted) learning opportunity—specifically, the opportunity to learn how to transform your kitchen table into a home office while your new furry co-workers try to eat your computer...
With conditions changing by the day due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Spring Break this year feels substantially different. Amidst the switch to online instruction, travel restrictions, school and business closures, and social distancing during a time of uncertainty, this crisis has magnified the precarity and isolation that already characterized many of our positions as graduate...
So, you’ve defended your prospectus and advanced to Candidacy. Or maybe, you’re working on your thesis for your MFA program. You, my friend, have completed a giant hurdle. Give yourself a pat on the back! Now that you have moved into the dissertating and/or thesis writing stage, finding the time to just sit down and...
The MFA can be a difficult world to navigate for emerging writers and scholars. As with all disciplines, when you first start out it feels like your peers all know more about the important conferences to attend, journals to submit to, and funding to apply for than you do. The truth is, everyone feels this...
Greetings new and returning UCR graduate students! [ Image Description: Stitch, from Lilo and Stich, smiles and waves his claws as he smiles to reveal all his teeth. He says, "Hi!"] Pictured: A warm welcome from the GWC. Fall 2019 is fast approaching and the Graduate Writing Center (GWC) wants to remind you of some...
