This spring, the Writing Center is excited to host a variety of events that explore the questions “what is good writing?” and “how can I become a better writer?” Everyone is invited.
The workshops organized by Steven Ahola are designed for students who are learning American English, although anyone may attend. If you have any questions or concerns about an event, please email the organizer.
You can make an appointment with a writing tutor on Navigate, email, or by calling us at 763-424-0927. We hope to see you soon!
Events
Effective Professional Communication and Time Management Techniques
Session 1: Wednesday, January 22, 11:00-11:45am
Session 2: Thursday, January 23, 11:00-11:45am
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 592 107 8905)
Organizer: Steven Ahola
This workshop will cover key topics like the common features of professional communication and effective time management techniques for busy college students. You’ll learn practical tips to help improve your communication skills and manage your time more efficiently!
Freewriting in the Age of “A.I.”
Session 1: Thursday, January 23, 12:00-12:45pm
Session 2: Friday, January 24, 10:00-10:45am
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 666 027 3592)
Organizer: Ed Hahn
More important than ever, “freewriting” warms up your writing “muscles,” lifts your confidence, and helps you discover ideas that no chatbot can give you. Let’s see what happens when we make A.I. serve our own writing, as opposed to using A.I. to avoid writing.
Academic Skills: Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting
Session 1: Monday, January 27 11:00-11:45am
Session 2: Tuesday, January 28 11:00-11:45am
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 592 107 8905)
Organizer: Steven Ahola
When writing academic papers, students often need to summarize, paraphrase, and quote information from different sources. This workshop will offer clear examples of each skill and give you the chance to practice them during the session.
The Classic Summary: How to Present Ideas in Writing
Session 1: Wednesday, January 29, 12:00-12:45pm
Session 2: Friday January 31, January 14, 10:00-10:45am
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 666 027 3592)
Organizer: Ed Hahn
Summaries should present a source’s key ideas, clearly and sharply, like jewels in a well-lit display case. Join us to learn how to write a sparkling, “classic” summary—and explore how summarizing can deepen your understanding of complex readings. Part of the fun will be comparing an A.I. summary with a human summary.
Faculty and Students on “A.I.” and Writing: A Listening Session
Wednesday, February 5, 12:00-1:30pm
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 666 027 3592)
Organizer: Ed Hahn
How is A.I. changing our approach to learning and teaching writing? How do we feel about A.I.’s role in this work? Students will listen to faculty (35 minutes), faculty will listen to students (35 minutes), and then two moderators (a faculty and a student) will summarize what they heard (10 minutes) and explore next steps for continuing the discussion (10 minutes). Join this open-ended, low-stakes session for as long as you want.
Reviewing the Common Grammatical Errors
Session 1: Tuesday, February 11, 11:00-11:45am
Session 2: Thursday, February 13, 11:00-11:45am
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 592 107 8905)
Organizer: Steven Ahola
What are some common grammatical errors students make, and how can they self-correct them in their writing? This workshop will address frequent grammar mistakes and provide strategies for improving and correcting them.
Academic Integrity and the Writing Process
Session 1: Wednesday, February 19, 12:00-12:45pm
Session 2: Friday, February 21, 10:00-10:45am
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 666 027 3592)
Organizer: Ed Hahn
This session answers the big questions about academic integrity and plagiarism while giving you strategies for taking more control of your writing process and using external sources intelligently and ethically.
A.I. and Plagiarism in Academic Writing
Session 1: Monday, February 24, 11:00-11:45am
Session 2: Thursday, February 27, 11:00-11:45am
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 592 107 8905)
Organizer: Steven Ahola
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to plagiarize means to “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own.” AI is defined as a “software designed to imitate aspects of intelligent human behavior.” This workshop will explore these important topics using illustrations and examples, along with participation from attendees.
Precision and Concision in the Age of “A.I.”
Session 1: Wednesday, March 5, 12:00-12:45pm
Session 2: Friday, March 7, 10:00-10:45am
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 666 027 3592)
Organizer: Ed Hahn
Writers often need to use the most appropriate words (precision) and as few words as possible (concision). Join us as we explore these concepts and give you strategies for writing precisely and concisely. Although using A.I. is not always permissible, we’ll explore smart (and not so smart) ways of using this tool to harmonize precision and concision for specific goals.
Verb Tenses and Subject-Verb Agreement
Session 1: Tuesday, March 25, 11:00-11:45am
Session 2: Wednesday, March 26, 11:00-11:45am
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 592 107 8905)
Organizer: Steven Ahola
This workshop will focus on grammar, specifically verb tense and subject-verb agreement in writing. We will review these common grammar issues that students often struggle with and explore ways to correct them.
Clarity and Sophistication
Session 1: Wednesday, April 2, 12:00-12:45pm
Session 2: Friday, April 4, 10:00-10:45am
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 666 027 3592)
Organizer: Ed Hahn
Great essays usually add complexity or “a twist” to readers’ understanding of something without confusing readers. Join us as we explore the intersection of clarity and sophistication and give you strategies for performing this mix of qualities.
Revising and Editing Tips in Academic Writing
Session 1: Wednesday, April 2, 11:00-11:45am
Session 2: Thursday, April 3, 11:00-11:45am
Place: Zoom (Meeting ID: 592 107 8905)
Organizer: Steven Ahola
Revising and editing are crucial steps in the writing process, but they are often overlooked by students. This workshop will provide helpful strategies for revising and editing in academic writing.