The Writing and Communication Centre offers free online asynchronous workshops for University of Waterloo students and postdocs on topics related to writing and communication.
Find them on LEARN by self-registering for the course, “Academic and Writing Skills Hub.”
Whether you’re getting started on a writing project and need help planning, want to learn strategies for revising your own writing, or need guidance on how to share your ideas in presentations or online, our workshops guide you through the writing process. We also offer workshops that introduce writers to different academic and professional genres, so if you’ve been asked to write something you’ve never had to write before, our workshops can give you the information you need to get started.
All our workshops have been developed by expert Writing and Communication Centre (WCC) staff and are designed to help you understand the principles of communication, reflect on what it means for you as a communicator, and practice the skills you’ve learned.
Accessing our workshops
To access our workshops, you'll need to self-register for the “Academic and Writing Skills Hub” on LEARN.
How to self-register on LEARN:
- Log into the LEARN website using your UWaterloo credentials
- Click on Self-Registration in the menu at the top of the LEARN homepage
- Scroll down to the Academic and Writing Skills Hub and click on the link
- Follow the registration instructions on LEARN
Welcome to the NEW Workshop THEMES!
The WCC workshops have been reorganized and moved into one of the following eight themes:
- Build Essential Academic Skills: The workshops and micro-courses in this section will support you in identifying what tasks are involved in your project or assignment, support you in planning, and guide you through the writing process.
- Excel in Academic Research: The content in this section is designed to support you with organizing the information found in primary/secondary research, synthesizing the research, and integrating evidence into your writing.
- Understand Common Writing Assignments: The workshops in this section are designed to support you in understanding the expectations, purposes, and conventions of common university writing assignments, including academic writing, policy briefs, and op-eds.
- Communicate Science Effectively: This section will support you in understanding what Science Communication is, how and why you should engage in it, where you might find it, and how to create your own effective communication depending on your purpose, audience, and context.
- Present with Impact: This section will support you in preparing and presenting your work for different venues, helping you communicate clearly and effectively whether your audience consists of peers, interdisciplinary groups, or the public.
- Complete Major Projects: The workshops in this section will support you in planning, navigating, and completing large projects through the development of productive writing strategies and guiding you through the stages of complex works.
- Advance Your Career: If you are looking to pursue a career in academia, either as a graduate student or a faculty member, the workshops in this section will guide you through some of the genres you’re likely to participate in or be asked to produce.
Additionally, each workshop now includes a thorough description of what participants can expect to see in the workshop, and the intended learning outcomes (IOLs).
Workshop Descriptions
Build Essential Academic Skills
Your Ideal Writing Process
This self-directed workshop explores the writing process and how to decide which writing strategies and habits work best for you. You will be introduced to the BASE habits of successful writers, which are essential for understanding what kind of habits you’ve developed over the years and areas worth improving.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Use different strategies for inventing, composing, and revising your writing
-
Develop positive writing habits for each stage of your writing process
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Breaking Down Assignments
This self-directed workshop was designed specifically with first year students in mind. This general guide will support you in completing any university-level written assignment, followed by more specific guides for completing a lab report, a research essay, a reflection, a journal review, and a case study report.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Interpret assignments in a way that emphasizes strong comprehension and time management
-
Apply an effective approach to working through assignments that you can use and customize for your own writing
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Time Management
Take control of your schedule. This micro-course will help you say goodbye to cramming at the last minute for assignments or exams.
Learn how to replace your old habits with new strategies to give you back your time. You'll master the art of creating a balanced schedule with time for everything you need to succeed.
By the end of this 30-minute micro-course, you'll be able to:
-
Recognize the importance of time management for your academic success in university.
-
Generate strategies for time management that work for you.
-
Evaluate your time usage and continually revise your time management strategies based on important considerations.
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Note Taking
We all make notes during lectures. But are yours helping you study? With a few simple strategies, you can improve your active listening and note-taking skills.
In this micro-course, you'll be introduced to seven styles of note-taking to help you find the best fit for you. Templates are provided to help you with your next class.
By the end of this 30-minute micro-course, you'll be able to:
-
Distinguish between active listening and passive listening to capture better note-taking strategies,
-
Evaluate the features of typed, handwritten, and digitally written notes,
-
Apply the most efficient note-taking methods that align with your needs in university classes.
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Self-Advocacy
It can be challenging to stand up for yourself, ask questions and seek help. But, with the right tools and practice, it's possible.
Hear from current students just like you who are working on these skills. Leave this module feeling confident identifying and communicating your needs in university and beyond.
By the end of this 30-minute micro-course, you'll be able to:
-
Identify concepts of self-advocacy and its significance to your academic success
-
Engage in behaviours that are critical to self-advocacy
-
Follow the procedures involved in self-advocacy
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Tests and Exams
Let’s be honest - assessments like tests and exams in university can be stressful. Whether you’re preparing for quizzes, tests or exams, this micro-course will equip you with the tools you need to approach assessments confidently.
Learn how to manage your time effectively, assess your strengths and areas of improvement, and apply effective study strategies.
By the end of this 30-minute micro-course, you'll be able to:
-
Determine appropriate time management, self-assessment, and study strategies to apply to upcoming assessments
-
Develop effective test planning skills to complete assessments
-
Identify post-assessment processes to support well-being and future assessments
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Identity and Learning
We all have different life experiences and identities that shape how we learn.
In this micro-course, you’ll explore how various aspects of your identity shape your university experience and learning. You’ll learn how to recognize and manage imposter phenomenon to help you build confidence, overcome feelings of self-doubt and foster a stronger sense of belonging. This micro-course will give you an opportunity to embrace your unique identity and thrive in your learning environment.
By the end of this 30-minute micro-course, you'll be able to:
-
Evaluate various aspects of your identity to promote better learning and academic development.
-
Recognize when imposter phenomenon is happening and apply strategies to overcome feelings of self-doubt.
-
Develop strategies to foster a stronger sense of belonging to support your academic success.
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Failure 101
Failures in university can happen to anyone. Your failure can be a small setback, like failing a quiz, or a bigger one, like failing a course. Complete this micro-course to learn how to productively respond to failure and to discover learning strategies that will help you get back on track after an academic setback.
By the end of this 30-minute micro-course, you will be able to:
-
Evaluate the connection between failure, success and resilience
-
Assess your thoughts, emotions and reactions to academic setbacks
-
Develop resilience skills and strategies
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Writing to Learn
This self-directed workshop will introduce you to a learning strategy called Writing to Learn (WTL). To stay on top of your schoolwork, you’ll want to find effective strategies to help you learn and retain information when you’re studying. We’ll cover what Writing to Learn means, how it’s helpful, when it can be used, and how you can apply it to your studies to help you succeed.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Understand and describe the concept of WTL and its benefits
-
Apply WTL strategies confidently in various learning contexts
-
Demonstrate your understanding of WTL through a variety of low stakes, ungraded learning activities.
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Excel in Academic Research
Be sure to also check out the Library’s online workshops which will help you with your research.
How to Read for Research
This self-directed workshop explores the importance of reading for research, also called critical or active reading. You will learn how to read strategically and critically, and how to take notes for research, which are essential for understanding your research material and making connections to other sources that you’ve read.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Prepare for reading something for a research project
-
Use the structure of the source to read more efficiently
-
Take effective notes so you can us the source in your essays and report
-
Organize your work so that you can use it aging in the future
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Critical Analysis
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of critical thinking and writing skills in the process of writing, regardless of the discipline. You will learn what critical analysis is and how to do it, so you can feel confident engaging with text and sharing your ideas.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you'll be able to:
- Define what critical analysis is and how it intersects with comparative analysis
- Apply a process of performing critical analysis that incorporates critical reading and critical writing strategies
- Integrate evidence from primary and secondary sources to produce a strong analytical paper
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
From Topic to Thesis
This self-directed workshop will support you in selecting an appropriate topic and strategies for turning that topic into a thesis statement. As you write your paper, your thesis statement will need to change, since the writing process will include more research, more critical thinking, and different arguments. This is normal! Think of the thesis you come up with during this workshop as a tentative thesis—a starting point for the rest of the essay.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Understand and explain what a useful topic needs to do and be
-
Create your own topic
-
Develop your topic into a preliminary thesis statement
-
Identify what a strong, final thesis statement looks like
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Integrate Evidence: Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation
This self-directed workshop provides an exploration of effectively integrating sources into your academic papers and presentations. You will learn how to seamlessly integrate evidence through the sources you encounter, which are essential to strengthen your argument, show an authorial voice, and contribute to the conversation in your field.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you'll be able to:
-
Understand roles & success criteria of summaries, paraphrase, and direct quotations
-
Support your own arguments by applying summary, paraphrase, and quotation strategies
-
Seamlessly integrate evidence into your writing through effective citation and signal strategies
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Graduate Literature Review A: Organizing Research
This self-directed workshop will explore the process of writing a literature review as a component of a larger document, like a thesis or dissertation. You will learn and work through your own process for researching, organizing, and writing your literature review.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Review the purpose and tasks of a literature review
-
Create or revise guiding research questions to frame your search
-
Critically appraise content in a variety of disciplines
-
Discover organizational approaches for literature reviews
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Graduate Literature Review B: Writing It
This self-directed workshop elaborates on how to situate your research within the context of your subject area. You will learn how to identify other researchers' experience with a topic, ensure you are not replicating others work, and refine your topic, research question, and methodology. These are essential components to help your reader situate your work in the larger scholarly conversation.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to :
-
Effectively present the backstory (context) of your subject area
-
Situate your own research within that context
-
Make sound choices about organizing your review
-
Work within the structural and writing conventions of traditional literature reviews
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Understand Common Writing Assignments
Writing at the University Level
This self-directed workshop supports first year students to navigate the transition to writing at the university level. You will explore the common challenges and break down key differences between writing in high school and university. Also, you will be introduced to various academic writing genres, to give you a taste of what you might see in an assignment, and strategies for success.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Describe the main changes between high school and university level writing
-
Understand the expectations and standards associated with writing at the undergraduate level
-
Recognize how genre impacts style in academic writing
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Writing a Policy Brief
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of the writing genre, policy briefs. You will learn what a policy brief is and how to write one, so you can feel confident writing them in both academic and professional settings.
By the end of this 50 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Communicate what a policy brief is, and what makes oneeffecitve
-
Apply a basic policy brief structure to your own writing
-
Integrate visual support and design principles into your policy brief to make it engaging
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Writing an Op-Ed
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of the writing genre, policy briefs. You will learn what an op-ed is and how to write one, so you can feel confident writing them in both academic and professional settings.
By the end of this 50 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Communicate what a op-ed is, and what makes oneeffective
-
Apply a basic op-ed structure to your own writing
-
Integrate visual support and design principles into your op-ed to make it engaging
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Communicate Science Effectively
Introduction to STEM Writing*
This self-directed workshop explores the expectations of STEM writing in university and examines a common genre within STEM writing—the standard lab report. You will also learn the sections of a Lab Report, and how to integrate quantitative data into your writing to tell your story and showcase your analytical skills.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Understand the rhetorical situation in STEM writing
-
Conduct a genre analysis of a standard lab report by identifying the function and content of each section
-
Learn how to integrate quantitative data into your writing using text, tables, or figures
-
Learn strategies for writing effectively
*Workshops with an asterisk(*) are specific to a STEM audience
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Writing with Quantitative Data*
This self-direct workshop explores how to write with quantitative data, why it is presented in a certain way, and what that means. This workshop was designed with first year students in mind to teach you how to integrate quantitative data into your writing to help you create a comprehensive story.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Define the concept of quantitative data
-
Understand why you would integrate quantitative data into your writing
-
Learn how to integrate quantitative data into your writing
*Workshops with an asterisk(*) are specific to a STEM audience
This self-directed workshop will explore how online texts are written, for whom, and for what purpose. You will learn how people present science research on different online platforms. As well, we will guide you in assessing your own online presence, and help you determine areas of strength and areas where you may want to set goals for improvement.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Identify and describe the characteristics of online genres of science communication
-
Analyze and evaluate online (and your own) genres of science communication
-
Empower and encourage you to practice and develop your online science communication skills
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Clarity in Science Communication
This self-direct workshop provides background on clarity in science communication and strategies for expressing research clearly and effectively. You will learn to explain your research and ideas to audiences from different disciplines and non-science backgrounds, use strategies to meet different contexts, and identify audience needs to express your research clearly.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Understand principles and expectationsof clear science communication
-
Apply strategies for improving communication
-
Explore science communication models and resources
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Communicating Quantitative Data in the Science
This self-directed workshop will explore how qualitative data is shared by scientists in academics, professionals, and social spaces. You will learn who is sharing data in science today, what the impacts are of presenting data in both image and words, and exploring and integrating quantitative data into your science communication.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Identify the story your data tells
-
Choose appropriate presentation formats for different types of data
-
Present data effectively to different audiences
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Sharing Research in the Age of Misinformation
This self-direct workshop explores how experts present controversial research to the public and deal with misinformation or respond to individuals that do not agree with their ideas altogether. Scientists often increase the likelihood of encountering or stimulating conflict as they engage with one another, and the public, in order to establish new theories and truths. You will learn what misinformation is, how to combat it, and strategies to elevate your own message above all the noise, in order to become a strong science communicator.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Explain what misinformation is, how it spreads, and how it intersects with science communication
-
Apply theories of misinformation and storytelling to both prevent the spread of false information and elevate evidence-based narratives
-
Conduct scholarship publicly, in ways that are both effective and ethical
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Exploring Online Science Communication
This self-directed workshop will explore how online texts are written, for whom, and for what purpose. You will learn how people present science research on different online platforms. As well, we will guide you in assessing your own online presence, and help you determine areas of strength and areas where you may want to set goals for improvement.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Identify and describe the characteristics of online genres of science communication
-
Analyze and evaluate online (and your own) genres of science communication
-
Empower and encourage you to practice and develop your online science communication skills
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Principles of Clarity in Scientific Writing*
This self-directed workshop will introduce you to a series of specific principles and strategies that you can apply to improve the clarity and readability of your writing. You will learn what clear and concise writing is and how to do it, so that you can feel confident sharing your ideas no matter the audience.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Understand the principles that guide clear and concise writing in STEM disciplines
-
Use these clarity in scientific writing principles to identify where your writing may need revisions to improve reader comprehension and enjoyment
-
Apply the clarity in scientific writing principles to your writing as appropriate for your intended audience
*Workshops with an asterisk(*) are specific to a STEM audience
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Present with Impact
Design and Deliver I: Structure and Delivery
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of how to confidently give a talk about your topic. You will learn how to use different modes of communication (audio, visual, etc.), which are essential for presenting an engaging and effective message to your audience.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Identify strategies to effectively and successfully deliver your presentation
-
Understand how to communicate with a listening audience
-
Apply appropriate tactics to engage and retain your audience's attention
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Design & Delivery II: Designing Visual Support
This self-directed workshop focuses on the strong visuals to support your presentation, using the assertion-evidence model. You will learn the concept of visual rhetoric and how to use the many elements to communicate your message. By understanding the concepts of using visuals to support your message, you can create slides that are interesting, informative, and engaging.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Understand how text and images work together to create meaning
-
To make informed choices about the different options for visual support
-
Designing and using Assertion-Evidence Model to support your presentation with effective visuals
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Designing Academic Posters
This self-directed workshop explores a common genre of academic presentations—poster presentations. It will help you break down poster design into three main stages: making your poster focused, ordered, and visual; designing visuals; and assessing and revising your poster. Whether you are providing a short-spoken presentation with your poster or sharing your poster without being present, in both cases, an academic poster is a primarily visual document that the audience can skim to understand the core message and important highlights of a research project.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Understand the genre of the academic poster and use that information to plan your own poster design
-
Use multimodal communication to express your ideas in your poster
-
Apply basic visual design principles to design and revise your poster
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Group Communication
This self-directed workshop will prepare you to work in groups by targeting your group communication skills. We’ll look at methods to conduct group work effectively, and problem-solving techniques for different group communication dilemmas.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Recognize that communicating effectively in a group is a life skill
-
Apply a procedure for conducting group work that will help prevent miscommunication and increase group efficiency
-
Demonstrate problem-solving skills when faced with common problems that occur in group work
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Public Scholarship
This self-directed workshop focuses on how you can use Twitter as a quick and easy way to start experimenting with new language, personas, and audiences. You will learn how to communicate your research for an audience of more than just fellow academics.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Identify the value that public scholarship can bring
-
Set yourself up for success as an academic on Twitter
-
Think about the type of public scholarship you want to create-videos, blogs, posts, podcasts
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Basics of Podcasting
This self-directed workshop explores the basics of podcasting, so you can communicate to a general audience about your topic. You will learn the basic skills needed to start your very own podcast.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Understand how writing for listeners is different than writing for readers
-
Organize your ideas for a podcast
-
Use your voice to add information and emotion
-
Identify strategies to revise your audio globally and locally
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Complete Major Projects
Getting it Done: Productive Writing Strategies for Big Projects
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of developing individualized writing practice and habits to complete a large writing project, such as a thesis, journal article, or dissertation. You will assess your own writing practice and learn a wide range of strategies to write productively, efficiently, and sustainably over a long period of time, which are essential in helping you make progress towards completing your long project.
By the end of this 120 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Identify the habits and beliefs that make up your current writing practice
-
Identify areas for growth or development in your writing practice
-
Understand and choose writing strategies from four distinct areas to apply to your own writing practice
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Rock Your Thesis Guidebook
This self-directed guidebook offers an orientation to the thesis- or dissertation-writing process. We’ve divided the guidebook into four main sections, each of which explores a distinct stage of the thesis-writing journey. If you’re in the early stages of your thesis-writing journey, we recommend skimming the whole workshop to learn about all of the stages involved in completing your thesis and your degree. Then, as you approach each stage of your project, review the module focused on that stage more carefully, try out the strategies we recommend, and complete the exercises we’ve included to move your project forward.
Module 1 (Plan Your Project) will help you to recognize the goals of thesis-writing, identify key milestones, and manage the thesis as a project.
Module 2 (Articulate Your Research) supports you through contextualizing your project within a larger research field through a literature review and articulating the significance and contribution of your own research.
Module 3 (Draft and Revise) gives you the opportunity to apply global and local revision strategies and guides you through managing the distinct stages of the revisions process.
Module 4 (Submit and Defend) Prepares you for completing the stages of your degree that occur after you submit your thesis, including defending your thesis with confidence!
Although it would take approximately four hours to complete this workshop from beginning to end, we’ve designed it so that you can return to it in stages throughout your degree rather than complete it all at once.
By the end of this workshop, you’ll be able to:
-
Identify the milestones involved in completing your thesis project and your degree
-
Understand the regulations that govern the thesis-completion process
-
Recognize common challenges graduate students face while completing their thesis or dissertation
-
Apply a range of strategies for completing each stage of your project
-
Know when and who to reach out to for support along the way
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Advance Your Career
Tri-Agency Scholarships: Writing Your Research Proposal
This self-directed workshop explores how to write your research proposal for a Tri-Agency scholarship application. You will learn about the research proposal as a genre, strategies for describing your research and its significance, and review successful proposals to help guide your decisions on your own project.
By the end of this 60 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
- Understand the research proposal as a genre and recognize its components
- Apply strategies used in successful Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) proposals to your own proposal
- Make appropriate stylistic and revision choices in your own proposal
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Research Statements for Academic Job Applications
This self-directed workshop explores the research statement as a genre. You will examine common organizational patterns, review sample research statements, and begin outlining your own research statement. These topics are essential in thinking through your own research statement when applying for an academic position.
By the end of this 45 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
- Understand the purpose, goals, and conventions of research statements
- Become familiar with common organizational patterns for research statements
- Apply this new knowledge by outlining your own research statement
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Writing and Articulating Your Diversity Statement
This self-directed workshop is an exploration of diversity statements (or sometimes known as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion statements) as a genre. You will be introduced to writing and articulating your statement for an academic application or questions related to your commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion asked in an interview or networking conversation.
By the end of this 45 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
- Understand the value of writing and articulating your commitment to diversity, and continuously reflecting on those commitments
- Write an outline and a paragraph of your diversity statement for an academic application
- Reflect on how to articulate your commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in an academic interview or in a networking conversation
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
Statements of Positionality
This self-directed workshop will explore the common requirements of a statement of positionality in academic writing, from dissertations to journal articles to job applications. We will provide you with the tools you need to define your own positionality and teach you key tips and strategies for writing a strong statement of positionality.
By the end of this 90 min workshop, you’ll be able to:
- Define the concepts of “positionality,” “power,” and “reflexivity” and understand how they relate to the research process
- Identify the qualities of strong positionality statements
- Use reflexivity tools to help you concretely and explicitly define your own positionality on paper
- Communicate in a clearly structured statement your positionality significance in the broader context of your research
Visit LEARN to access the workshop
What your peers are saying about the WCC's self-directed workshops
