Graduate Student Writing Center
The Graduate Student Writing (GSW) Center offers virtual one-on-one and in-person appointments with qualified writing consultants. We also offer a variety of writing workshops and retreats.
HOURS:
Mon-Thurs: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
NEED WRITING SUPPORT?
*Please contact our office at [email protected] or 619-594-2718 to request assistance*
MEET OUR CONSULTANTS
Arline Votruba, Ph.D.
Dr. Arline Votruba holds a M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, & Professional Communications
and a Ph.D. in Cultural studies, specializing in educating university students across
disciplines to develop seminar papers, theses, and dissertations from concept to final
draft.
Bree Merschel M.A.
Bree Merschel teaches Rhetoric and Writing Studies at SDSU; she can offer support in any field/discipline but specializes in the humanities, the digital humanities, and professional development materials (CVs, resumes, cover letters, etc)
Miranda Muñoz M.A.
Miranda Muñoz background as a writing tutor extends about 6 years. Since receiving MA in English Lit from SDSU, she has taught in the RWS department and at Cuyamaca College.
Troy Mikanovich M.A.
Troy Mikanovich is a PhD candidate in Religion and American Politics at Claremont Graduate University. He holds a BA in Astrophysics from UC Berkeley and an MA in Religion, Ethics, and Social Theory from the Graduate Theological Union.
Katrina Denman M.A.
Katrina Denman (ABD, History) has five years' experience as a university writing consultant and instructor, with a particular emphasis on the Arts & Humanities, Public Health, Education, and grant/fellowship applications.
WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS
With the added demands of graduate school, such as multiple simultaneous writing assignments in numerous courses, theses, qualifying exams and dissertations, prewriting strategies can make a huge difference in developing sustainable writing practices. In this webinar, learn about how developing a writing plan can help you tackle longer projects one step at a time, allowing you more time and attention for each part. We will discuss how this can be applied during coursework as well as during the more independent post-coursework phases.
Session 1
Date: Feb. 6, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Session 2
Date: Mar. 7, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location : Zoom
Many of your professors and programs want you to write "in APA style." And while the APA Publication Manual is many things, it is not terribly user friendly. Nor can it help you figure out what elements your professors consider central to APA and what things they think are superfluous. This workshop can't exactly do that either, but it will cover the core baseline principles of writing in APA, including citations, formatting, clarity, and style.
Session 1
Date: Feb. 13, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Session 2
Date: Mar. 21, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
This webinar will adess the dos and don’ts of creating an effective thesis statement for research papers and other writing projects. It includes introductions to and brief exercises on thesis writing, including brainstorming, refining your approach, elements to include, and pitfalls to avoid. Whether you’re new to graduate school or writing a dissertation, this webinar will offer tips and suggestions for honing your thesis-writing technique.
Date: Feb. 2, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Date: Mar. 19, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Creating a thesis or dissertation is no small task in your academic journey, and assembling the right committee can make all the difference. The "Developing a Thesis/Dissertation Committee" workshop is designed to guide graduate students through the process of forming a committee that will support and enhance your research.
Date: Feb. 26, 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Date: Mar. 11, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The literature review webinar focuses generally on the purpose and expectations of the literature review of the dissertation. Topics covered include the sections and structure of the literature review.
Date: Feb. 28, 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Date: Mar. 13, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
In academia, effective written communication is essential. This workshop is designed to equip you with the tools necessary to elevate your academic writing to the next level, regardless of your academic or professional background.
Session 1
Date: Mar. 25, 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Session 2
Date: April 8, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Students, are you looking to elevate the quality of your academic writing, boost your grades, and impress your professors with well-crafted essays and research papers? If so, our "Editing and Revising Academic Work" is the perfect workshop opportunity for you to sharpen your editing and revising skills.
Session 1
Date: Mar. 27, 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Session 2
Date: April 22, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Does feedback from your professor confuse you? Join our "Managing Faculty Feedback" Graduate Student Workshop to gain proficiency in understanding, processing, and effectively incorporating feedback from professors.
Session 1
Date: April 9, 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Session 2
Date: April 24, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
A cover letter is a document you typically send with your résumé to provide a personalized introduction to yourself. The cover letter should succinctly present how your skills and experiences relate to the specific position you are applying to. A thoughtful cover letter may make the difference between getting a job interview and having your application ignored.
Session 1
Date: April 16, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Session 2
Date: April 27, 2024
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join the Office for Graduate Life and Diversity as we discuss the dos and don'ts of persuasive communication in academia. By learning the compelling ideas with powerful articulation, students will be able to effectively and efficiently communicate with any given audience.
Session 1
Date: Jan. 29, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Aztec Student Union 250
Session 2
Date: Mar. 14, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Join us for a two hour, small group (up to 8 students per session) writing retreat with writing consultant Bree Merschel. Grad students can use this time to free write, receive feedback, or get help with editing.
Date: Biweekly on Tuesdays
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Aztec Student Union 250
