The CAC at UVic

02/29/2024

Don't let procrastination get its claws in you! Attend PAW and get a jumpstart on those final projects!
UVic is participating in Participation Awareness Week, and all UVic students have access to this event. There are some great workshops and study hall activities planned, so come join us!

Check out the offerings and register here: https://shorturl.at/osAPY

The CAC's Gillian Saunders is hosting the first study hall session on March 4 from 2 to 4pm. Stop by, wish her a happy birthday, and get some writing done with scheduled Pomodoro sessions!

09/07/2023

https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/gradwriters/2023/09/07/centre-for-academic-communication-welcomes-graduate-students/

Centre for Academic Communication welcomes graduate students September 7, 2023Academic Writing, Centre for Academic Communication, First year in graduate school, Focus strategies, Inspiration and motivation, Make writing social, Motivation, Posts by Madeline, Time management, Tutoring, Writing group...

07/12/2023

https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/gradwriters/2023/07/12/how-to-write-a-killer-letter-come-to-our-workshop/

How to write a killer letter: Come to our workshop! July 12, 2023UncategorizedMadeline Walker By Gillian Saunders with help from ChatGPT A well-crafted personal statement has the power to open doors, whether you’re applying for graduate school, applying for funding, or seeking career opportunities...

06/07/2023

Are you a grad student? Do you love to write? The Graduate Writers' Community blog needs you!

We love content relevant to academic communication (reading, writing, presenting) and graduate students. We value

-a unique point of view,
-posts reflecting the diversity of UVic students,
-stories that illustrate difficulties and vulnerabilities,
-posts with practical tips and ideas,
-fresh topics,
-humour,
-content specific to UVic,
-and motivating and inspirational themes.

Posts should be between 250-550 words and may be edited for clarity, grammar, and punctuation. If your blog contains images, please make sure to include the corresponding alt-text in your submission.

Email the editor, Madeline Walker, for more information: [email protected]

And check out the blog here:

Where’s my voice? May 17, 2023Academic Writing, Posts by Madeline, VoiceMadeline Walker By Madeline Walker What is “voice” in writing? Is it some magical, authentic quality that captures and conveys the author’s identity? Well, sometimes it seems that way. Just as babies can pick out their m...

05/16/2023

WORKSHOP WEDNESDAYS (all welcome!) 9 to 10am and/or 3 to 4pm, Wednesdays beginning mid-May!

Writing the research proposal, 9 to 10am and 3 to 4pm, May 24; zoom: https://uvic.zoom.us/j/83175390648

Preparing to write your research proposal this summer? Come along to review proposal purpose, structure, and writing process. We welcome your questions/input on approaches to streamline the proposal-writing process. Contact Nancy ([email protected] ) for more information.



Discovering your academic writing voice, 9 to 10am and 3 to 4 pm, May 31; Zoom: https://uvic.zoom.us/my/madelinewalker

Voice is a contested notion in writing studies. Do you have an authentic voice, or does society prescribe how you write? We are socially constructed beings, but at the same time, we can create voices that bring our personalities to the page. During this workshop, we’ll talk about what it means to write in your own academic voice. Contact Madeline ([email protected]) for more information.



Bridge building: Tips for writing with greater clarity and flow; 9 to 10am and 3 to 4pm, June 21; in Library room 130 and over Zoom: https://uvic.zoom.us/j/97389771497

Do you strive to attain greater clarity and flow in your writing? This workshop offers practical tips for seamlessly integrating signal phrases into your writing to create stronger connections between paragraphs, sentences, and ideas. Participants are encouraged to bring along a recent sample of their writing to practice applying the strategies discussed. Contact Emily ([email protected]) for more information.



Back it up: How to use quotes, paraphrases, and summaries to support your arguments; 9 to 10am and 3 to 4pm, June 28; in Library room 130 and over Zoom at https://uvic.zoom.us/j/82899291169

This workshop presents practical strategies to effectively integrate source material in your academic papers through quotes, paraphrases, and summaries. Support your arguments without disrupting the flow and make sure you avoid unintentional plagiarism. Contact Kaveh ([email protected]) for more information.



Q & A: Academic writing mysteries! 9 to 10am and 3 to 4pm, July 12, zoom: https://uvic.zoom.us/j/83175390648

Do you have a question about academic writing that you’d like to ask? Join us for a conversation about topics that have been on the back burner. Come ready to share your thoughts/responses to queries raised by others! Contact Nancy ([email protected]) for more information.



Unblock the Writer in You! 9 to 10am, July 19; zoom: https://uvic.zoom.us/j/3097476265?pwd=WWVIdUVYV1JOM0thY0ZaQ1M3VTQxZz09

Paralyzed by perfectionism? Overwhelmed by your word limit? This session confirms what you already know—that writing is hard, and getting started is even harder—and gives strategies for breaking tasks down, setting goals and rewards, and getting words on the page: good words, on time. Contract Gillian ([email protected]) and Madeline ([email protected] ) for more information



Professional Writing Step 1: Write a Killer Letter! 3 to 4pm, July 26 in Library room 130

Step 1 of writing professionally is to enter into a “profession” by getting a job! In this workshop, you’ll learn about and practice writing a killer cover letter and analyze resumes and CVs for academic and non-academic purposes. We’ll also review samples created by AI tools and discuss how these can help and hinder standard writing tasks. Contact Gillian ([email protected]) for more information.

02/23/2023

https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/gradwriters/2023/02/23/three-how-to-tips-for-a-thursday/

If you’ve been asked to write an “annotated bibliography,” “summary,” or “critical analysis,” and these types of assignments are unfamiliar, there are TONS of resources and samples online to guide you. Search “how do I write a…” and choose sites that end in “.edu” (American u...

02/02/2023

Have you thought of writing a "dissertation by publication"? This blog post by Gillian might help you decide: https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/gradwriters/2023/02/01/dissertation-by-publication/

01/11/2023

We are offering several workshops on Zoom this semester to support your academic success: everything from time management to how to publish your paper. No registration required. We look forward to seeing you at one or more!

09/28/2022

https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/gradwriters/2022/09/14/our-teams-favourite-writing-resources/
Meet our core team and find out about some fabulous writing resources--their favourites!

Hello, returning and new graduate students. We know that graduate school involves lots of reading, writing, listening, and presentations. We offer one-to-one assistance with your academic writing challenges in three modes: Zoom appointments, in-person appointments at the Centre (in the Mearns Centre...

09/09/2022

Are you looking for a place to practice reading and speaking in an academic environment? Look no further! Join the English Conversation Cafe starting next week--see the updated poster for all the information (on Wednesdays, not Mondays!).

Best wishes,
Madeline & Kaveh

07/20/2022

https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/gradwriters/2022/07/14/overcoming-our-dependence-on-powerpoint/

Did you know that the Anti PowerPoint Party (APPP) is the eighth largest political party in Switzerland? Their platform has one message: Stop using presentation software because it wastes time and money. Instead, the party “advocates the use of flip-charts for all presentations. Compared to PowerP...

07/01/2022

Join us for two workshops this month on Zoom (no registration necessary):

How to combine words (collocate) to produce natural-sounding phrases, 12 to 1pm, July 13; Zoom: https://uvic.zoom.us/s/88435031687

In English, we say “fast food” but not “quick food.” Understanding collocations, or common word combinations, is key to speaking and writing English with fluency. In this workshop, we’ll show you how to use a collocation dictionary to expand your vocabulary and fluency. Practice included! Contact Kaveh at [email protected] for information.

How to use “your own words” when paraphrasing and stay away from plagiarizing, 12 to 1pm, July 27; Zoom: https://uvic.zoom.us/s/88435031687

“Do you have you own words”? As the legendary comedian, George Carlin, cleverly noted, "I am personally using the ones everybody else has been using.” So how can we effectively paraphrase source material without falling into the trap of unintentional plagiarism? In this workshop, we’ll work together to learn and practice the mysterious art of putting another writer’s ideas into “our own words”! Contact Kaveh at [email protected] for information.