Events

Webinars on Presentations

February 25th, 12 p.m.

The Basics of Presenting | Facilitated by Matthew Higgins

In this webinar, we will go over the basics of effective public speaking and presentations. The webinar is a brief overview of several elements of public speaking, including organization and structure or presentations, nonverbal do’s-and-don’ts’s, and tips for preparation. The material discussed is applicable for both face-to-face and asynchronous presentations. Register in advance for this webinar here. 

March 4th, 12 p.m.

Slides, Data, and Nonverbal Engagement in Presentations | Facilitated by Matthew Higgins

The focus of this webinar is on using PowerPoint slides and other presentation aids, effectively presenting data, and how to use nonverbal communication as a tool for engaging presentations. There will be a brief review of the basics of presentations before diving deeper into the essentials of using presentation aids, data, and nonverbal gestures to build and deliver effective presentations and connect with audiences. Register in advance for this webinar here. 

March 11th, 12 p.m.

Preparing and Practicing Presentations | Facilitated by Matthew Higgins

Emphasizing the work prior to presenting, this webinar explores techniques for building your presentation and preparing for delivery. What is the first step in building your presentation? How do you create effective transitions?  What is the best way to practice your presentation? How many times should you practice a presentation before actually delivering it? These are some of the questions that will be answered as we discuss the best practices for presentation preparation. Register in advance for this webinar here. 

Webinars on Writing

March 25th, 12 p.m.

Writing Effective Thesis Statements | Facilitated by Katrina Denman

This webinar will address 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. Register in advance for this webinar here. 

Webinars on the Big Pitch

TBD

Webinars on Applying for the Fulbright Award

TBD

Weekend Dissertation Boot Camps

 

Dates for online Weekend Dissertation Bootcamps

• January 9 & 10
• February 13 & 14
• March 13 & 14
• April 10 & 11

* All Bootcamps will be held from 8:45 am – 4:30 pm.

* Registration opens two weeks prior to each session.

Can I come?

Current CGU students who are ABD are eligible to attend the weekend boot camps. Space is limited and application review is generally first-come, first-served — but we do consider other factors to ensure that as many students as possible can participate. Proposal and Master’s thesis students will be considered after all ABD students’ applications have been reviewed.

How do I know if i’ve been accepted to attend?

We normally notify all applicants of their status via email on the Wednesday prior to the weekend camp. If we are unable to accept you, we can place you on a waiting list and will notify you of any spaces that become available as soon as possible.

Register Here

Writing Retreats

Mark your calendars! We are excited to offer additional opportunities for you to write with us! This year, we will be offering writing retreats–a single day writing session–for all students. These retreat days will follow the same schedule as Dissertation Bootcamp days (8:30am to 4:30pm).

Dates for online Writing retreats

• February 27
• March 27
• April 24
• May 8

* All Writing Retreats will be held from 8:45 am – 4:00 pm.

* Registration opens two weeks prior to each session.

Register Here

Students of Color Writing Retreats

The Center for Writing and Rhetoric has recently started offering Students of Color Writing Retreats. With a Writing Consultant facilitating breaks and debriefs, this retreat will be a collaborative space for students of color to mutually support themselves in all stages of the writing process and gain invaluable feedback for their work.

DATES FOR Students of Color Writing Retreats

• February 21
• March 21
• May 2

* All Students of Color Writing Retreats will be held from 8:45 am – 4:00 pm.

* Registration opens two weeks prior to each session.

Register to Participate

Writing Groups

The CGU Center for Writing & Rhetoric helps form, facilitate, and maintain Writing Groups for students at all stages. These groups typically meet weekly, biweekly, or monthly and are either “sit down and write groups”, peer review groups, or a combination of both. They differ depending on the needs of the group.

If you are interested in signing up, fill out this form.

Why participate in an ongoing writing group?

• Committing to a writing group helps to hold you and your peers accountable for showing up and working on your writing projects.
• Engaging with peers who are actively working on writing projects can provide a supportive atmosphere where you can share tips and tricks for best writing practices.
• The routine of setting goals each meeting can help you to create a habit of recording your priorities in a way that facilitates realistic daily task lists.
• Group discussions about the research and writing process provide a space for reflexive discussion that can aid in the development of a writing strategy toolbox to use when writing outside of your group meetings.
• The writing group provides a time and space to push your writing and explore other ways of approaching your writing project in a supportive setting amongst peers.

How to participate in an ongoing writing group?

• Committing to a writing group requires that you are dedicated to the team of peers with which you write. It is important to maintain a regular meeting schedule that participants adhere to. This will help to get you writing on days you would rather procrastinate.
• The group facilitator is responsible for sending out reminders, following-up with group members who are absent, and guiding the process of the meeting. The facilitator role can be assigned to one group member or alternated between members. In any case, there should always be someone in charge of keeping time and managing the process.

Where do we meet now that CGU is following an Online Flex model?

• Depending on your group’s preferences, members can participate virtually through Zoom, Google, Skype, or any other online meeting space that the group agrees upon.
• Meeting goals can be shared virtually through group participation in a single Google doc or spreadsheet with other group members. This could work as an ongoing log so that members could see what others are working on and members could reference their progress by referring to previous meeting notes as time goes on.
• The group should connect via an online platform at the start of each session, discuss their daily goals, and move into the writing block.
• The group can determine whether to stay logged in or to log off during writing blocks. Everyone should log back in during the break and closing to discuss their progress and action steps for the next meeting.

Qualifying Exams Preparation Weekend

For most doctoral degrees, qualifying exams are the first major milestone that must be completed after coursework. The challenge of demonstrating breadth of knowledge in a field as well as preparedness for a culminating project is complicated by the shift in structure of the post-coursework phase. One proven method of maintaining productivity and motivation during this transition is to participate in community events that are designed to reduce distraction, facilitate peer engagement, and provide a source of accountability.

The Center for Writing & Rhetoric is happy to announce that in addition to our dissertation bootcamps, writing retreats, and writing groups, we will now also be offering an event just for students at the qualifying exam stage. Designed for students doing timed exams, written assignments, dissertation chapter drafts, and portfolios, the event will provide the options of either dedicated work time with peers or a combination of work time and facilitated sessions on exam preparation topics.

DATES FOR qualifying exams preparation weekend

• February 6 & 7
• April 17 & 18

* All Qualifying Exam Prep Weekends will be held from 8:45 am – 4:00 pm.

Register Here

Summer Dissertation Boot Camp

How is it different from the weekend boot camp?

Along with meeting for five days rather than a weekend, Summer Dissertation Bootcamp participants benefit from a number of other features, including guest faculty and peer speakers addressing issues such as the writing process and staying motivated, as well as group discussions, expanded planning work, and 25+ hours of writing time.

Can I come?

Like the weekend bootcamp, there is an application process for the week-long bootcamp, but it requires submission of a detailed work plan and confirmation from your advisor that you have discussed your plan with them. Only current CGU students who are ABD or in the proposal phase may apply.

How do I apply?

1. Eligible students must submit an application which includes a brief statement on how you hope to benefit from the Boot Camp and a detailed Writing Plan for the week.
2. You should discuss your proposed writing goals with your dissertation advisor.
3. Your advisor must email the CWR (write@cgu.edu) with confirmation that they have reviewed your writing plan with you. An application will not be considered complete until we receive confirmation from an advisor.

dates for the summer dissertation bootcamp

• June 7 – 11