WSIP Introduces Free Weekly Writing Workshops

The Writing Skills Improvement Program will offer a regular series of 50-minute workshops weekly throughout the semester, including two new workshops specifically addressing online classes.

Free for all, the workshops will be interactive and activity-based, extending the expertise WSIP has developed over more than 40 years on the University of Arizona campus to university students, teachers and the general public. Delivering its extensive writing resources and services online will extend WSIP’s mission to help writers improve their writing skills and achieve academic success.

“The Writing Skills Improvement Program is dedicated to assisting all writers, from middle school through doctoral students and we’ve worked to modify our programs for the most comprehensive and thorough online workshops possible,” says Andrea Hernández Holm, WSIP's acting director. “We encourage anyone interested to check out a workshop and take advantage of the opportunity.”

Two new workshops are added to the schedule this semester to focus on online writing assignments, both for students and for teachers in online classrooms.

Online writing assignments can have specific challenges, for teachers and students alike, and the new workshops will address a variety of questions: How do you scaffold assignments to help students strengthen writing over a semester? How can you create assignments that are meaningful, but don’t create an overwhelming amount of writing to grade? How do you balance content knowledge and presentation in grading? How do you avoid writing in isolation? How do you conquer writer’s anxiety? How do you write effectively when you don’t consider yourself a strong writer?

Registration is open now for the first two sessions:

Wednesday, Sept. 9: Teaching Writing in Online Classrooms

In this workshop, we will discuss strategies for instructors teaching writing in online classes, perhaps for the first time. We will consider how writing can be used in all subject areas and review strategies that teachers can use to support student engagement and success.

Monday, Sept. 14: Writing in Online Classrooms 

In this workshop, we will discuss strategies for writing effectively in online classes. How do you write a "good" discussion post? How do you stay engaged in online writing activities?

The semester’s other workshops are part of WSIP’s regular resources, but offered online this fall in order to reach a wide audience.

WSIP Writing Specialists support writers throughout the writing process, helping them gain confidence and knowledge of academic and scholarly language and forms. Participants are encouraged to bring samples of their own writing to practice skills. Through discussion posts, short answers, and essay assignments, student can build ideas about topics, expand understanding, and share what they’ve learned.  

WSIP Weekly Writing Workshops are free and open to the public. Registration will begin two weeks before each session, at wsip.arizona.edu/workshop-series. Workshops are also available for fee-based custom delivery.

WSIP’s traditional tutoring programs, free for University students, will continue throughout the fall, with both drop-in sessions and appointments conducted online.

See the full schedule of workshops below. For more information, call (520) 621-5849, email writingskills@email.arizona.edu or visit wsip.arizona.edu.