Stay up to date with the Graduate Writing and Presenting Lab’s programs and other graduate student events.
Do you have a question or suggestion about a GWPL event or service? Contact us!
Fall 2026 Events
Workshops and Programs
NSF-GRFP Info Session
Monday, September 14, 2026 / 4:00PM-5:00PM
Hosted by Molly Robinson
Zoom / [Register Here]
Are you a graduate student in your first in a STEM-based discipline? Are you interested in three years of funding while in grad school? Are you a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident? Then please join us for an informational session about the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP)! In this information session we will discuss the program, eligibility, and how to prepare a strong application. The informational session will be followed by a four-week writing group where you can work on the application and receive feedback from peers and the Graduate Writing and Presenting Lab. Stay tuned for more information about that forthcoming writing group!
Grad School Crash Course
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 / 11:00AM-12:00PM
Hosted by Jordan Scott and the URI Graduate School’s Enrollment Services Team
Zoom / [Register Here]
Have you ever asked yourself any of the following questions: “Who is my advisor?” “How do I form a committee?” “What even is a committee?” “What are comprehensive exams and do I even have to take them?” “What’s the difference between a thesis and a dissertation?” “What does ‘ABD’ mean?” Whether you are in a master’s or doctorate, there’s a lot of lingo to learn and academic culture to adapt to. Make sure you’re ready!
Reading with Focus and Purpose
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 / 1:00PM-2:00PM
Hosted by Tia Hines
Zoom / [Register Here]
Studying by simply reading and re-reading is one of the least effective forms of studying. The problem is that readers often read passively and without absorbing information. After reading the previous sentences, for example, did you move to this one and continue reading without processing what you had just read? Most readers do. We often don’t pause to think about what we have read. This workshop will offer graduate-level study strategies in addition to methods to maximize learning while reading purposefully.
Time Management for Grad Students
October 2026 — Time & Date Forthcoming
Hosted by Jordan Scott
Zoom / [Registration Link Forthcoming]
Have you ever wished there were extra hours in the day? In this 30-minute workshop, we will introduce time management strategies and help you identify approaches that might work for you so you will be better prepared to make each day a productive one.
From Sources to Citations: APA Style and Zotero
October 2026 — Time & Date Forthcoming
Hosted by Molly Robinson
Zoom / [Registration Link Forthcoming]
Properly citing sources is an essential part of graduate research and writing, but managing citations and bibliographies can be challenging. Whether you’re new to academic writing, looking for a refresher on APA style, or hoping to find a better way to organize your research, this workshop will provide practical tools and strategies for managing your sources and citations. We’ll discuss when and how to cite sources using APA style, explore best practices for creating bibliographies and reference lists, and introduce Zotero, a free citation management tool that can help you organize your research and streamline the citation process. You’ll leave with a better understanding of APA citation practices and resources to help you manage your sources more efficiently.
Overcoming Writer’s Block
October 2026 — Time & Date Forthcoming
Hosted by Tia Hines
Zoom / [Registration Link Forthcoming]
Do you struggle to start writing—or find yourself waiting for inspiration, motivation, or the “right” time to begin? Many writers, at all levels, experience writer’s block, whether they’re facing a blank page, feeling overwhelmed by a large project, or worrying that their writing isn’t “good enough.” In this workshop, we’ll explore practical strategies for getting started, organizing your ideas, and making steady progress on your writing. We’ll discuss techniques for overcoming the blank page, creating effective outlines and project plans, developing sustainable writing routines, and managing your time and expectations. Whether you’re working on a seminar paper, research project, presentation, or thesis/dissertation, you’ll leave with concrete strategies to make the writing process more manageable—and to help you move from thinking about writing to actually writing.
AI and Grad Writing
November 2026 — Time & Date Forthcoming
Hosted by Jordan Scott
Zoom / [Registration Link Forthcoming]
Many students have come to rely on generative artificial intelligence (such as ChatGPT) for their writing. While AI can make writing easy, it can also make it bland, uninspired, and easy for a reader to recognize as AI generated. In this session, we will talk about how to put your human voice back into your writing and improve its structure. In this workshop, we will navigate the “do’s and dont’s” of graduate writing and AI.
Presenting Your Scientific Poster
November 2026 — Time & Date Forthcoming
Hosted by Molly Robinson
Zoom / [Registration Link Forthcoming]
As a graduate student, you’ll often present your research at a conference or showcase. In this session, learn tips and strategies for what to say and how to effectively present your scientific poster to scholars in your field.
Fall 2026 Writing Groups
Thesis/Dissertation Proposal Writing Group
Four sessions
Weekly on Wednesdays from September 16 through October 7.
5:30PM-7:00PM
This writing group will take place entirely online.
[Sign up here]
Participants in this writing group will make progress on their dissertation/thesis proposal while strengthening writing skills through an iterative peer and self-revision process. We will spend our four sessions breaking down sections from the official Graduate School guidelines into digestible group discussions. These four topic-of-the-day meetings will include 1) Title of the Study + Statement of the Problem, 2)
Justification for and Significance of the Study, 3) Methodology or Procedures, and 4)
Resources Required + Literature Cited in the Proposal. Beyond reviewing these various required formatting sections in detail, we will also spend some time generating writing and sharing progress updates with each other. This group will meet for 90-minute synchronous group sessions via Zoom.
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP) Writing Group
Four sessions
Weekly on Mondays from September 21 through October 12.
4:00PM-6:00PM
This writing group will take place entirely online.
[Sign up here]
Are you interested in applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP)? Since 1952, the program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Consider joining our writing and accountability group this fall, where we will work on generating and editing important application components such as your Graduate Research Plan and Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement. Please note: this writing group is intended for those who will be first-year graduate students (master’s or PhD level) at the start of the Fall 2026 semester (graduate students in their second year or beyond are ineligible). If you will be an undergraduate junior or senior in the Fall 2026 semester who is open to working with graduate students and giving/receiving graduate-level feedback, please also consider signing up. Please also note: applicants must, at the time of submission, be a U.S. citizen, national, or a permanent resident (“green-card” holder).
Contact us via email at gradwritingcenter@etal.uri.edu for any questions about our workshops, writing groups, retreats, or any other programs we run.