Writing Groups - Fall 2009

The Graduate Writing Center currently oversees two types of writing groups: Facilitated Writing Groups and Independent Writing Groups. The groups facilitated by Graduate Writing Center staff are offered in winter, spring, and sometimes summer quarters, primarily for graduate students writing master's theses or similar projects. The independent writing groups and online writing groups, which are organized in fall quarter, are for graduate students at the dissertation writing stage. (The Graduate Writing Center offers structured summer programs on writing dissertations and dissertation proposals - click here for more information.)

Facilitated Writing Groups

Each writing group is facilitated by trained GWC personnel. The groups focus on helping participants make continuous progress on writing projects by offering structure and support. The facilitators will provide general writing strategies as well as specific approaches to components of the writing projects. Most of the writing groups’ time will be in the format of peer review and interactive writing activities. For facilitated writing groups, we generally only have room for 8-10 participants in each group. Participants are required to commit to writing a minimum of 3 new pages per week (typed, double-spaced) and to participate every week. Homework for first session: bring a 250-300 word abstract of your writing project and your bibliography, annotated if possible.

The Winter 2010 schedule facilitated writing group schedule and application will be posted in December.
Generally, writing groups meet weeks 2 (or 3) through 8 (or 9).
In winter and spring 2010, we will probably offer:
Master's Theses in Social Sciences (Quantitative and Qualitative)
Master's Theses in Social Sciences (Qualitative) and Humanities
Scientific Writing Group

If you are interested in participating in a facilitated writing group during winter quarter, please read carefully and fill out the writing group questionnaire linked here (to be posted in December) and email it to gwc@gsa.asucla.ucla.edu with the appropriate subject line (see end of questionnaire for subject headings). The deadline to apply will be posted here. Please keep in mind that space is limited.

Independent Writing Groups

Independent writing groups are groups that the Graduate Writing Center helps organize, but after the first mandatory orientation workshop, they meet and run independently. To apply to be in an independent group, you can be at any stage of the dissertation provided you are in a position to commit to writing 3-5 new pages for each writing group meeting (weekly or biweekly). If you are interested in participating in an independent writing group during fall quarter, please complete and submit the writing group questionnaire posted here. Email completed questionnaires to gwc@gsa.asucla.ucla.edu with "independent writing group" in the subject line. Applications are due October 5th by 5pm. Attendance at the Dissertation Writing Group Panel workshop is mandatory for those interested in being in a group.

Online Writing Groups

For graduate students who are parents, work full time during the day, or live outside southern California, we try to organize writing partners or small groups that exchange writing electronically. We restrict the online groups to people who have a real obstacle to meeting in person. If you would be interested, please fill out a writing group questionnaire when the independent groups are announced (linked under independent writing groups) and indicate that you are interested in an online group for the question about time availability. Email your questionnaire to gwc@gsa.asucla.ucla.edu by the independent group deadline listed above and put "online writing group" in the subject line.