UCLA Department of Comparative Literature Graduate Student Writing Workshop 2006-2007

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

This year-long writing workshop is designed to provide graduate student writers with a supportive environment in which to acquire knowledge about and develop skills in writing for publication and the field. Students will identify their own writing obstacles, design a personalized writing plan and goals, learn through group discussion and faculty presentations, gain positive experiences of writing, and engage in and receive peer review. The goal of this workshop is to aid students in improving their writing for the field and in overcoming anxiety about writing. Students may work on any academic writing project of their choice (e.g., book reviews, journal articles, dissertation chapters, prospectuses).

 

Based on a collaborative mentoring model, the workshop is structured around author-editor dyads (each member of each student pair will take turns reviewing and commenting on the other's work outside of the workshop sessions). The facilitator will lead the workshop discussion, explain parts of the publication process, and share strategies for achieving success in the academic writing arena, including such topics as identifying appropriate journals for submission, working with editors, clarifying arguments, and organizing material. Interested faculty will be invited to present at the beginning of each workshop session on their experiences as writers and editors. Faculty will also be involved in reading essays before they are submitted for publication.

 

There will be nine workshop sessions (one a month) and they will each include a short presentation, group discussion, twenty minutes of actual writing, the drafting of dyad writing contracts, and individual reports on the completion of last month's writing goals.

 

Graduate students at any stage in the comparative literature program are welcome to register for the workshop. Since students will be working in pairs, students may wish to contact potential dyad partners before the workshop begins. A grade of pass will be given to those students who attend almost all the sessions and make progress with their self-identified writing goals. Students will receive two credits in the fall quarter and two credits in the winter quarter. The number of participants is limited to twenty.

 

 

Workshop Overview

Month 1 , October 10

 Introduction

Class topic:    Designing a Writing Plan

Discussion:   Identifying writing obstacles

Writing:   Free and continuous writing

Exercise:   Dyad meetings and drafting first month's writing contract

 

Month 2, November 14

Guest lecture:   Prof. Ali Behdad, “How I Published My First Article”

Report:   Designated dyad reports on writing progress

Class topic:    Getting and Using Other's Comments

Discussion:   Exchanging information on reviewing

Writing:   Free and continuous writing (twenty minutes)

Exercise:   Each reports on last month's contract and drafts next month's

 

Month 3, December 12

Report:   Designated dyad reports on writing progress

Class topic:    Making an argument

Discussion:   Exchanging information on arguments

Writing:   Free and continuous writing (twenty minutes)

Exercise:   Each reports on last month's contract and drafts next month's

 

Month 4, January 9

Guest lecture:   Aamir Mufti, “What Is a Comparative Literature Essay?”

Report:   Designated dyad reports on writing progress

Class topic:    Selecting a Journal or Publisher

Discussion:   Exchanging information on journals and publishers

Writing:   Free and continuous writing (twenty minutes)

Exercise:   Each reports on last month's contract and drafts next month's

 

Month 5, February 13

Report:   Designated dyad reports on writing progress

Class topic:    Strengthening Structure

Discussion:   Exchanging information on structure

Writing:   Free and continuous writing (twenty minutes)

Exercise:   Each reports on last month's contract and drafts next month's

 

Month 6, March 13

Guest lecture:   Stathis Gourgouris, “How to Incorporate Theory into Your Writing”

Report:   Designated dyad reports on writing progress

Class topic:    Reviewing the related literature

Discussion:   Exchanging information on literature reviews

Writing:   Free and continuous writing (twenty minutes)

 Exercise:   Each reports on last month's contract and drafts next month's

 

Month 7, April 10

Report:   Designated dyad reports on writing progress

Class topic:    Doing line editing

Discussion:   Exchanging information on revising

Writing:   Free and continuous writing (twenty minutes)

 Exercise:   Each reports on last month's contract and drafts next month's

 

Month 8, May 8

Guest lecture:   TBD, “What I Do as a Book or Journal Editor”

Report:   Designated dyad reports on writing progress

Class topic:    Working with editors

Discussion:   Exchanging information on editors

Writing:   Free and continuous writing (twenty minutes)

Exercise:   Each reports on last month's contract and drafts next month's

 

Month 9, June 12

 Report:   Designated dyad reports on writing progress

 Class topic:    Wrapping things up and sending things out

 Discussion:   Exchanging information on finishing

 Writing:   Free and continuous writing (twenty minutes)

 Exercise:   Each reports on last month's contract and drafts next month's

 

 

Recommended Texts

Boice, Robert. 2000. Advice for New Faculty Members: Nihil Nimus . Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Gibaldi, Joseph. 1998. MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing . New York: MLA.

University of Chicago Press. 2003. The Chicago Manual of Style. 15th ed. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.