Writing a Medical School Application

Applying to medical school is an exciting process! It is the first step towards the incredible journey of becoming a physician and a chance to reflect on the experiences and accomplishments that have made you who you are. The application itself is broken up into several different components, each with an opportunity to showcase yourself […]

Writing the Article

Critical Reading Practices Critical reading can prepare you for publication, and, especially in fields where publications are expected early in one’s career, these are practices you should adopt as soon as possible. As you read for class, consider which articles best conveyed their argument and/or achieved their purpose. Which are believed to be the best […]

Responding to Student Writing

The text that follows is adapted from a presentation the Writers Workshop provides at the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning’s Graduate Teaching Academy each semester. Please contact us if you would like to schedule the full presentation for your department or unit. Why reflect on best practices for responding to student writing? Written […]

Writing and Well-Being

Writing a PhD dissertation (or Master’s thesis) is a complex and lengthy process. As graduate students complete these writing tasks, they are socialized into their chosen professional field or discipline. Paradoxically, writing in graduate school is often an isolating activity where many students establish negative writing behaviors that they may carry with them into their […]

Academic Writing

These resources provide tips for approaching a range of academic writing activities, from integrating sources in research-based texts to acing your in-class exams to creating research posters. In this section you’ll find the following resources: Emailing Your Professor College-Level Academic Writing Expectations Understanding Assignments Rhetorical Analysis In-Class Essay Exams Comma Usage Reading Scholarly Sources Integrating […]

Diversity Statements

Diversity statements are increasingly being requested or required for those seeking jobs in academia. While job ads might provide a variety of prompts for the diversity statement, the overall purpose of this text is to show that you are committed to contributing to the institution’s goals surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion. When writing your diversity […]

Emailing Your Professor

It can be daunting and nerve-wracking to email a professor to communicate an absence, ask for information about an assignment, request a meeting, or any other reason. Here are some tips for getting started! Before Emailing Your Instructor/Professor Email your instructor/professor from your official university email account. There are many reasons you should do this, […]

Personal Statement and Statement of Purpose

On this Page: Sample Prompts Getting Started General Structure Other Tips Revising and Editing Related Links A personal statement and/or a statement of purpose is often required by graduate school applications. Sometimes these terms are used interchangeably, but sometimes they can have different meanings. For example, some schools might use the term personal statement to […]

Dealing with Critical Feedback

When you get negative feedback, give yourself time to process it. Be open to suggestions and making changes, but also reflect critically. Use your support system to help you process, understand, and emotionally deal with feedback and revision. Processing & Integrating Critical Feedback When writers receive critical feedback, they commonly move through several common stages: […]

Teaching Philosophy Statements

A statement of teaching philosophy is an argument-driven document that conveys your understanding of teaching and learning and your goals for teaching. It should also provide some evidence of your teaching practices by including concrete, specific examples of your in-class methods, assignments, and evaluation methods. Your statement of teaching philosophy should allow readers to “see” […]