Dudley Knox Library - Dudley Knox Library
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If you're unsure of who your liaison is, you can reach us at Ask a Librarian!
Library and Graduate Writing Center Workshops
Sharpen your skills at a workshop! Click here for how to sign up.
Week 1--Sep 29 & 30
Fri Sep 29, 1400
GL 109
So much reading, so little time! Learn Dr. Zach Shore’s method of reading for argument at the graduate level, tailored to social science and business fields. Dr. Shore’s “search and destroy” technique allows you to synthesize an author’s arguments efficiently. Level I teaches the “search” half—how to quickly extract an author's thesis and structure from an academic article. This method takes time to perfect, but the payoff is high in terms of better comprehension and time saved. For the “destroy” half, see Strategic Reading, Level II: Critiquing a Text.
Sat Sep 30, 1000
Zoom
How is a response paper different from a reflective essay? How should you structure a policy analysis vs. a proposal? What’s the difference between an argumentative and persuasive essay? Learn how to adapt the introduction, context, content, and conclusion to common paper types.
Sat Sep 30, 1200
Zoom
You just received a paper assignment, but you can't figure out how to structure the paper you’re supposed to write. Sound familiar? Learn strategies for decoding and understanding instructors' prompts, unpacking what key words mean, and identifying core tasks.
Week 2--Oct 2-7
Mon Oct 2, 1200
DKL 151
This workshop teaches you how to strip away the fluff and get to the BLUF! Clarity and concision techniques can transform an overly complicated draft into a cleanly written final version. Learn to pare down your writing to essential words and ideas—a core goal at the graduate and professional levels of writing.
Mon Oct 2, 1500
DKL 151
Level II teaches the “destroy” half of Dr. Zach Shore’s “search and destroy” technique. This workshop prepares you for class discussions, argument papers, thesis writing, and more. Learn how to examine a text for its strengths and weaknesses. Identify how authors build and support their arguments, then develop your critical response by evaluating empirical and logical evidence. Strategic Reading, Level I recommended but not required.
Tue Oct 3, 1000
DKL 151
You take notes and learn the subject matter, so why is it so difficult to communicate your knowledge during tests? And where does all the time go? A few key strategies can make all the difference. This workshop will provide you with techniques and step-by-step methods for studying effectively, taking useful notes, preparing for exams, and performing better during tests.
Tue Oct 3, 1200
DKL 151
Develop your research skills and learn how to use the library search, library databases, research guides, Google Scholar, and more!
Tue Oct 3, 1500
DKL 151
So much reading, so little time! Learn Dr. Zach Shore’s method of reading for argument at the graduate level, tailored to social science and business fields. Dr. Shore’s “search and destroy” technique allows you to synthesize an author’s arguments efficiently. Level I teaches the “search” half—how to quickly extract an author's thesis and structure from an academic article. This method takes time to perfect, but the payoff is high in terms of better comprehension and time saved. For the “destroy” half, see Strategic Reading, Level II: Critiquing a Text.
Wed Oct 4, 1200
Zoom
Is it time to begin your thesis? Not sure how to start? This workshop will cover academic research and writing in general, as well as the specifics of the NPS thesis process. Learn how to navigate the process and launch your thesis with confidence.
Wed October 4, 1300
DKL 151
To master sentences that are strong means to write with clarity, vigor, and grace. In this workshop, inspired by Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, a classic grammar how-to, you will be introduced to concepts that seasoned writers take for granted: thesis statements, topic sentences, paragraph structure, active voice, punctuation, and other elements essential to academic papers that are clear, to the point, and bold.
Thu Oct 5, 1200
DKL 151
What are the common elements of academic papers at NPS? What do professors expect? Learn how the building blocks of academic papers fit together, making your papers more readable, complete, and academic. In this overview, you’ll learn about intros, conclusions, thesis statements, roadmaps, research questions, hypotheses, abstracts, citation styles, NPS resources, and more!
Fri Oct 6, 1000
Zoom
Learn how to use Zotero, a free tool that you can use to centrally collect, manage, and format your references in APA, Chicago, IEEE, and other citation styles. We will also show you how to use Zotero’s Word plug-in to cite while you write your papers or thesis. This workshop is handson, so bring your laptop! Workshop size is limited; registration at least 24 hours in advance is required. After registering, you will receive an email with installation and setup instructions, which you will need to complete prior to the class.
Fri Oct 6, 1200
Zoom
So much reading, so little time! Learn Dr. Zach Shore’s method of reading for argument at the graduate level, tailored to social science and business fields. Dr. Shore’s “search and destroy” technique allows you to synthesize an author’s arguments efficiently. Level I teaches the “search” half—how to quickly extract an author's thesis and structure from an academic article. This method takes time to perfect, but the payoff is high in terms of better comprehension and time saved. For the “destroy” half, see Strategic Reading, Level II: Critiquing a Text.
Friday Oct 6, 1400
Zoom
So much reading, so little time! Learn Dr. Zach Shore’s method of reading for argument at the graduate level, tailored to STEM fields. Dr. Shore’s “search and destroy” technique allows you to synthesize an author’s arguments efficiently. This workshop teaches the “search” half—how to quickly extract an author's thesis and structure from an academic article. This method takes time to perfect, but the payoff is high in terms of comprehension and time saved.
Week 3--Oct 9-14
Tue Oct 10, 1200
DKL 151
Imagine a conversation among all the scholars who have contributed to your research topic. Assessing the strengths, weaknesses, agreements, and disagreements of their combined wisdom is the essence of a literature review. Using the Just War Theory, this workshop presents two examples of capturing the “conversation” and helps you identify the differences between review and critical analysis. Through guided discussion, you will be better equipped to understand and write literature reviews.
Tue Oct 10, 1200
Zoom
Is it time to begin your thesis? Not sure how to start? This workshop will cover academic research and writing in general, as well as the specifics of the NPS thesis process. Learn how to navigate the process and launch your thesis with confidence.
Tue Oct 10, 1400
DKL 151
Review examples of common grammar errors that students make in their writing. Topics include subject– verb agreement, use of relative clauses, connecting and punctuating clauses, pronoun-antecedent agreement, and spotting and changing passive voice to active. You’ll first learn the rule to avoid or fix these errors, then practice it in a hands-on activity.
Wed Oct 11, 1200
Zoom
Develop your research skills and learn how to use the library search, library databases, research guides, Google Scholar, and more!
Wed Oct 11, 1500
DKL 151
Do your academic readings make you feel like an outsider? Don’t remain an unheard voice in the wilderness: learn how to construct your paper as a “conversation with others.” In this workshop, inspired by the book They Say/I Say, you will learn the methods that scholars use to engage in larger debates. Your readers will understand you better, and you will stand on equal footing with the writers in your field.
Thu Oct 12, 1200
Zoom
This workshop teaches you how to strip away the fluff and get to the BLUF! Clarity and concision techniques can transform an overly complicated draft into a cleanly written final version. Learn to pare down your writing to essential words and ideas—a core goal at the graduate and professional levels of writing.
Fri Oct 13, 1000
Zoom
Learn how to use Zotero, a free tool that you can use to centrally collect, manage, and format your references in APA, Chicago, IEEE, and other citation styles. We will also show you how to use Zotero’s Word plug-in to cite while you write your papers or thesis. This workshop is handson, so bring your laptop! Workshop size is limited; registration at least 24 hours in advance is required. After registering, you will receive an email with installation and setup instructions, which you will need to complete prior to the class.
Fri Oct 13, 1200
Zoom
Small symbols with great power, punctuation marks can do it all—connect ideas, convey tone, clarify meaning. Used incorrectly, however, they can undermine your writing, confuse readers, and diminish confidence in your work. In this workshop, we cover the most common punctuation marks in graduate writing. Examples, quizzes, and explanations ensure that you leave with a solid grasp of everything from em dashes to Oxford commas— including that most mysterious mark of all, the semicolon.
Fri Oct 13, 1400
Zoom
Imagine a conversation among all the scholars who have contributed to your research topic. Assessing the strengths, weaknesses, agreements, and disagreements of their combined wisdom is the essence of a literature review. Using the Just War Theory, this workshop presents two examples of capturing the “conversation” and helps you identify the differences between review and critical analysis. Through guided discussion, you will be better equipped to understand and write literature reviews
Sat Oct 14, 1200
Zoom
What are the common elements of academic papers at NPS? What do professors expect? Learn how the building blocks of academic papers fit together, making your papers more readable, complete, and academic. In this overview, you’ll learn about intros, conclusions, thesis statements, roadmaps, research questions, hypotheses, abstracts, citation styles, NPS resources, and more!
Our Affiliates
TLC: Teaching and Learning Commons
Mission: Empowering cross-organizational teams as a community of practice to enhance the quality of NPS education through collaborations that create and support innovative and distinctive learning experiences.
email: TLC@nps.edu
TPO: Thesis Processing Office
Thesis Processing reviews and collects all NPS theses, dissertations, capstone reports, MBA reports, and joint applied projects. We help our students meet the NPS format and citation requirements and ensure the paper is of graduate-level quality.
GWC: Graduate Writing Center
Mission: To develop the writing and critical thinking skills of NPS students for success in graduate school and as military and civilian leaders.
email: writingcenter@nps.edu