Writing

Working on fellowship applications this quarter? Facing a looming NSF or NIH deadline, or just want to get a jump start on future applications? Get a just-in-time overview of general principles and best practices for writing stellar fellowship applications from a Hume Center writing expert.

Erica Cirillo-McCarthy, PhD, assistant director, Hume Center for Writing and Speaking, and lecturer, Stanford Introductory Studies - Program in Writing and Rhetoric

Read Erica's bio

As digital media continues to impact and envelop reading and writing practices, how is it shaping the future of reading and writing? In this session we will consider critical literacy and text production among youth and their communities that is often overlooked, and share successful experiences with guiding youth to read and write the world around them in ways that are relevant to their own realities. The session will open with a lightning talk by educator Catlin Tucker.

Light reception follows from 7pm to 8pm.

As instructors, we know the value of assigning writing in our courses—it helps students grapple with new knowledge and learn discursive conventions in the field, and it helps instructors evaluate their students’ progress. But how exactly does completing a writing task help students learn? And do certain types of writing assignments help students learn better than others?

For Grad Students and Postdocs

Presenter: Mariatte Denman, Ph.D.

Writing effectively about your teaching is an important skill that you will need for the academic job search, grant submissions, and your future academic position. In this workshop, led by Dr. Mariatte Denman, from the VPTL, we will discuss a range of conceptual and organizational principles that will help you to organize your reflections and thoughts about teaching in order to write a compelling teaching statement. We will also analyze real examples of teaching statements. 

Kristin Sainani, PhD, Epidemiology, associate professor (Teaching), Health Research and Policy

Writing effectively about your teaching is an important skill that you will need for the academic job search, grant submissions, and your future academic position. In this workshop, led by Dr. Mariatte Denman, from the VPTL, we will discuss a range of conceptual and organizational principles that will help you to organize your reflections and thoughts about teaching in order to write a compelling teaching statement. We will also analyze real examples of teaching statements.

What are some ways to reduce over-complexity in your scholarly writing? What is "prewriting" and "writing blind" and how can they help you write more effectively with less effort.  These and other approaches  will be discussed with two professional guests that have had a great deal of experience in helping PhD students improve their writing.

Guest Speaker: