Writing Training for Graduate Students

The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab (OWL) supports graduate writers through one-on-one consultations, graduate-specific programming, and online resources.

Graduate-Specific Programming

  • Introduction to Graduate Writing 4-Part Workshop

The Introduction to Graduate Writing Workshop is meant to introduce graduate students in their first or second year to various aspects of scholarly writing to become successful scholarly writers in their field of study. The workshop is a four-part event focusing on Getting Started, Drafting, Revising/Editing, and Project Planning.

  • Intensive Writing Experience for Thesis and Dissertation Writers (in collaboration with the Graduate School)

The purpose of the Intensive Writing Experience is to give graduate students in good standing with their programs time to write or to revise their thesis or dissertation with support from Writing Lab staff. Participants will receive writing instruction and support from Writing Lab staff, will spend significant time writing or revising their thesis or dissertation, and will network with other thesis and dissertation writers on campus. Four sessions of the program are generally offered each summer, with each session occupying three full days. Sessions are offered as either virtual or in-person.

  • Writers’ Rooms

Writers’ Rooms are dedicated times and places for graduate writers to work on their scholarly writing projects. Writing Lab consultants are available to guide writers through setting goals and to talk over writing issues should any arise. Writers should plan to spend most of the two-hour block in independent writing.

  • New for Spring 2023: Workshops for Mid-Career Graduate Writers

Special programming for third- and fourth-year graduate students is in the development phase, with a goal of offering it for the first time during Spring semester 2023.

  • Support for Graduate Mentors/Graduate Faculty

Workshops on best practices around support graduate writers, leveraging faculty knowledge of disciplinary conventions with research on support writers in the discipline along with graduate-level genres of writing.

Graduate-Specific Online Resources

Handouts and vidcasts on the Purdue OWL offer an overview of graduate writing, address specific graduate writing topics and genres, and provide materials and information for thesis and dissertation writers.