TutorTalk - The Blog

Level up your writing skills!

We have some exciting writing workshops coming up this term! Most workshops take about half an hour and are an opportunity to explore and learn about different approaches to essay writing. This semester, we have five workshops lined up between January 22nd and March 5th that you can attend (did we mention they're free for NWP students?).

1. Generative AI for Students 

   • Explore how generative AI, such as ChatGPT, works and consider its strengths and limitations. This workshops will also consider why your instructors discourage you from using AI for essays.

2. Get Organized

   • Find out how you can break the essay writing process into more manageable steps and avoid leaving everything to the last minute.

3. Sources 101

   • Discover the many uses of sources in an essay, as well as the difference between a primary and secondary source, and what the heck “peer-reviewed” means and why it's important.

4. Don't Fear the Blank Page!

   • Learn some strategies to kick-start any essay.

5. Word 101

   • Gain skills to use Word effectively for essays, such as hanging indents and keyboard shortcuts. This workshop will be especially useful to students with limited experience using Microsoft Word.

All workshops will be held in the Alward Computer Lab in the Learning Commons, and start at 11:30am. 

Register Now

We recommend registering for the workshops you are interested in. This will provide you with a reminder email the day before the event. You can register for and find more information about each workshop (as well as other events hosted by the NWP tutors) by exploring the Academic Success Center Calendar.
 

We look forward to seeing you!

Halloween-Themed Grammar Resources

With Halloween on the horizon, we have all things spooky on our minds, and what's more intimidating than grammar? But fear not! This Halloween we're sharing some sweet resources to help banish those creeping grammar fears.

The Deluxe Transitive Vampire 

• This fun and informative book will help you learn about the different components of grammar through a gothic lens -perfect for the season of vampires, ghosts, and ghouls! 

Beware of Nominalizations (AKA Zombie Nouns) 

• In this video, presented by TedEd, explore how creating a noun from a verb can make a sentence or paragraph sluggish and senseless -just like a zombie!

Bonus: Spooky Etymology

Ever wonder where the term “jack o'lantern” comes from? Or how the the meaning of the words “terror” and “horror” are different? Check out Grammar Girl's fun and informative interview, The Dark Histories Behind Your Favorite Scary Words, to learn about the etymology of some classic spooky season words (available on YouTube and the Grammar Girl Podcast).

There are so many aspects of grammar that it can be hard to know where to start. Alongside these Halloween-themed resources,  be sure to check out our grammar and punctuation guide to help make your writing spooktacular!

Happy writing and

Happy Halloween!

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