GCC Workshops

All GCC workshops occur from 5-6 pm in IDEATE Studio A in the Hunt Library and offer FREE PIZZA. GCC workshops are free and appropriate for students at all levels of study, in the sciences and humanities. 

Writing a Graduate School Application Essay
Wednesday, October 18 5-6 Register Here
The statement of purpose requires you to pitch your candidacy to a small number of faculty members who read hundreds of other essays. This workshop will provide writing strategies on how to craft an effective application essay. You will learn how to show your busy readers that you are a good fit for the program and can contribute meaningfully to the their department.

Making the Case for Your Research
Wednesday, October 25 5-6 Register Here
This workshop will teach you four steps that make the case for why your research is an essential contribution to the field. You will turn your research into a compelling narrative and highlight the innovation of your work, especially for non-specialist audiences. These moves can help you structure the abstract and introduction of your paper, and can be applied to conference presentations, application materials, grant proposals, and more.

Improving the “Flow” of Your Writing
Thursday, November 2 5-6 Register Here
If you have ever been told that your writing is “choppy” or does not have any “flow,” this workshop is for you. We will teach you a simple – but effective – principle for improving the logical flow between sentences and paragraphs, called the Known/New Contract. This crucial rhetorical principle will help an audience follow the progression of your ideas and arguments. 

Crafting a Compelling 3MT Presentation
Tuesday, November 25 5-6, IDEATE Studio B 
This workshop will help you explain your dissertation research in a compelling way for the 3MT competition. Successful 3MT presentations balance technical content with audience considerations. In this workshop, you will learn about a series of moves to help frame your research, focus on the most compelling aspects of the work, and make a strong case for your work's importance to non-specialist audiences.

Refining Your 3MT Performance and Message
Thursday, January 25 5-6 
This workshop will allow you to practice performing your 3MT talk while receiving peer feedback on your content and delivery.The low-stakes workshop environment can help you get valuable feedback and ease your nerves before the preliminary rounds  You should arrive with your 3MT script and be ready to deliver it orally. 

For more information on our workshops, please contact gcc-cmu@andrew.cmu.edu
A complete list of our workshop topics can be found here.
Find recordings of previous workshops here.