Academic Skills
Academic Skills workshops focus on developing skills and imparting knowledge that will facilitate and enhance your academic experience in graduate school.
In previous semesters, the GSC has offered the following Academic Skills workshops. For a list of workshops being offered this semester, please go to our Event Calendar or Registration page.
Workshops offered in Spring 2009
Compiling a Lit Review: Introduction - This introductory lecture provides an overview of the literature search process and is intended for those beginning a literature review for a research project, proposal, dissertation, or publication. It will cover general resources and techniques that are useful for all disciplines. You will learn key steps in conducting a literature search and be introduced to core databases that are important for thoroughly mining the academic literatures.
Compiling a Lit Review: Engineering and Technology - This workshop will cover the literature search process and is intended for those beginning a literature review for a research project, proposal, dissertation, or publication. It will cover resources and techniques that are useful in Engineering and Technology research. You will learn key steps in conducting a literature search and be introduced to core databases that are important for thoroughly mining the academic literatures in these fields.
Compiling a Lit Review: Life Sciences - This workshop will cover the literature search process and is intended for those beginning a literature review for a research project, proposal, dissertation, or publication. It will cover resources and techniques that are useful in life sciences literature research. You will learn key steps in conducting a literature search and be introduced to core databases that are important for thoroughly mining the academic literatures in these fields.
Completion of the Ph.D.: Step-by-Step Guidance from the Graduate School - Learn the step-by-step program to make completing your degree easier. Discover tips and etiquette to work effectively with committees, faculty and staff in your department, and staff in the Graduate School. Discover an appropriate timeline for you to get things done and take charge of your degree.
Finding Data Sets in the Social Sciences - This workshop will cover strategies, search tools and resources for finding social science numbers, data, and data sets available through the University of Wisconsin Madison Libraries.
Fostering a Productive Relationship with Your Advisor - Learn how to optimize your relationship with your advisor, including strategies for effective communication, overcoming conflicts, and identifying more ways your advisor can help you.
Keeping Current with the Literature - Learn about several tools that can help you stay up-to-date in your field of research. Learn how to create a custom list of library databases to be always at your fingertips. Have table of contents of the most recent journals sent directly to your email. Be alerted to the most recent articles on a topic. Monitor Web sites, blogs, and other important resources with ease. Keep track of citations and make bibliographies quickly.
Manage your References: An Introduction to Citation Managers - Are you tired of formatting bibliographies and in-text citations by hand? Are article pdf files stored randomly on your hard drive with no hopes of retrieving them? Need a place to collect literature citations while you are researching? Citation management tools can help. Citation Managers are software and web applications that help you to: create and organize a personal research database of references gathered, format manuscripts and reference lists instantly in a variety of styles (MLA, APA, IEEE, etc.) and share your research with colleagues. This workshop will give an overview of the four citation managers supported by the campus libraries, RefWorks, EndNote, EndNote Web and Zotero, and help you decide which one is right for you based on your individual research needs.
Prelim Prep and Strategies for Reading List Compilation - This workshop will discuss strategies for conducting research for prelim preparations as well as for compiling reading lists using library resources. While the focus will be in the humanities and social sciences, all disciplines are welcome.
Primary Sources: Government Documents, Newspapers and Archives - Learn about library tools and resources for finding and accessing government documents, newspapers and archives. This will include coverage of both American and international resources.
Publishing your Research and Managing your Copyright: Engineering - Geared for engineering and science graduate students, this workshop focuses on preparing your research articles for publication and managing your rights as an author. Resources on publishing options (including open access publishing), the NIH public access policy, and managing your rights when signing a contract with a publisher will be included.
Speaking to a Professional Crowd: Developing Conference Presentation Techniques and Tips - This workshop, which is designed to help any writer who is preparing to deliver a conference paper, will focus on how to plan, organize and deliver conference presentations, including incorporating visual aids and preparing for the Q&A.
UW-Madison Libraries: What You Really Need to Know - An introduction to the many research tools and services the UW-Madison libraries offer: MadCat (the library catalog), journal databases, other electronic materials, conveniences such as book retrieval and your online library account, and ways to get help finding and using campus library resources. There will also be an opportunity to ask any questions you might have about the libraries.