Support for Graduate Students

The University Writing Center (UWC) serves graduate students at UCF. We offer free peer support, both online and in-person. Our peer consultants take a semester-long course that prepares them to assist students in a variety of disciplines. They are here to give you reader feedback as well as help you find the answers to your discipline-specific questions.

Did you know you can make regular appointments at the center and request to work with a particular consultant?  Graduate students find this service especially helpful when working on a longer project, such as a thesis or dissertation. We currently have five graduate students and twelve veteran undergraduate students working in the center. If you feel more comfortable working with another graduate student, you can request to work with a graduate student when making an appointment.

Why Join A Graduate Writing Group

Graduate Studies and the University Writing Center believe that community and accountability, along with setting achievable goals, play a significant role in completing graduate writing projects. Past participants in our weekly graduate writing groups have finished proposals, chapters, articles, and have even defended their dissertations! Since the Writing Center wants to help you achieve these milestones, we offer graduate students the space and time each week to maximize their productivity.

What Happens in a Writing Group?

Each small group (5-8 members) meets for two hours each week and begins with goal setting and ends with brief discussions about accomplishments and strategies for moving forward.  There is no teacher or agenda, but there is a facilitator present to greet writers and get the group started.  If the group members decide they want to receive feedback, this can be incorporated into meetings.  However, the group members will need to set guidelines for how and when feedback is given.

The bulk of each meeting is devoted to structured writing time so that you can make substantial progress on your writing projects. The group supports a variety of disciplines and a variety of ongoing projects. Some members could be working on a conference presentation while another could be working on class project.

We request that you be committed to your group and regularly show up. We know writing is hard and can be isolating.  One of the main goals here is offer an opportunity for you to be accountable to your writing. Participating in a writing group has been proven to help you accomplish your writing goals in graduate school.

How Do I Join a Group?

There are a couple of ways to find a group convenient for you.

• Go to the Writing Center in person (TCH 109) or call (407-823-2197) and leave your contact information.
• Click on the Writing Group Interest Form at the bottom of this page.
• If you already know a few classmates who are interested in forming a writing group, you can join as a group.

Where Do Groups Meet?

• Groups meet either in the Writing Center or in Graduate Studies offices
• Groups can also meet virtually if there are enough participants.

If you would like to form a Graduate Writing Group, please complete the Writing Group Interest Form.

Feeling overwhelmed with how to submit and format your thesis or dissertation? The College of Graduate Studies provides specific guidelines and requirements, and UWC consultants can help you with any other aspects of writing and guide you through some conventions in formatting.

The UWC offers workshops specific to graduate students. Be sure to check out our events page for dates and times.

Are you looking for a quiet space to drop in and write? The UWC located on the first floor of Trevor Colbourn Hall (room 109) provides computers and a working space for you to use our resources or write. No appointment needed!