International Cafe, "Building Blocks: Writing Solid Paragraphs," January 31 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Writing Center will hold its next International Cafe on January 31 on the topic of "Building Blocks: Writing Solid Paragraphs."

Paragraphs are the building blocks of argumentative essays, but they are often very tough to write. it's easy to digress or fall into paraphrase, and even easier to not indicate the purpose of the paragraph and how it fits in with the paragraphs around it. Come to find out more about how to write strong, evidence-based paragraphs.

It runs from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the University of Pittsburgh Writing Center and is free and open to the Pitt community.

International Writing Cafe: "Journaling Your Way to Writing Success," October 18 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Writing Center will host its next International Writing Cafe session, titled "Journaling Your Way to Writing Success," on October 18.

You might find that your instructor gives you a writing assignment, and you have no idea how to start. Or maybe you feel you don’t have enough practice writing, only opening up a document when your teacher asks you, but not quite finding confidence in your writing.

In this International Café, students will learn about effective informal journaling strategies that can be incorporated into anyone’s regular writing practice. Students will discuss models for journaling, and practice writing a journal entry that can help them move toward successful writing. **Students who participate in this Café will be offered written feedback from the facilitator, handed back at our Nov. 1 session.** Facilitated by Rachel McTernan.

International Writing Cafe: "Go with the Flow," October 4 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Writing Center will host its next International Writing Cafe session, titled "Go with the Flow," on October 4.

Have you received feedback from your instructor telling you that your paragraph or essay needed more “flow”? “Flow” in writing usually refers to the smooth and clear movement from one idea to the next. But how can we achieve good flow when we sit down to write or revise? This Café session will provide students useful strategies in syntax and organization for making sure your writing flows from beginning to end. Students will practice identifying flow in writing, and will try their hand at writing a paragraph with different kinds of flow. Facilitated by Sam Pittman.

University of Pittsburgh Writing Center International Cafe: "The More You Know: Building Vocabulary to Strengthen Your Writing," October 13.

This event is open to University of Pittsburgh students. The University of Pittsburgh Writing Center offers an "International Cafe" series throughout the year with workshops for the needs of international students. The third of 2017-18 is "The More You Know: Building Vocabulary to Strengthen Your Writing".

Do you struggle to know which vocabulary words to use when writing your assignments successfully and fluently? During this session of the Writer's Cafe, we will read several short pieces of published writing, and generate useful lists of vocabulary words and phrases that relate directly to the actions and relationships within each piece. This vocabulary will help us to begin writing about these readings in more authentic and successful ways. You’ll leave with vocabulary-building strategies that you can take to your other writing assignments. Facilitated by Laura Waxman.

The free event starts at 3:30 pm in the Writing Center in the O'Hara Student Center at 4024 O'Hara Street in Oakland (map).

International Café: "Goals and Expectations: Understanding Your Writing Assignments" at Pitt, September 15.

This event is open to University of Pittsburgh students. The University of Pittsburgh Writing Center offers an "International Cafe" series throughout the year with workshops for the needs of international students. The first of 2017-18 is "Goals and Expectations: Understanding Your Writing Assignments".

When you receive a writing assignment from your instructor, you may find yourself unsure of what your instructor is looking for, or even frightened by how much is expected of you. What kind of paper does your instructor want? Are you being asked to summarize, interpret, discuss, make connections, argue—or all of these? What if your instructor uses long lists of questions to prompt your writing—which do you answer, and how? If you have been given a writing assignment that you don’t yet understand, bring it with you to discuss as we learn techniques for interpreting your writing assignments. Facilitated by Sam Pittman

The free event starts at 3:30 pm in the Writing Center in the O'Hara Student Center at 4024 O'Hara Street in Oakland (map).