Dear Academic Staff Members and Graduate Students,
The School of Foreign Languages Academic Writing Center (SFL–AWC) is excited to announce the launch of a new workshop series on General Writing Skills, led by Stephen Kuntz. Designed to help members of the university community become more confident, effective, and strategic writers, the series will explore key aspects of effective writing through practical, focused sessions.
Stephen joined the Department of Modern Languages in September, 2025, after serving as an educator at the University of Alberta, Canada for 32 years, in literature, English language development, and writing. For 16 years, he served as Associate Director of the Academic Success Centre overseeing the writing program, staff, and editing service and offering writing workshops, student consultations, and teaching on plagiarism awareness and academic-cultural transition. Having graded more than 10,000 student documents (and “looked at” 10,000 more), he still finds great satisfaction in teaching and aiding people in becoming better thinkers and communicators, primarily through focusing on writing.
Whether you are a student working on academic assignments, a researcher developing your ideas, or a faculty member communicating knowledge, strong writing skills can make a real difference. Through this workshop series, you will have the opportunity to explore practical strategies, rethink familiar writing habits, and discover new ways to express your ideas with clarity and impact.
Join us for this series of practical workshops designed to help you become a more confident and effective writer.
Please find below the schedule and brief descriptions of the workshops in the series.
Characteristics of Effective Writing - Thursday, October 22; 5:30 p.m.
How do you know if what you have written is effective? This session will introduce you to the characteristics of effective writing and provide tips for improving your writing.
Writing for Audience and Purpose - Thursday, November 5; 5:30 p.m.
Every piece of writing should be written with a specific audience and purpose in mind. Knowing that audience and the purpose(s) are essential aspects of effective writing. Do you know yours? This session will aid you in becoming aware and intentional about your audience and purpose.
Writing the Introduction - Thursday, November 19; 5:30 p.m.
This session will show you what an effective introduction should have and do.
Writing Thesis Statements - Thursday, December 3; 5:30 p.m.
What is a thesis statement, where should it go, and what should it do?
Writing the Conclusion - Thursday, December 17; 5:30 p.m.
Can conclusions do more than conclude? Learn how to end essays.
Platform for the workshops: Zoom
Join the workshops: https://zoom.us/j/6090907842?pwd=oh6IVGI3frgkhiojc1KEhyEd9R7EJE.1
Meeting ID: 609 090 7842
Passcode: 164374