Lectures, Workshops

Alongside research and teaching that I do at the intersection of writing in the disciplines, graduate-level writing/communication support, and academic transition and success of international students, I conduct workshops and lectures for graduate students and faculty members at universities across the US and in other countries. Below are some areas I’ve covered in my workshops over the past few years:

(नेपालमाको प्राज्ञिक क्षेत्रमा गरेका सेवाको सारांश सूची यहाँ राखेको छु ।)

Workshops for International* Graduate Students 

  • Graduate-level writing in the US
    (There’s more to it than the writing section in TOEFL)
  • Strategic reading in graduate school
    (Some secrets about how locals read so much faster!)
  • Fundamentals of graduate-level academic writing in the US
    (The real substance of grad-school writing is “your” intellectual position, not borrowed ideas)
  • Writing originally to avoid plagiarism
    (The point is to transcend (unintentional) plagiarism) 
  • Writing skills for teaching assistants
    (Writing skills for designing, implementing, and enhancing your teaching—plus supporting/engaging students)

Academic Writing Workshops for All Graduate Students

  • Lit review: The why, the how, and then the what 
    (Going far beyond the summary of current research)
  • Strategies for engaging sources
    (Citing mechanically correctly, rhetorically effectively, ethically responsibly)
  • Exploring and writing for/in your discipline
    (Strategies for genre and rhetorical analysis—using a disciplinary ethnography approach)
  • Writing your dissertation faster and better
    (Strategies for discipline, productivity, getting unstuck, staying motivated, and finishing it) 
  • Academic publication: Navigating the process and politics 
    (Tips and tricks for getting published, including how to tackle some complex challenges)
  • Communicating specialized knowledge
    (It’s not just dumbing it down)
  • Invention strategies: Thesis statement, topic sentences, and more
    (Writing skills for establishing your own space and voice in your discipline)
  • Productive use of writing technologies
    (Some ‘tech magic’ to help you write better)

Professional Writing Workshops for Graduate Students

  • Writing the research statement 
    (Using past achievements to describe a research mission) 
  • Writing the teaching (philosophy) statement
    (Identifying your strengths and passion as a teacher)
  • Writing the cover/job application letter 
    (Responding to ‘what they need’ with ‘what I have’)
  • Social media and networking skills for the academic job market 
    (Curating your strengths and achievements on the web)
  • Professional communication, American style (for int’l grad students)
    (Learning more about the local society and culture once again)

Workshops for Faculty across the Disciplines  

  • Academic transition support for international graduate students
    (There’s a lot more than language issues) 
  • Accessible teaching: Engaging international graduate students
    (It’s all about the terms of engagement)
  • Integrating writing into graduate curriculum
    (Five-minute tasks for teaching and promoting writing skills) 

I can be reached via this form or at ghanashyam.sharma@stonybrook.edu for questions and requests for workshops/lectures.


Talks/workshops given at: Fordham University, Cornell University, University of Florida, University of Louisville, Ohio State University, Penn State University, Morgan State University, University of Louisiana at Monroe, California State University at Northridge, Farmingdale College, New Mexico Institute of Technology and Mining, Queens College (CUNY), Cold Spring Harbor National Laboratory, Cell Biology/Elsevier Publication (Boston), Tribhuvan University (Nepal), Kathmandu University (Nepal), Midwestern University (Nepal), Kathmandu Model College (Nepal), King’s College (Nepal), North South University (Bangladesh).

* Many domestic graduate students find workshops designed for their international counterparts relevant as well.

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