PELS UNDERGRADUATE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

PELS is currently developing courses and workshops for undergraduate upper division students. Not all courses will be offered every semester. Please check Announcements for dates and courses offered.

Writing Courses


PELS 4001 - PREPARING TO WRITE AND RESEARCH STRATEGIES 

This 5-week course is designed for all upper division undergradaute students who are in the early stages of a writing project (paper, article for publication, etc.). This course will cover general and discipline-specific strategies to prepare for writing, including reading and note taking for research, field-specific library resources and types of writing, and approaches to generating ideas. Students will be able to work on writing projects assigned to them in their courses. They will apply writing and research strategies to their current or upcoming projects in small groups and under the guidance of their instructor during one-to-one sessions.

PELS 4002 - RESEARCH PAPER WRITING WORKSHOP

This 5-week course is designed for all upper division undergraduate students who are working on a research project (article for publication, research paper, etc.). Students will learn strategies to plan and develop a research project, such as setting goals, overcoming writer's block, and making progress towards their goals. Students will be able to work on their current research projects under the supervision of an experienced instructor and in small cohorts of like-minded students.

PELS 6004 - REVISING AND EDITING WORKSHOP

This 5-week course is designed for all upper division undergraduate students who have completed a draft of a written project (article, paper, etc.), and wish to learn revising and editing strategies. Students will learn to distinguish between higher and lower order concerns, how to improve organization and structure, incorporate outside sources, edit for style, proofread for errors, and improve readability. Students will workshop their work in small cohorts, and will have one-on-one time with their instructors.

 

Speaking Courses


 

PELS 4030 - DESIGNING AND DELIVERING EFFECTIVE PRESENTATIONS

This 5-week course is designed to assist undergraduate upper division students develop strategies for preparing and delivering presentations that are clear, compelling, persuasive, concise, and visually effective. Students will become more comfortable presenting as they will have opportunities to practice delivering presentations in front of a supportive audience.

 

Academic and Professional Communication / The Job Search 


 

PELS 4020 - PREPARING FOR THE PROFESSIONAL JOB SEARCH 

This 5-week course is designed for upper division undergradaute students who are planning to search for a professional job. The course introduces a series of professional job application steps, including networking, giving elevator pitches, searching for jobs, interpreting job ads, attending job fairs, making digital profiles, writing resumes and cover letters, interviewing, and becoming familiar with relevant resources. The course will help students develop their job application documents and skills, and will increase their awareness of cultural and linguistics implications of applying for professional jobs.

Course descriptions adapted from Michelle Crow - Cornell University, ELSO Program