Our Mission

To develop the writing and critical thinking skills of NPS students for success in graduate school and as military and civilian leaders.

Welcome to the Graduate Writing Center

Being a good writer will empower you. In a world where security challenges require careful analysis, writing well takes on increasing importance. Becoming a strong writer requires practice, constructive feedback, and a solid understanding of writing techniques. Our coaches and instructors support you throughout this educational process, providing guidance as you develop course papers and thesis chapters.

Learn how to sign up for writing coaching and workshops, then view our WCOnline calendars to sign up.

GWC Events

Winter Workshops Online

Sign up now for DKL and GWC winter workshops! Sharpen you research, writing, and critical-thinking skills in 60- to 90-minute Zoom sessions. GWC coaches and DKL librarians teach proven strategies and techniques to help you excel in your coursework, exams, and theses. 

Thesis Writers United starts January 26!

Writing a thesis? Don't struggle in isolation. Join fellow students at Happy Hour Tuesdays, 1600–1700, and Coffee Hour Fridays, 1000–1100, to swap solutions, share progress, and strengthen resolve. A writing coach and thesis processor provide support and field questions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Held via Zoom.

Write-ins every Friday

Write-ins are dedicated blocks of time each Friday 1000–1430 when you can concentrate, write, and make progress on a paper or thesis. Held via Zoom, with writing coaches and librarians on hand for questions. No appointment required—come for all or part. ​​​​​

New Resources

Quick Clips & Tips

When your to-do list is long but you're short on time, visit this page! You'll find brief videos, infographics, and other online tutorials, all offering bite-sized information on a variety of writing- and research-related topics. Sweet!

Zotero Examples: Chicago Notes & Bibliography / Turabian

The NPS Citation Guide now includes Zotero examples for Chicago Notes & Bibliography / Turabian! To the left of each source type is a Zotero link that points to a template showing how to produce a properly formatted result. Proofreading remains essential, but with these examples, your citations and references will be well on their way!

Online Services

Asynchronous Coaching Daily

Whether you’re overseas or overloaded, you can get writing help any time by signing up for asynchronous coaching. Submit a draft to the Writing Center for feedback on critical thinking and writing mechanics, then receive feedback by 1700 PDT the day of your appointment without a real-time coaching session. Learn more about async coaching.

Drop-in Coaching via Zoom

Have a quick question? A short paper that's due today? Drop in and talk to a coach on Zoom! Offered M–F, 1300–1400 PST. Check WCOnline or this page for details.

Video Highlights

"What's Different About Academic Writing?"

Don't miss this six-minute refresher on the fundamentals of academic writing.

"Plagiarism's Haunting Legacy"

Also check out "Plagiarism's Haunting Legacy" (5:27), a video produced by the Thesis Processing Office, to get an idea of how pervasive and harmful plagiarism is.

Page last modified January 20, 2021