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PELS Courses

PELS courses are offered to all students, including domestic and international multilingual, and multidialectal students enrolled in a graduate degree at Â鶹ŮÀÉ. Our courses help students succeed in their current courses, research papers, theses and dissertations, articles for publication, grant proposals, and even graduate and workplace applications. PELS courses are free and, although not required, are self-selected by students who want to excel in their writing and oral skills. Students work in small cohorts of peers, under the guidance of an experienced instructor, on their current or upcoming projects, and make progress towards their degree goals.

If you have any questions on PELS courses please email Dr. Claudia Amadori.

Course Eligibility, Application Process, and Policies

• All Â鶹ŮÀÉ students, including multilingual domestic and international graduate and professional students who are currently active degree-seeking students can apply.
• Students must apply to be admitted to a PELS course. Please see Announcements for course offerings.
• PELS Courses are 10-week non-credit bearing courses. Students will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the course.
• Attendance is required. Students who stop attending might not be allowed to enroll in future PELS courses. The student's advisor/chair might also be notified.
• PELS courses might be delivered in person or remotely (synchronically) via Zoom. Students will be notified of the delivery method prior to the beginning of the course.
• For a list of PELS courses for undergraduate students see PELS Undergraduate Courses (currently not offered)
• For a list of PELS courses for graduate students see PELS Graduate Courses

Pels for Undergraduate Students

PELS is in the process of developing a series of courses and workshops for undergraduate students.

PELS workshops and courses might include topics such as:

• Preparing to write
• Time management skills
• Writing rhetorically
• Genre and style
• Undergraduate research
• Writing, revising, and editing your writing
• Taking part in discussion
• Designing and delivering effective presentations
• Improving oral communication
• Navigating campus resources

PELS Courses and workshops for undergraduate students are in the works. Please check Announcements for dates and courses offered.

If you have questions on PELS courses for undergraduate students please email camadori@fau.edu

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 undergraduate 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 upper division undergraduate 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 undergraduate 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

PELS Courses for All Students, Including Multilingual Graduate Students

Â鶹ŮÀÉ's diverse student population is at the core of PELS' goal to offer a series of free courses and workshops that target the specific writing and speaking needs of professional graduate students.

These are some of the areas that PELS courses and workshops may address:

• Preparing to write (thesis; dissertation; academic paper or article)
• Reading for research
• Taking part in academic discussion
• Research paper writing
• Writing your thesis or dissertation
• Revising and editing your writing
• Preparing for the academic/professional job search
• Designing and delivering effective presentations
• Improving oral communication

Please check Announcements for dates and courses offered.

If you have any questions on PELS for Graduate Students please email camadori@fau.edu

PELS Graduate Course Descriptions

Not all courses will be offered every semester. Please check Announcements for dates and courses offered.

Writing Courses

PELS 6001 - Preparing to Write and Research Strategies

This 10-week course is designed for all students, including multilingual students, who are in the early stages of a writing project (paper, article for publication). 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 graduate seminars. They will apply writing and research strategies to their current or upcoming projects in small groups and under the guidance of their instructor.

PELS 6002 - Research Paper Writing Workshop

This 10-week course is designed for all students, including multilingual students, who are working on a research project (article for publication, conference paper, seminar paper, etc.). Students will learn strategies to plan and develop parts of a larger 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 6003 - Thesis and Dissertation Writer Workshop

This 10-week course is designed for all students, including multilingual graduate students, who are in the process of writing their theses or dissertations. This course provides in-class writing time and collaboration with other students, including discussions on thesis/dissertation writing strategies. Students will have access to resources, and will be able to receive individual feedback on their progress from the instructor and from a small cohort of peers.

PELS 6004 - Revising and Editing Workshop

This 5-week course is designed for all students, including multilingual students, who have completed a draft of a written project (article, paper, thesis/dissertation chapter), 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 6010 - Taking Part in Academic Discourse

This 5-week course is designed for all students, including multilingual students, who wish to learn to successfully participate in academic discussions. This course will provide students with opportunities to improve participation and fluency in academic discussions. Students will learn strategies for preparing, entering, responding to, leading, and participating in discussion. This course will boost confidence and help students to become a part of their academic community, share and create new knowledge, challenge ideas, negotiate their identity, and have a voice in their field.

PELS 6030 - Designing and Delivering Effective Presentations

This 5-week course is designed to assist all students, including multilingual 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 6005 - Communicating in the Workplace

This 5-week course is designed for all students, including multilingual students, who will need to communicate in English in professional contexts. Students will learn about differences between academic and workplace communication, explore communication strategies effective for different workplace situations, and consider cultural aspects of workplace communication.

PELS 6020 - Preparing for the Professional Job Search

This 5-week course is designed for all students, including multilingual 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.

PELS 6021 - Preparing for the Academic Job Search

This 5-week course is designed to assist all students, including multilingual graduate students as they apply for academic positions. Students will learn strategies for planning an academic job search, developing application materials, (i.e. CVs, application letters, teaching statements, teaching portfolios, and research statements), and preparing for first- and second-stage interviews. Students will gain a better understanding of the academic job search process, and will develop drafts of several application documents.

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