In addition to tutoring sessions, the Communications Lab offers a variety of services to the Illinois Tech community. Learn more about each below.
Workshops
We offer a range of workshops that focus on clarifying your narrative voice while building a sound argument with well-sourced evidence. Sessions for students might include how to write a literature review, an introduction to the peer review process, developing a research proposal, and composing grants. The Communications Lab also supports faculty in thinking through how to design effective writing assignments and how to integrate more communicative modes into their syllabi and learning objectives. Interested in hosting a workshop? Let us know at commlab@illinoistech.edu.
Peer Review Groups
Our peer review groups provide a supportive and collaborative environment for writers to share their work and receive constructive feedback. We offer different types of groups to meet different needs, including dissertation writing groups for doctoral candidates and accountability groups for writers who need motivation and structure. Would you like to join one of our peer review groups? Let’s get started at commlab@illinoistech.edu.
Writing Retreats
Our writing retreats for graduate students give writers dedicated time and space to make significant progress on their respective projects in a quiet, distraction-free environment. Would you like to participate in a writing retreat this semester? Write to us at commlab@illinoistech.edu.
Summer Writing Workshop
Our Summer Research Writing Workshop is an intensive program designed to help graduate students produce a polished piece of writing for publication. The boot-camp-style workshop is geared toward students who are ready to start writing about their research. By the end of the program, each participant will have a finished dissertation chapter or a publishable journal/conference article. The workshop will teach students to master the mechanics and conventions of academic writing, understand and adhere to submission guidelines, and write excellent research papers in a hands-on environment. The small cohort size ensures that every student gets the individualized attention and support they need to succeed. Details about the Summer 2026 workshop will be shared in the spring semester.