WKU News

Research studies can be difficult, especially if a student has never actually conducted a research study before. Thankfully, the Naylor Workshop on Undergraduate Research in Writing Studies is here to help students learn how to conduct these studies and explore research in writing studies as a whole. 

For the past 10 years, York College of Pennsylvania has been hosting the Naylor Workshop for students all around the world. Intended to help undergraduate students learn how to properly conduct research questions in writing studies, this workshop is a great chance for students to get experience in entering different workplaces and organizations and is open to any undergraduate student. Students work in small groups, large groups, and one-on-one with expert researchers and other students to help move their project forward to completion and maybe even publication! 

Dr. Jessi Thomsen, Assistant Professor of Professional Writing in WKU’s English Department, has worked with the Naylor Workshop for a number of years and encourages any student interested in writing to participate. “We've gotten some students who are psychology majors, who are interested in some of the psychology of writing and how that works. Or we've gotten some who are doing majors in sociology, or nonprofit work,” Dr. Thomsen says. “Even if their major isn’t specific to writing, they would be studying writing in that context. So for someone really interested in nonprofits, how is writing used to convey particular values and missions in a nonprofit organization? Or how are those messages communicated to the public using writing?”

While the Naylor Workshop helps teach students how to properly research writing studies, students aren’t attending classes all weekend. On Friday, students attend a dinner where they are seated with their small groups. Then on Saturday, students discuss their research with everyone and then work to develop them further with small groups. On Sunday, students do a walkthrough of posters they created about their research question. “There are no classes,” Dr. Thomsen says, “There are no lectures or anything like that. It's all very hands-on all the time.”

The Naylor Workshop also works hard to make this experience affordable to students. Students typically have their food and lodging covered by the Naylor Workshop, and they usually get a stipend to help cover their flight. Transportation at the workshop is also provided.

Taryn Deckard, a 22-year-old junior from Metcalfe County, KY, attended the Naylor Workshop in Fall 2023 and only has good things to say about the experience. “I'm the first in my family to kind of dip my toes into graduate school because I'm in my undergraduate right now. Going to conferences like the Naylor Workshop, it kind of helps you get a glimpse of what grad school would look like and what academia post-undergraduate will look like,” Deckard says, “especially for people who may be clueless because honestly, I didn't know what any of that looks like or what would be good on applications for graduate school or how to have good conversations about rhetoric and things you read and things you write because I just didn't get it.”

Deckard says that this workshop is a unique experience for students and that students have much to gain from attending; in addition to one-on-one workshopping, “there's a huge sense of community. When I went there, I had this big moment of, oh, this is what academia is. Like, yes, it's college. Yes, it's classrooms. Yes, it's professors, but it's this community of how to talk about what you're passionate about,” Deckard says, “And I think that's what most people would take away from that. It's just like, wow, this is what they're teaching us to do in college is talk about these passions in a way that it makes sense.” 

The Naylor Workshop is an incredible opportunity for students. Dr. Thomsen stresses just how beneficial this workshop is. “The best part of college is that there is room for exploration and growth, but we can get bogged down with our daily work. At this workshop, you don’t need to worry about a grade, you just get to talk about your cool ideas with others.” Dr. Thomsen says. 

Applying to the Naylor Workshop is easy, Deckard says. “It probably took me less than an hour to fill out, I would say. I think I applied by the end of May and I think I knew maybe August.” Deckard says. 

The 2024 Naylor Workshop will take place September 27-29, and the deadline to apply is May 31. If you are interested in submitting, WKU’s English Department is hosting a proposal workshop on April 3rd from 4 pm to 5 pm in Cherry Hall room 101.During this workshop, students will be focusing on the main key questions that the Naylor Workshop application asks of them: What is your research question? What methods might you use for your research? Why is this question important to you, how is it related to the study of writing/language, and why should others be invested in it for teaching/education/social justice?

All students are welcome to this workshop. If any students did not attend the info session that took place February 21st but want to attend this one, they are welcome to attend but are highly encouraged to email Dr. Thomsen for more information. Students do not need to have a full proposal written out before this workshop.