This fall, the Baker Commons is offering two cycles of writing workshops, instead of the previously announced three cycles. The dates have also changed, so please review this new schedule before sending your students. The workshops will be conducted by a librarian and a tutor and will cover the following topics:
1. Topic Development & Prewriting
2. Researching for Focus Points
3. Organization/Outline & Thesis
4. Integration & Citation
5. Revision & Editing
This is a great opportunity for students to develop their essay writing skills; please encourage your students to attend! Any student who attends all five workshops will receive a certificate of completion (which you may consider for extra credit?). Below is a schedule with descriptions of each workshop, locations TBA. We will be announcing these to students via email as well.
1. Essays Don’t Have to Hurt!
Are your papers boring you? Not getting the grades you want? Why not start writing about the things you care about? The things that are important to you are important. Come to this workshop ready to talk about what matters in life to discover topics you really want to write about.
Cycle One: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 2-3:15
Cycle Two: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 2-3:15
2. Focus, People!
How many times have you seen comments on your papers like:
-Be more specific
-Give examples
-Explain
How about building your paper around specific examples and clear explanations before you hand it in? Come to this workshop to learn strategies for finding the specifics that make papers great. Your teacher will be happy, so your GPA will be happy, and you’ll be happy.
Cycle One: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 2-3:15
Cycle Two: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 2-3:15
3. Get Organized!
Imagine that you’re working on a research paper – and you’re actually into it! You’re writing about something you care about. You’ve got the details that will support your points. How do you put things in a meaningful order that will get your point across to your reader? Join our workshop and learn techniques that will help you succeed.
Cycle One: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 2-3:15
Cycle Two: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 2-3:15
4. The Great Balancing Act
Has anyone ever told you what they’re actually looking for in a research paper? Have you been told not to use the Internet? Not to cut and paste? To cite sources – but not too much? What do they want? In this workshop, we’re going to talk about how to integrate your own voice with supporting sources into a harmonious whole.
Cycle One: Wednesday, Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 2-3:15
Cycle Two: Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 2-3:15
5. Once More – With Feeling!
Gertrude Stein said, “Everything’s ugly the first time you do it.” That’s why the first one is not the one you want your teacher to read. Once your thoughts are down on paper you need to revise it. You need to look at it again with fresh eyes (re-vision, right?) and decide if the ideas, the paragraphs, the sentences and even the words need to be re-arranged, expanded, or pared down. It’s an important but often challenging step, and frequently overlooked.
Cycle One: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 2-3:15
Cycle Two: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 2-3:15
