Writing Groups: Coming to a campus near you

By Abby Ponder 

So, as I mentioned in last week's post, we at the WKU Writing Center are looking to host various writing groups for interested students on campus. So, whether you're an English major or just someone who loves writing (or presenting at conferences and seeing your hard work published), you might be interested in some of these groups. 

These groups will also be led by our tutors in the Writing Center, so you're liable to see plenty of familiar faces. These sessions are designed to be collaborative spaces. So, while there might be a brief instructional period at the beginning of the meeting, there will also be plenty of time for sharing your work and discussing ideas with your peers. 

As we prepare for the respective launches of each session, I'll post the respective flyers below. 

Check back throughout the weekend for more flyer updates! 

Fun and Helpful Links: Finals Edition

By Abby Ponder

It's both terrifying and exciting, but the semester is slowly but surely beginning to come to a close.

We're almost there...

...but so are those paper deadlines.

Stay calm, though. We'll get through this.

We've compiled a handy dandy list of links to help get you through this trying time. (Really, though, we have faith in you.)

1. You need to outline your paper and don't know where to start? Here's an earlier post that covers just that! 
2. You've got the topic, the outline is finished, but you can't seem to get in the writing zone. So, time to find a new writing place! 
3. But if you're still struggling with procrastination, we've got just the post for you. 
4. Research is a critical component in an academic paper, so make sure to utilize the WKU Libraries. 
5. You've finally written that paper and now you need to edit it, so check out our post that offers some suggestions on that very topic. 
6. You need to cite your paper? The Purdue Owl is a fantastic resource for checking on the various citation styles, specifically MLA, APA, and Chicago. 
7. You've turned the paper in and are dealing with professor or peer feedback. Now what? 

And don't forget, the WKU Writing Center is here with you every step of the way. To schedule an appointment, give us a call at (270) 745-5719 or shoot us an email at writingcenter@wku.edu. You can also stop by and see us in our Cherry Hall location (Cherry 123) from 9-4 or at the reference desk in the Commons from 4-9.

So, remember:

Photo credit to this tumblr account that also highlights some additional stress release tips for finals week. 

Happy Writing! 

It's not me, it's you (in a good way)

Happy Monday, folks!

This post doesn't have much to say in terms of writing advice. There's a reason for that, I promise.

What this post is really designed to do is to take a moment to talk to you. (Yes, you.) Are you having a nice day? Did you have a swell weekend? What's going on in your world?

Additionally, we want to know something else: What would you like to see from this blog? What would you like to see from our Facebook page?

That may seem like a lot of questions, but we genuinely want to know.

The WKU Writing Center is here to meet your needs as a student and a writer. If you want more materials about a citation style or can't figure out where to put that comma or semi-colon, we want to help.

So, let us know!

Leave a comment below and tell us what we can do to help enhance the writing experience for you.

Photo Source

Communicating in a group project

by Abby Ponder

There are two words on a syllabus that have the potential to strike fear into the hearts of students everywhere: "group project."

People are wary of group projects for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it's a matter of finding time in an overwhelmingly busy schedule that accommodates several people; sometimes it's a matter of having communication difficulties with your fellow group members; and sometimes it's simply that you're a strong, independent student who doesn't need a group support system.

Whatever your reason, sometimes group projects can be stressful experiences--even with wonderful group members.

However, they're an important aspect of both college life and life in the real world. People have to collaborate on projects all the time to turn out a successful product. Learning those skills can only help you in the long run.

Still, though, sometimes even when you know something is good for you, it might not be something you're looking forward to. So, how do you make the best of your situation?

First and foremost, communication is essential. Depending on the scale of your project, there are various ways to communicate effectively with your group members. Technology of the 21st Century really is your best friend in this instance. Some viable options (and their pros and cons) include:

1. Email: This is the standard form of communication amongst students, but is it the most effective? It depends. Emails allow you to be very verbose in your content and share files. If you have a lot to say in one burst of content, emails will definitely work in your favor. However, if your group is on the larger side, emails can sometimes make it difficult to  communicate with everyone. If one person forgets to click "reply all" or to "CC" everyone, then a communication gap can appear and information has the potential to be lost in translation. 
2. Group Texts: When you're trying to decide when and where to meet, group texts can be a swell way to handle the communication side of things. They're also nice for sharing quick bits of information or asking questions on a smaller scale: "When is the paper due? Are we meeting at six?" When it gets more complex than that, though? Maybe not. Another thing to keep in mind regarding group texts is that some people may have phones that are incompatible with the rest of the group. Make sure to clarify such things before establishing it as your go-to method. 
3. Facebook Groups: This is my personal favorite way to communicate because it combines all the aforementioned methods into one. You can post files, share status updates, and keep everything organized in one place. 
4. Google Drive: Want to work together but can't meet in the same place? Google Drive is the tool for you! You can write and edit one collective document at the same time and save it automatically. This can be super helpful in the collaborative process, but do keep in mind that meeting up at least once is a very good idea in order to make sure everyone is on the same page. 

The most important thing during a group project is to collaborate. If you work together and communicate, your chances for success will be much greater. 

If there are several individuals working together, it might also be a good idea to assign specific roles to members--an editor, a designer, an organizer, etc. Make sure everyone is involved throughout the entire process. 

So, what are your strategies for communicating in group projects? Let us know! 

Stay tuned for next week's post about the actual writing process for group projects. 

Receiving feedback from professors on an assignment

By Abby Ponder

Writing is a very personal process for everyone. Whether you enjoy writing or not, it is an inevitability that you'll form attachments to the words you've written on paper. You placed them there for a reason, after all, and the more you read over them, the harder it can be to part from them.

So, you turn in an assignment to a professor and are awaiting your grade. You might be proud of the assignment, you might not be, but the words are in your professor's hands and you're ready for that grade.

Then you get it back...

...and it's not what you expected.

Your grade may be good or it may be bad, but sometimes you're simply not happy with the grade--or the comments on it.

So, what do you do now?

Sometimes it hurts to read the comments, but always do it: see what your professors have to say. It might not be what you want to hear, but the advice your professors have for you is often invaluable. Take their lessons into account and apply them to your paper next time--even if it's hard.

The same can hold true for your appointments with the Writing Center. We'll work with you on your paper, guiding you through the process, and in most cases there will be some comments in the margins.

No one is going to force you to make the changes your professor or your tutor suggests. Ultimately, use your own discretion when you're writing (or revising) your papers. It is your paper, after all! However, keep in mind the advice of others as you go--they might just be on to something.

Happy Writing!

The Final(s) Countdown: Getting Your Paper Started

by Abby Ponder 

We've reached that time of year, folks: finals week. Or, better yet, crunch time.

It's been a grande ole' semester filled with football games and friends, festivities and fun times. But, like all good things, this semester has to come to a close, and with that conclusion, final projects and papers must come to an end, too.

So how are you coping with the stress of finals week?

Well, step one: don't panic. I know that is much easier said than done (trust me, I definitely know that), but it's doable. Compartmentalizing is key. I have four or five papers due in the upcoming weeks, and compartmentalizing them is the only way I'm going to be able to remain a fully functioning human being by the end of this.

So, let's walk through the process. Bear in mind that, as we go, what works for me may or may not work for you. Everyone has a different approach to paper writing, but it is my hope that even if this isn't the exact path you wind up taking, that this post might help you figure out for yourself what works and doesn't work, and then provide you the support to build your own foundation from there.

First, look at the assignment and deconstruct what it is asking you. Are there multiple questions being asked in the prompt? In that case, I've found that it can be helpful to separate them into different questions. Suppose that the prompt it asking you the following question: "How does The Scarlet Letter reflect the mentalities of Puritan New England? How is this mindset still reflected in a contemporary setting? How do the symbols from the novel reflect the way symbols are used today in regards to shame?" When planning to write this paper, you might break it down like this:

Admittedly, the questions your professors assign will be more eloquent than my attempts, and your answers will certainly be more elaborate, but you get the general idea. Breaking down these long questions can help you figure out what direction you want to take your paper in. I'm a very visual learner, and so having this clearly laid out in front of me helps tremendously.

However, while some assignments may be long and elaborate, there are others that are completely open-ended. In some cases, these assignments can be even more overwhelming. You know you're supposed to write about something, but with no specific guidelines or instructions, where on Earth are you supposed to begin? In that case, find a topic that is both interesting to you and is relevant to the class. Making a list can be helpful, and taking a look back at the syllabus can also give you an idea of everything you might've forgotten from earlier in the semester. (But you wouldn't forget any of the material, right?) 

Photo Credit 

Once you have a general idea as to what you're going to be writing about, I've found that writing up an outline can be particularly helpful. Outlines, in my experience, can go in a couple of different directions. 

One option is the bare-bones skeleton. This is the idea of just putting words on paper to have some sense of direction as to where the project should go. I typically write this outline on paper, because drawing arrows and crossing things out can sometimes be especially satisfying, and it definitely lends itself towards making you feel as if you're making progress--because you are! 

The above picture is from the beginning of an outline I was working on for a class earlier this semester. It's nothing terribly elaborate, but more of an idea as to where the paper will eventually go. Even if the paper deviates from this path, it's a nice way of gathering your thoughts and saving them for later. You never know what epiphanies will happen! 

Once I have finished my bare-bones outline, then I start a quote-based outline. In most of your academic research papers, secondary sources are crucial. Instead of flipping back and forth while writing the paper, I like to have a good idea of what quotes I'll be using and where I will be using them before I even get started. 

Following the bare-bones outline, I created this one to plug in resources that, if the paper presented an opportunity for them, I could cite. 

While you may still need to pull out some other quotes as you go along (because, hey, papers develop in different ways sometimes), this way you already have the central ones at your disposal. If you follow this outline (ha!), though, make sure you continue to mark where you're pulling the quotes from. Citations are critical, and you're not saving time in the long run if you have to go back and find the author and page number after the fact. Do it all upfront and you'll be golden! 

From there, the next thing to do is just start writing. And remember, the first draft doesn't have to be perfect--that's why it's called a first draft. If you have the time, check out one of our recent post about the editing process for some extra assurance and advice. 

Also, don't forget that the Writing Center is here to assist you with any stage of the writing process. We are not an editing service, but we will gladly help walk you through any bumps in the road you may stumble across, whether you're on the preliminary outline or looking at a final draft. Sometimes it's just nice to have a second opinion on things, too. 

Like always, you can schedule an appointment by clicking here and selecting a time that works well for you. If you're struggling with the system, we also offer a step-by-step tutorial for how to make an appointment. We are also available for drop-in appointments, but please remember that those function under a first come, first serve basis. Because of that, we strongly encourage students to go ahead and schedule an appointment in advance to secure their spot. 

Good luck in the upcoming couple of weeks, my friends, and have a wonderful break! 

Happy Writing! 

STEPS: Making a Difference in Literary Analysis Papers

The WKU Writing Center would like to announce an up-and-coming resource for students to utilize when writing literary analysis papers. 

STEPS (Students Teaching English Paper Strategies) is a web site designed to help students write good papers about literature. This site is constructed for students, by students, and provides a doable process for analyzing literature and writing about it. STEPS helps students identify literary devices, determine the themes of literary texts, develop thesis statements, and produce successful essays. The site is filled with sample essays, peer reviews, and processing notes for each step. Students will also find a helpful glossary of literary terms, with examples from various works, and links to additional writing resources. Please visit www.writingaboutliterature.com for more information.

For students taking English classes (both in or out of the major), STEPS provides relevant information for the various stages of the writing process. Sometimes, as a writer, you just get stuck and there's no real conceivable way to get out of the writing funk. However, just searching through some of the tabs on the site, I've found them to be very helpful at finding ways to propel the process along. Sometimes just reading about writing can get you ready to start writing. It's funny how that works sometimes...

There are two tabs that I found particularly helpful, as well. The "Process and Methods" and the "Resources" (the "Archives" section especially) tabs are both excellent tools to utilize. The latter section, the Archives, even has example papers and the writing process therein. Every person has their own writing (and editing) style(s), and it can be beneficial to see what works for someone else, and then try to apply similar techniques. 

The STEPS homepage.

So, whether you're stuck finding a starting point, or if you're just looking to improve your writing, we definitely encourage you to check out STEPS. The site is still in its beta-form, too, so be sure to leave any feedback you think might be helpful. 

Happy Writing! 

"Red, the blood of angry pens; black, the marks of mistakes past..."

by Abby Ponder 

For almost all writers, editing is a fundamental aspect of the writing process. Without it, mistakes can be glossed over and points can remain unrefined. And while in a lot of cases editing is no one's idea of a good time, it certainly doesn't have to be the nightmare most people make it out to be.

Whenever I'm writing, my first draft is, to put it rather bluntly, a bit rough. Actually, it's more than a bit; it's generally so rough that I almost always refuse to let anyone else even glance at it. My first draft is usually a compilation of various outlines (a step outlined in a recent post) that have been tossed together into an assortment of paragraphs that are usually long and rambling with very little cohesion. It's something resembling a paper, but it's not there yet. Like I said, these initial drafts are rough--but that's okay.

Anne Lamott, most known for her novel Bird by Bird which highlights tips for successful writers of all genres, has a chapter in the aforementioned novel called "Shitty First Drafts." In the chapter, Lamott explains that a first draft is just that: a first draft. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it is a starting point. The whole point of the first draft is to get words and ideas on paper, after all, and that is almost always the hardest part of writing: you have all these fantastic ideas, but you might not have a specific place to start or a way to tie them all together. However, between the help of your outline and your "shitty first draft," you'll begin to have an idea come together and slowly but surely that idea will begin to blossom.

So, after you've written that first draft, some people write another one... and then maybe another one after that. I know that I usually go through several drafts before I am finally satisfied.

My British Fantasy Literature paper rocking some Les Miserables lyrics, as one naturally does. 

For example, I took a class last fall where I had to write a paper breaking down the concept of love in works of British Fantasy Literature. (Harry Potter was, unsurprisingly, incorporated into this assignment.) However, even though I intimately knew the subject matter, there were still a number of changes that needed to be made. A friend of mine helped me to put the editing process in perspective, made me take a step back and laugh at it, and the break from the seriousness was a tremendous help. 

Editing, in my experience, is mostly about taking that step back and examining what the words staring back at you are trying to say. It's akin to reading another person: they're trying to say something, but it is up to you to decipher the meaning. 

There are two things that I have found incredibly helpful in the editing process: (1) printing off the paper, and (2) reading it out loud. 

While it is easy enough to edit a paper on the computer (and, admittedly, it does save some on printing costs), there is something about editing a paper on, well, paper that makes a huge difference. People tend to be more inclined to skim when reading online, and consequently it can be very easy to skip over the small mistakes--especially when you're not on the hunt for a misplaced pronoun or a comma splice. When you print the paper out and literally put pen to paper, you'll be surprised at how many things you see. And, like with my paper above, there is a sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing a marked up paper. Sure, it means you still have a ways to go, but it also symbolizes progress, and progress is never a bad thing.

Next, reading the text to yourself (or another person) can alter your perception of the words. Reading aloud forces you to interact with the paper and actively think about both the content and the style. Additionally, most people have a tendency to catch any misplaced words or confusing phrases when they're hearing or speaking them. What sounds good in your head may not always work out loud, and this step can do a lot in terms of drawing attention to that. 

Just make sure that whenever it seems like too much, and you feel as though you can't make sense of the words anymore, take a break. Sometimes you need to give your brain some room to breath, and then you can come back ready to get back to work. 

Comic by Debbie Ohi. 

When you feel like you're finished, though, or even if you're stumped along the way, don't forget to utilize the WKU Writing Center. While we are not an editing service, we will help walk you through any bumps in the road you may be having. Sometimes it's nice to have a second opinion on things, too. 

As always, you can schedule an appointment by clicking here and selecting a time that works well for you. We are also available for drop-in appointments, but those function under a first come, first serve basis.

Happy Writing!