Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives 2011 SIT Conference
October 9, 2011 1
Wri$ng on Campus-‐Based Ini$a$ves
Strategies for Sharing Your Good Work With Internal & External Audiences
Na$onal Conference on Students in Transi$on
St. Louis, MO October 2011
Session Overview • Cul$va$ng a professional wri$ng prac$ce • Launching an idea • GeNng feedback on your idea • Next steps
Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives 2011 SIT Conference
October 9, 2011 2
Why Write? • Demonstrate program effec$veness • Showcase innova$ve work • Add to professional conversa$on/literature
• Develop greater insight into our own work
Challenges to Wri$ng • TIME • Fear/Anxiety
– Lack of confidence in our own ability – Lack of confidence in finding an audience
Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives 2011 SIT Conference
October 9, 2011 3
GeNng Started & Staying the Course
• Start an idea file • Make regular appointments for wri$ng • Cul$vate wri$ng colleague/partner
TEXT
Rhetorical Triangle CONTEXT
AUDIENCE AUTHOR
MESSAGE
What do I know about m
y subject?
Wha
t doe
s my a
udien
ce n
eed
to
know
to u
nder
stand
the
subje
ct?
Who is my audience?
Why now?So what?
Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives 2011 SIT Conference
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Message § What am I trying to say in this piece of wri$ng?
§ What is the most effec$ve way to organize this piece?
§ What evidence (i.e., data, reasons) do I have to support my conclusions?
CONTEXT
AUDIENCE AUTHOR
MESSAGE
TEXT
Audience § Will those who read
the piece have an inherent interest in my subject?
§ What is their knowledge about or experience with this subject?
§ What values or beliefs will they bring to this piece?
§ Will they be comfortable with my vocabulary?
CONTEXT
AUDIENCE AUTHOR
MESSAGE
TEXT
Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives 2011 SIT Conference
October 9, 2011 5
Author § What persona do I
wish to project to my readers?
§ What strategies can I use to enhance by credibility and authority?
§ Can I use a more informal, personal voice?
CONTEXT
AUDIENCE AUTHOR
MESSAGE
TEXT
A DIGRESSION ON STYLE
Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives 2011 SIT Conference
October 9, 2011 6
Academic Voice Scin$llate, scin$llate globule aurific Fair would I fathom thy nature specific Lo\ily poised in the ether capacious Strongly resembling a gem carbonaceous Scin$llate, scin$llate globule aurific Fair would I fathom thy nature specific
Twinkle, twinkle, li]le star How I wonder what you are Up above, the sky so bright Like a diamond in the night Twinkle, twinkle, li]le star How I wonder what you are
• Find the preposi$ons. • Find the “is” forms. • Ask, “Where’s the ac$on?” “Who’s kicking who?”
• Start fast—no slow wind ups.
Lanham’s Paramedic Method (2000)
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Context § Is it something others have wri]en about before?
§ If so, what is new and important about what I have to say?
§ Or does my saying it in different language serve a purpose for those who will read it?
§ What professional and/or publishing conven$ons govern the shape of this message?
CONTEXT
AUDIENCE AUTHOR
MESSAGE
TEXT
FINDING IDEAS FOR WRITING
Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives 2011 SIT Conference
October 9, 2011 8
Suggested Outline E-‐Source Ar$cle • What is the problem or issue? How does it impact student learning,
development, or success? • How have you addressed it? Describe strategy(ies) used to deal
with the problem/issue. • How did the strategy work? Report assessment results. If formal
assessment is not available, how might you account for the success of the strategy?
• What are the implica$ons for the future? What revisions will be made to the strategies based on assessment results, and how can other campuses adapt them for different popula$ons or context?
GeNng Feedback • What is especially interes$ng or effec$ve about this
dra\? What do you most clearly remember about it? • What seems to be the central idea or purpose of this
piece? Any sugges$ons for improvement? • How well does the dra\ seem to address its intended
audience? Any sugges$ons for improvement? • Are there places in the dra\ that need addi$onal details
or examples?
Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives 2011 SIT Conference
October 9, 2011 9
REFLECTION
Resources for Wri$ng • Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2006). They say/I say: The moves that
ma5er in academic wri:ng. NY: W. W. Norton, 2006. • Lanham, R. A. (2000). Revising prose. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. • Rankin, E. (2001). The work of wri:ng: Insights and strategies for
academics and professionals. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-‐Bass. • Rocco, T. S., Hatcher, T., & Associates. (2011). The handbook of
scholarly wri:ng and publishing. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-‐Bass. • Zinsser, W. (1998). On wri:ng well: The classic guide to wri:ng
nonfic:on (6th ed.). New York, NY: HarperCollins.
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THANK YOU!
For more informaFon or quesFons: Tracy L. Skipper Assistant Director for Publica$ons Na$onal Resource Center for The First-‐Year Experience & Students in Transi$on E-‐mail: [email protected] Phone: (803) 777-‐6226