Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives
2011 SIT Conference
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$on St. Louis, MO October 2011 Session Overview • 
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October 9, 2011
Cul$va$ng a professional wri$ng prac$ce Launching an idea GeNng feedback on your idea Next steps 1
Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives
2011 SIT Conference
Why Write? •  Demonstrate program effec$veness •  Showcase innova$ve work •  Add to professional conversa$on/
literature •  Develop greater insight into our own work Challenges to Wri$ng •  TIME •  Fear/Anxiety –  Lack of confidence in our own ability –  Lack of confidence in finding an audience October 9, 2011
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Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives
2011 SIT Conference
GeNng Started & Staying the Course •  Start an idea file •  Make regular appointments for wri$ng •  Cul$vate wri$ng colleague/partner Rhetorical Triangle CONTEXT
Why now?
So what?
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Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives
2011 SIT Conference
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
MESSAGE
TEXT
AUDIENCE
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? October 9, 2011
AUTHOR
CONTEXT
MESSAGE
TEXT
AUDIENCE
AUTHOR
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Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives
2011 SIT Conference
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
MESSAGE
TEXT
AUDIENCE
AUTHOR
A DIGRESSION ON STYLE October 9, 2011
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Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives
2011 SIT Conference
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 Lanham’s Paramedic Method (2000) •  Find the preposi$ons. •  Find the “is” forms. •  Ask, “Where’s the ac$on?” “Who’s kicking who?” •  Start fast—no slow wind ups. October 9, 2011
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Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives
2011 SIT Conference
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$ons govern the shape of this message? CONTEXT
MESSAGE
TEXT
AUDIENCE
AUTHOR
FINDING IDEAS FOR WRITING October 9, 2011
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Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives
2011 SIT Conference
Suggested Outline E-­‐Source Ar$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$onal details or examples? October 9, 2011
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Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives
2011 SIT Conference
REFLECTION Resources for Wri$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. October 9, 2011
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Writing on Campus-Based Initiatives
2011 SIT Conference
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 THANK YOU! October 9, 2011
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