T H E
W R I T E
T R A C K
F l o ri d a A &M U n i v e r si t y W ri ti n g R e so u rce C e n te r Ne w sl e t te r
Fall 2010
V o l u m e 3 I s su e 1
THE WRC MOVES BACK TO THE RENOVATED TUCKER HALL
After a one year stint in the old FAMU
DRS (Developmental Research School),
the Writing Resource Center has
moved back to Tucker Hall.
In May of 2009, the WRC, along with
the other departments in the College
of Arts & Sciences, moved out of
Tucker Hall due to the building’s
renovation project. Monique Thomas,
WRC Administrative Assistant, shared:
“I am glad we moved in the summer,
which is usually our slowest semester;
we had more time to clean, organize,
and pack.”
Although staff members missed being
in Tucker Hall’s centralized location,
they were happy to relocate, so the
building could receive a much needed
face lift. Coordinator of Academic
Support Services, Esther Spencer,
“couldn’t wait to see the Center
without the old carpet and leaky
roof.” And indeed, it was worth the
wait!
In August of 2010, the WRC returned
to Tucker Hall and a brand new
space. While the location and
dimensions of the Center remained the
same, everything else was renovated,
bringing Tucker Hall into the 21st
century. Dr. Valencia Matthews,
Assistant Dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences and one of the
renovation project managers,
witnessed the transformation from
beginning to end. She shared, “Ajax
The WRC’s new home.
Inside this
issue:
The WRC Moves
Back to the Renovated Tucker Hall
1
Tutor Profile
2
Where Words Can
Take You
3
Student Spotlight
3
[Building Corporation] did what they were
supposed to do, and that made a great
difference. It was a lot to do in a short time
frame, and what they got done was
amazing.”
Graspin’ Grammar 4
According to information obtained from the
Ajax website, “[t]he scope of the renovation
included but was not limited to: restoration of
the building’s envelope including a complete
roof replacement, as well as replacement of
the building’s plumbing, mechanical, and
electrical systems. Additional updates
performed as a part of the renovation
included, structural systems upgrades, life
safety upgrades, technology upgrades, and
remodeling of all offices, classrooms, and
support spaces.”
Special points
o f i n t e r e s t:
Tucker Hall is definitely a much more inviting
place, and the WRC is no exception. The
large windows bring more light into the
space, and the ergonomic furniture (in a
muted rattler-green color palette) makes
being comfortable and productive a reality
for both students and staff. A number of
black bookcases and file cabinets look great
in the space and help
SEE MOVES 2
Humor Me!
4
♦ We are back in
Tucker Hall! Come see
us in Room 124!
♦ The WRC is headed
to the IWCA National
Conference on Peer
Tutoring in Writing,
November 4-6, 2010!
Check out our
website at
www.famu.edu/wrc
♦♦
A TITLE III ACTIVITY
T h e W r i t e Tr a c k
Page 2
Tutor Profile
What do you like most
about the WRC?
I love the environment
because we provide a great
atmosphere for students to
learn and develop.
Name: Khalifa
Thomas
Major: English
Graduation Date:
April 2011
How long have
you worked in the
WRC: 2 semesters
What is your favorite book?
Their Eyes Were Watching
God is my favorite book
because it is a superb tale of
the female quest for
independence.
Who is your favorite
author? Why?
What are your hobbies?
My favorite authors are
Alice Walker, Zora Neale
Hurston, and Toni Morrison
because I have a great
appreciation for outstanding
black female writers.
My hobbies are reading,
writing, acting, laughing, and
spreading good cheer.
What was your favorite
essay assignment?
“Yesterday is history,
tomorrow is a mystery, but
today is a gift.”
My favorite essay was a
research paper evaluating
the symbolism in Alice
Walker’s The Color Purple.
Moves C ontinued
maintain order in this learning
environment.
Everyone has been excited
about the WRC’s new look, but
the most exciting update in the
Center has been the technology.
The Writing Resource Center is
now home to 19 new computers,
all with flat screen monitors and
keyboard trays for easy typing.
Now, with up-to-date, fullyoperable computers in the
Center, students do not need to
be versed on which computers
are most efficient. They can
easily compose their papers or
conduct research on any
computer that is not in use.
Ever grateful to Florida A&M
University, especially the
College of Arts and Sciences
and Title III, for all of its
support, the Writing Resource
Center will continue providing
students with excellent service--now offered in an equally
excellent learning environment.
The newly renovated WRC.
What is a quote you live
by?
What is your favorite class?
My favorite class is
Contemporary Literature.
Vo l u m e 3 , I s s u e 1
Page 3
W h e r e Wo r d s C a n Ta k e Yo u
Dominique Ferguson, an English major and former WRC
tutor, was recently accepted
into the University of Central
Florida’s M.A. program, Literary, Cultural, and Textual
Studies.
She also admits, “Graduate
school is very different from
undergrad: the classes are
longer, and the assignments
are more intense.” However,
she believes she is ready to
face those challenges headon due to the preparation she
received at Florida A&M
University, not only in the
classroom but also in the
Writing Resource Center. Her
experience in tutoring students enhanced her oral and
written communication skills,
Noting that the program
enables her to delve more
deeply into her passion for
literature, Ferguson states,
“I’m only a semester in, but so
far, I’m really in love with the
stimulating class discussions.”
and even assisted her in securing a part-time writing
consultant position at Valencia Community College.
Indeed, Dominique Ferguson
is showing how beneficial it is
to have good writing skills.
Her plans are to become an
English instructor, so she can
continue on the path of assisting students in and out of the
classroom.
Congratulations Dominique!!
Name:
Dominique
Ferguson
Graduated:
Fall 2009
Graduate Program: Univ. of
Student Spotlight
Why did you start coming to It was fun, but I had to get
positive thoughts about
really
good and
CRYSTAL DAVIS the WRC? there. I thought I was
down
to business
writing.
to the WRC? I hated it.
with grammar, but Iaccomplish
went and something
before I
found
out there’s a lot even I didn’t
How has the WRCI came because
I was
Howabout
do you feel about writHow do you feel
left.
helped you to become
a to, know.
required
but as my writing
ing
now?
writing now? I still hate
better writer? I now am
it, helped
but at least when I do
improved,
I
took
it
upon
How
has
the
WRC
more
confident in my
Student: Anita
it,
I feel
good about
I am actually getting the
myself
you become a better
writer?
writing abilities and
my to come in and get
Punter
what
I
wrote.
hang of it, and whenever I get
grammar is now better
Year: Sophomore assisted when needed.
I’m more dedicated
as awould you
a writing
than ever!
What
like toassignment, I am
Age: 20
What was your first
writer, and the Center
helpedabout
enthusiastic
about turning in
tell people
the
Major:did
Accounting
How
you feel about
WRC?
It’s
not
as
bad
as
at the WRC ?
me channel my worries into
the best paper I can.
writing before youexperience
came
it sounds or seems to go
G r a s p i n’ G r a m m a r
Now that we are familiar
with subject-verb agreement,
let’s talk about pronounantecedent agreement. A
pronoun is a word that takes
the place of a noun; examples of pronouns are she,
they, and we. An antecedent is the word a pronoun
refers to.
If the antecedent is singular,
then the pronoun referring to
it must be singular, and if the
antecedent is plural, the pronoun must also be plural.
For instance, in the sentence,
Her briefcase was missing
from its usual place on the
hall table, the singular
antecedent, briefcase,
agrees with the singular pronoun, its. And in the sen-
tence, Universities must do
their best to provide adequate student counseling,
the plural antecedent, universities, agrees with the
plural pronoun, their.
Now what happens when
you have indefinite pronouns
as antecedents? Stayed
tuned for our next issue to
find out!
I love writing,
and I love
grammar!
UPCOMING EVENTS
October
Oct 15-20 – Write
Your Way Up
Oct 20 – National
Day on Writing
Oct 22 – WRC Tutor
Training Session
November
Nov 4-6 – IWCANCPTW Conference
Nov 11 – Veterans
Day
Nov 18 – WRC Tutor
Training Session
Nov 25-26 – Thanksgiving
December
Dec 3 – Last Day of
Classes, Last Day of
Tutorial Sessions
NEWSLETTER STAFF
•
Managing Editor:
Esther Spencer
•
Editor: Dr. Veronica
Yon (WRC Director)
•
Reporter: Esther
Spencer
•
Layout Designer:
Esther Spencer
WRITING
RESOURCE CENTER
Room 124
Tucker Hall
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, FL 323074800
Phone Number:
(850) 599-8391
Fax Number:
(850) 412-5362
Web Address:
www.famu.edu/wrc
fxÑàxÅuxÜ ECDC
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
1
2
3
6 WRC Closed
Labor Day
7
8
9
10
13 Graduation
Applications Due
from Dean
14
15
16
17 WRC Tutor
Training Session
20
21
22
23
24
27
28
29
30
Humor Me!
We'll begin with a box
and the plural is boxes.
But the plural of ox
should be oxen, not
oxes.
pan be called pen?
we never say Methren.
If I speak of a foot and
you show me your feet,
and I give you a boot,
would a pair be called
beet?
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and
him, but imagine the
feminine she, shis and
shim.
The one fowl is a goose,
but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose
should never be meese.
If one is a tooth and a
whole set are teeth, why
should not the plural of
booth be called beeth?
So English, I fancy you
we will all agree, is the
funniest language you
ever did see!
You may find a lone
mouse or a whole set of
mice, yet the plural of
house is houses not hice.
Then one may be that
and three would be
those, yet hat in the plural wouldn't be hose.
And the plural of cat is
cats and not cose.
If the plural of man is
always called men, why
shouldn't the plural of
We speak of a brother
and also of brethren, but
though we say Mother,
Source: Brain Candy. “The
Funny English Language.”
Brain Candy Jokes and Humor Collection. Vat 19.
2008. Web. 1 Jan 2011.
<http://www.corsinet.com/
braincandy/
hlanguage.html>.