University of Richmond

"Writing Around Richmond" Newsletter

We publish "Writing Around Richmond" several times each year with articles by tutors, Writing Fellows, WAC faculty and administrators.

Issue 1 (Fall 1998):

  • Joe Essid becomes Director of WAC, Terry Dolson Fellows Coordinator
  • "Better Than Austin Powers: A Professor's Confession,"
    by Scott Allison, reveals how frequently professors learn from students
    and how WAC Fellows further this process
  • Writing Fellow Article: "Coaching: The Tutoring Experience," by Brandon
    Cox, expresses the need for confidence-building when tutoring.
Issue 2 (Winter 1999):
  • Announcement of First Writing Fellows Retreat
  • "Casey at...the Foul Line?--Why One Style Doesn't Fit All," by Jennifer Harrison
  • "For Faculty: A Few Tips for Making the Semester Run Smoothly,"
    by Terry Dolson, offers tips for Faculty working with Writing Fellows
  • "Writing Tips--Proofreading Strategies in the Age of Spell
    Check," by Terry Dolson
Issue 3 (Fall 1999):
  • "Fellows Give the Best Advice," by Renee Macbeth, relates the pedagogical benefits of discussions between Writing Fellows, particularly at luncheons and retreats
  • "What Good Does Tutoring Do?" by Desiree Maldonado, presents one Fellow's inspirational experience with tutoring others
  • "A Recap of Writing-To-Learn Strategies presented by Beth Bradford," by Terry Dolson.
Issue 4 (Spring 2000):
  • "The Administrative Fellow," by Renee Macbeth, discusses the need for and responsibilities of the Administrative Fellow in the growing WAC program
  • "Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Comp Theory and Writing Center Practice," by David Gordon
  • "Writing Tips--Comma Splices," by Terry Dolson.
Issue 5 (Winter 2001):
  • "Digital Video Project Premieres on Campus," by Joe Essid, introduces the use of video training tutorials in the Writing Tutor and Writing Fellow training programs
  • "Bridging Gaps Between Cultures: Richmond's Director of ESL Services," by Terry Dolson, discusses the many contributions Nuray Grove makes to the campus community
  • "Just Call Me Socrates," by Ann Chu, distinguishes helping students by editing with them as opposed to editing for them
  • "Writing Tips--Apostrophes," by Terry Dolson, reviews common errors in apostrophe usages.
Issue 6 (Fall 2002):
  • "Writing Tips--Writing: More Than a Hurdle," by Lee Carleton,
    provides advice for "justifying" writing to reluctant students
  • "The Telling Detail," by Joe Essid, reminds us of the importance of details in analytical writing.
Issue 7 (Spring 2003):
  • WAC's 10th Anniversary at Richmond
  • "First Sentences," by Cheryl Pallant, reflects upon the difficulties faced when starting to write
  • "On the Personal Essay," by Lee Carleton, looks at the role of the personal essay in contemporary composition pedagogy
  • "News From Fellows & Tutors," by Kimberly Baker, describes how skills learned as a UR Writing Fellow were later put into practice teaching English in Ukraine as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Issue 8 (Spring 2003):

  • Cheryl Pallant announces new class, "Writing from the Body"
  • "WAC and Dance," by Kate Morrison, shares a Writing Fellow's experiences working with Dance faculty.

Issue 9 (Fall 2003):

  • Program Honored by National Recognition
  • English Department and WAC sponsor a "Tips from the Pros" Writers' Panel at James River Writers Festival.

Issue 10 (Spring 2004):

  • Update on the Writing Center's Usage of Video Training
  • "A Writing Exercise," by David Thomas, relates the usage of a document projector for sharing handwritten, in-class writings
  • "Dealing with No-shows and Latecomers," by Josh Parrett, expresses the Writing Center's difficulties with the aforementioned.
Issue 11(Fall 2004):
  • Writing Center sets records for tutors and fellows meeting with students
  • Discussion of using Writing Fellows in the classroom in various disciplines
  • "Defining Expectations," by Michael Kerckhove, illustrates the importance of establishing expectations for readers, and then living up to the expectations
  • "Emerson's Echoes," by Lee Carleton, espouses reinvigorating the works of past masters with fresh, creative approaches
    as readers.
Issue 12 (Winter 2005):
  • "A New Approach: Eng 103," by Kate Seferian, discloses the experience of incorporating a Writing Fellow into the 103 curriculum, with an afterward by Joe Essid.
Issue 13 (Spring 2005):
  • "WAC at Work in Core & Math," by Kate Seferian, describes the impact of Writing Fellows in various disciplines.
Issue 14 (Spring 2006):
  • WAC represented at two major Writing Conferences
  • "Reflections on SWCA Conference," two articles by Molly Bechert & David Roberts
  • "Technology and Literacy," by Lee Carleton, offers an introduction to multimedia literacies revolutionizing the teaching of writing.
Issue 15 (Fall 2006):
  • Students Present at CCCC National Writing Conference
  • Political Science "Writing in the Disciplines" Guide
  • "Re sensitizing Students to Writing," by Lee Carleton, reevaluates how we emphasize language in a world of competing stimuli.
Issue 16 (Oct. 2007):
  • Call for Information from Dance Faculty for "Writing in the Disciplines"
    Guide
  • "Letter at Home," by Daniel Coudriet, explores readership and cultural-awareness from a multicultural perspective
  • "Writing for a Real Audience," by Pat Princiotto, considers a classroom application of NPR's "This I believe..." segment
  • "Multitasking When Writing," by Joe Essid

Issue 17 (Dec. 2007)

  • Welcoming Marie Boylan, Administrative Coordinator
  • "The Bosporus Project," by Joe Essid, conveys how wikispaces enable cyberspace to serve as a cross-cultural collaborative space for scholars and researchers.
  • "Re-Reading National Geographic," by Daniel Coudriet, advocates the use of archival research and existing university resources in pedagogical practice.
  • "Bridging the Gap with Imagined Dialogues," by Pat Princiotto,  offers a classroom exercise for encouraging intellectual debate.
  • "When 'Good' is not enough...," by Joe Essid, cautions against "blanket" praise in peer editing commentary.

Issue 18 (Feb. 2008)

  • Programmatic Announcements and Updates on Tutoring Procedures
  • "Their Wiki-Minds, Our Paper Habits," by Joe Essid, pioneers a divide between the present establishment and the future of academic discourse.
  • Student Perspectives:  Current ENGL 383 Writing Fellow Trainees weigh in on the future of writing and the role of technology in writing's future.
  • "The Dreaded Multimedia Presentation?," by Daniel Coudriet, demonstrates students' proficiencies with crafting argumentation via multimedia as opposed to conventional modes.