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"Writing Around Richmond" Newsletter

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

Issue 30 (January 2012)

  • Alumni Perspectives: "Writing Consultants in the Job Search," by Steve Inglis, Class of 2011.
  • "What Do You Do When You Don't Know the Material?" by Athena Hensel.

Issue 29 (October 2011)

  • Tips for writing effective reports to faculty, by Megan Venable.
  • Reflections on studying in France, by Maria Rajtik.

Issue 28 (April 2011)

  • Consultant of the Year Award.
  • "New Media News," by Megan Venable.
  • "A Grade is More Than a Letter," by Maria Rajtik.

Issue 27 (December 2010)

  • Upcoming Writing Workshops for Spring 2011.
  • "The Prompt," by Jerry Giordano, writing consultant.
  • "Richmond Writing Center & Community Impact," by Lee Carleton.

Issue 26 (October 2010)

  • Staying in touch: tips for faculty and writing consultants.
  • Four Consultants named student reviewers for Purdue's The Writing Lab Newsletter.
  • "A Professor's Perspective," by Mavis Brown, education.
  • "The Golden Passage," by Victor Wasserman, writing consultant.

Issue 25 (Fall 2010)

  • Revisions to Writer's Web + Writing in the Disciplines.
  • Interning in the publishing industry, by Megan Reilly, writing consultant.
  • "Pondering E-readers," by Lee Carleton.

Issue 24 (Spring 2010)

  • Feature by Wendi Berry on using Skype to connect to students from the Sundance Film Festival.
  • Reflections on consulting by Katy Einerson.

Issue 23 (Oct. 2009)

  • Focus on the Staff Writing Project.
  • Tips for writing reports to faculty, by Stephen O'Hara.

Issue 21 (Summer 2009)

  • Not linked: program announcements about faculty vote to eliminate Core 101-102 & Eng. 103 and need to expand writing consultant program for first-year seminars courses.

Issue 20 (Feb. 2009)

  • Student perspectives from the ENGL 383 class.
  • Alumna Patricia North talks about the benefits of being a writing fellow at her present job.

Issue 19 (April 2008)

  • Advice when going abroad--staying in touch with us.
  • Other end-of-year business.

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.

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 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 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 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 13 (Spring 2005):

  • "WAC at Work in Core & Math," by Kate Seferian, describes the impact of writing fellows in various disciplines.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 1 (Fall 1998):

  • Joe Essid becomes director of WAC, Terry Dolson becomes 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.