2014-2015 writing center newsletter

The Wittenberg

Writing Center

2014-2015

It’s been another good year in the Writing Center: we’ve conducted

thousands of sessions with hundreds of students, talking about and revising

countless words and phrases and clauses. Nowhere else on campus can

you see education in process quite like here. In addition, the advisors have

conducted further original research (presenting in Orland and South Bend);

they have initiated a new marketing campaign; and they’ve conducted

sessions with Devoni Murphy’s (’13) high school English class and Nancy

McHugh’s Inside/Outside course. We’re also initiating a new program to

work with International Baccalaureate (IB) students in various high schools.

In short, we try to find all the ways we can to work with and support writers.

This year we also say good-bye to eleven outstanding seniors, and we

welcome in the same number of promising new recruits. We thank the

former for all they’ve done, and we look forward to seeing what the latter

will accomplish.

Another Year of Being Centered

The Wittenberg Writing Center plays a key role in enhancing and validating the importance of writing at Wittenberg. Knowledgeable, professional student writing advisors provide consultation for all Wittenberg students, staff, and faculty engaged in all types of writing at all levels of ability. The Writing Center offers an inviting, personal atmosphere where individuals can both develop successful writing skills and foster these skills in others.

2 Wittenberg Writing Center: 2014-2015

4Paws

Whether going to the dogs or going abroad, the

Writing Center advisors are busy.

This year, Maggie (with Atomic) and Julie (with Bia) continued the

tradition of having at least one 4Paws dog on staff during the year.

4Paws

Advisors Abroad Last fall, Keri traveled to Ireland; and this spring, Sarah W.

went to Spain, and Melissa was in Germany.


This year we had

three sections of

English 101 that

incorporated Writing

Fellows. Emily and

Sophie worked with

Dr. Davis’s class; Ana

Jeanne worked with

Dr. Richards’s class;

and Maggie and

Zoey worked with Dr.

Mattison’s class.

Here’s what they

had to say about

their experiences.

Emily: I was a Writing Fellow with Dr. Bob Davis’s English 101

course. This was a very different experience from the traditional

experience of an advisor in the Wittenberg Writing Center for

multiple reasons, the most prominent being that we had to deal

with several versions of the same paper. This was probably the

most difficult part of being a Writing Fellow because I would be

tempted to tell a student what had worked for another student

and the themes that they could focus on in their paper. It was

rewarding, however, because a few students would do something

entirely different and it was refreshing to see analysis entirely

separate from class discussion. Overall, I really liked being able

to talk with Dr. Davis before meeting with his students. I knew

exactly what he was going to focus on in a paper and it made the

sessions flow much easier. While this is not a practical way of

dealing with all students, I believe it is an excellent way to

introduce students not only to the expectations in college writing

but also to the Writing Center.

Zoey: Being a Writing Fellow for a semester was an amazing

experience. I loved being able to help the writers as a peer who

has definitely felt the struggles of writing an academic paper. It

was fantastic seeing how each one of the students developed

their writing over the semester—something we don't always get

to see as advisors for the Writing Center. One of the only

struggles I experienced as being a writing fellow often came

from trouble with students focusing in class; English 101 isn't

necessarily a class students are excited to take, but it's my job as

a peer and as a Writing Fellow to help them see the benefits this

class will have on their writing in the future, which it definitely

will.

Ana Jeanne: I had the opportunity to Fellow for the same

section of English 101 I took my freshman year. My students

were required to meet with me for two of their papers, but some

of them chose to come in for additional sessions. I even had the

opportunity to lead class one day when the professor was away

at a conference. No one fell asleep, so I count it as a success!

Sophie: Being a writing fellow was extremely humbling. It is

easy to forget how many ways there are to understand and

analyze a text, and the students I worked with reminded me of

this in each session. I definitely became a stronger advisor

through this experience.

Writing

Fellows


PARTING SHOTS

Our graduating seniors. They’ve held hundreds of sessions and talked over thousands of sentences with writers. Here they offer some departing words.

ALEXA: Working at the Writing Center has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences for two main reasons: I've gotten to meet a lot of really great people and learn a lot of really interesting things. Not only are the other advisors incredible, hilarious, and now part of my extended family (whether they like it or not), but the students I've collaborated with have been a joy to work with, too. And with every new paper comes a new learning experience. I've gotten to read about so many different subjects that I'm pretty sure I've met the degree requirements for at least one of them.

ALISON: Ironically, words cannot adequately

synopsize the Writing Center. From the asynchronous ticking of the army of clocks to the smell of freshly-brewed coffee at 9:04PM to the joyful buzz of the conversations of writers and readers emanating from the nooks and crannies of the safe collaborating space, there's nowhere in the world quite as mystical as the Writing Center (or is it Riding Centaur?). So long, and thanks for all the words.

ANA JEANNE: I will definitely miss the

camaraderie of the Center; I know that whenever I walk through that door there will be smiles and exciting, meaningful conversations to engage in.... such as scheming for the Writing Games! Hopefully I will have the honor of working with similarly dedicated, interesting individuals in the future. P.S. Have fun. Don't die.

CAMERON: You can take the senior out of the

writing center but you can’t take the writing center out of the senior. The lessons I’ve learned and the experiences I’ve gained as an advisor will stay with me forever, both professionally and personally.

JULIE: Working in the Writing Center has shaped me

in so many ways. Most importantly, though, it has shown me that I can use my passion for writing to help others, something that has encouraged me to pursue a legal career after I leave Wittenberg. Of course, no matter where I end up, I will never forget the wonderful people that I've met or the great experiences that I've had as an advisor, and I know that I'm a better person for them.

MAGGIE: Being employed at the Writing Center is

like a babysitting gig where the parent decides to stay home and work just down the hallway, always ready to poke his or her head through the door. Thus, the Writing Center has become a sweet, handful of a toddler in my eyes. I work hard every day to make sure that it is clean and tidy, that the play space is safe, and our advisees maintain all their toes and fingers. Throughout this whole process, there is, of course, on my mind that proud and prying parent around the corner—except during the beautiful hour from 3:00 to 4:00 pm when Mike goes to pick up his actual kids. But actually, what this awesome place has taught me cannot be put into words or metaphors. I am excited to see what the future holds and to return again to the walls of the Center with stories and donuts to disrupt the day.

MATT: I'm certain that when people ask me about

my favorite part of my time at Witt, the hours I spent in the Writing Center will come quickly to mind. I'm so happy to have been a part of something so special, and I can only hope that someday I'll have another job I enjoy nearly as much.


PARTING SHOTS, cont.

SEAN: In a way, the Writing Center became a recording studio to me. In this studio, advisors work with

students to help them produce their best work. We brainstorm, outline, draft, and collaborate on the final edits for their songs. And like a recording session, a writing center session is not about the engineer, the advisor; yet I cannot help but learn more than my advisee through seeing that moment of realization, that split-second moment where everything makes sense—everything comes together. Experiencing with writers these moments inspires me in my writing. Accordingly, I will be pursuing a master’s degree in Rhetoric and Composition next fall at Florida State University. I am excited to embark on this next step in my journey to working with writers for the rest of my life.

SARVANI: The Writing Center has been invaluable to my college experience as it offered a point of

consistent camaraderie and support during the past three wonderfully turbulent years I spent as an advisor. Both my employer and coworkers provided insights, academic and otherwise, that have made writing and living that much better.

SARAH: The last three years have been filled with uncountable cups of coffee and uncountable learning experiences in the Writing Center. As I prepare to move to Chicago to begin my Masters in Predictive Analytics at DePaul, I can’t help thinking about how much I’ll miss this place. Working in the Writing Center has been one of the most genuinely enjoyable jobs I have ever had. I may be graduating, but I’ll be back.

AUTUMN: Welp, it's been a short four years to say the least and as I reflect back on all of the alumni to

come back to the center, I definitely understand what it is they want to come back to every year during homecoming. From making forts in the back room, buying pizzas for finals hours, from the Center dwarf hamster, and more, so many of my memories of Witt are inextricably bound to that 4-room section of Hollenbeck. When I see "Writing Center" anywhere other than Witt, I feel a strange confusion and even though I know other places have centers as well, there is really only one Writing Center in my mind. I

wonder if I can send future students to Witt for help on their papers... Anywho, senior year is coming to a

close, and though I'm leaving the center, I know that it will always be a part of my heart.

Some of the awards won by the advisors at this year’s Honors Convocation:

John B. Helwig Scholarship: Kate DeVantier

Ralston C. Thompson Award (Art): Zoey Wilson

Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Biology: Alison Bewley

Outstanding East Asian Language Study Award: Autumn Smith

The Economics Prize: Julie Cascino

Allen J. Koppenhaver Prize (English): Sean McCullough

Award for Excellence in Literary Studies: Julie Cascino

The ATO-Paul F. Bloomhardt Award (History): Melissa Newman

The Hartje Travel Scholarship Award (History): Vivan Overholt

The Kurt J. Fickert Award: Alison Bewley

The Stan Mickel Award (East Asian Studies): Autumn Smith

Meagan Toothman Scholarship (Psychology): Ana Jeanne Campion

Award for Professional Potential (Psychology): Matt Preda

Womens’ Studies Writing Award: Alison Bewley


Writing Center Publications Once again, the students in the Writing Center contributed to writing on campus by soliciting,

selecting, editing, and publishing some of the best fiction and nonfiction pieces from their

fellow students.

Spectrum

Cameron Mackintosh

Keri Heath

Sean McCullough

Maggie Kramer

Benjamin Dobrowolski

Meaghan Summers

Sarah Webb

Sarvani Ramcharran

Autumn Smith

Sarah Cummings

The Wittenberg Review of

Literature and Art

Kate DeVantier

Alison Bewley

Autumn Smith

And next year, the Writing Center will begin hosting the

Matchbook Poetry event, held every April in honor of

National Poetry Month.


Working in collaboration with Emily Rayens, Moore examined gender roles in Wittenberg’s Writing Center by analyzing sessions. In their research presentation, “Sh(r)edding Gender Roles in the Center: From Snow White to Rapunzel,” they examined how advisors shift between using both a directive and non-directive approach in sessions.

“Presenting at this conference and working at the Writing Center has prepared me for my future career in many ways. The Center has taught me how to help others on their intellectual work, something I hope to be doing throughout my life,” said Moore, who hopes to attend medical school and become a surgeon. “Being a medical professional involves collaboration with coworkers and patients so the best care can be given—my work at the center is helping me develop these skills.”

Rayens, a biology (pre-med) and music performance double major and health science minor, cited the collaborative nature of the conference as a key difference from the scientific conferences she’s used to—and an important element for promoting the importance of writing across campus. “Instead of presenting a finding, arguing for it, and then hoping that other people find the same thing as

NCPTW: Orlando [This story was originally

published on Wittenberg’s

website on December 1, 2014.]

Collaboration is an essential aspect of Wittenberg's liberal arts education, especially for three Writing Center advisors who recently shared their experiences in working with writers at the National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing in Orlando, Oct. 30-Nov.1.

“Working at the Writing Center is a fantastic opportunity,” said Meaghan Summers, class of 2017 from Hilliard, Ohio, who was joined by Emily Rayens, class of 2016 from Lexington, Ky., and Anna Moore, class of 2016 from Eaton, Ohio. “At Wittenberg, our advisors are all really passionate about both the Center itself and the work and writers we produce and facilitate.”

An English major with minors in creative writing and religion, Summers worked in collaboration with Writing Center Director Michael Mattison to explore the “aha” moments that have been recorded in the Wittenberg Writing Center over the past five years. Her research presentation, “The Architecture of Insight: (Un)Wonderful Conversations,” recognized the patterns of verbal moves that lead to such a moment and examined the linguistic architecture at these sites.

"My job at the Center is one of the best things about my Wittenberg experience," said Anna Moore, a biology major and first-year advisor. “I have always loved writing and reading but collaborating with others like we do in the Center is unique for me. I have learned valuable interpersonal skills, built relationships with members of the Wittenberg community I never would have met otherwise and also developed my own writing skills.”

you, this conference was a presentation on how writing centers get different answers to the same question and they are all right. It was a collaboration to work towards a greater goal of helping students. “One thing I learned from the conference is that our writing center’s role as an integral part of the liberal arts setting really sets it apart from writing centers at other schools,” she said. “Many writing centers do not have a preparation course as rigorous as ours, and most schools choose advisors from among the English Education majors while our program includes advisors from a wide range of disciplines including math, biology, music, and Japanese. This allows us to work with students from all backgrounds on writing assignments from all disciples. This is only my first year as an advisor in the Wittenberg Writing Center, but it has been a challenging and rewarding experience.” -Sarah Webb ‘16

Left to right:

Anna, Emily, and

Meaghan at the

NCPTW in

Orlando.

http://www.wittenberg.edu/administration/writingcenter.html

ECWCA: Notre Dame

On April 10th and 11th, five advisors traveled to

Notre Dame University to present at the East

Central Writing Centers Association

Conference.

Stealing Flow: The Ethical Approach to Optimal Experience Maggie Kramer RichardLeahy(1995)hasdescribed“flow”forthewriterasthe opposite of writer’sblock—a state in which the writer feels challenged and engrossed but also in control and pleased with his or her progress. As writers, many of us can identify with this state at different stages of our writing process. Similarly, as writing advisors, we can probably identify with this feeling withinsessions.MihalyCsikszentmihalyi,theauthorwhocoinedtheterm“flow,”alsocallsitthe“optimalexperience.”How,then,doweethicallyenterthe“flow”state?Thispresentationwill look to addressthatquestionandexaminetheethicalandunethicalentrancesinto“flow”such that we can produce the optimal session for ourselves and the writer. Eth(nopoet)ic Notation: Negotiating Identity through Rhythm and Rhyme Anna Aylor, Madelyn DeVore, Karina Kowalski, Kailey Mau, Mike Mattison This workshop will allow participants to consider our writing center work through the practice of ethnopoetic notation. Participants will have the opportunity to take samples of writing center transcripts and turn them into poetry. We will draw upon our aesthetic sensibilities to create line breaks and spacing, to play with capitalization and punctuation, to reorder and revise as we think best. Then, in small groups, we will consider the poems and what they might say about the exchange between writer and advisor. And, the whole group will consider what such work might tell us about our conversations with writers overall.


Congratulations to

Ana Jeanne for

winning the first

edition of

The

Writing

Games!

All the districts were

well represented,

and the odds were in

everyone’s favor.

How to

celebrate the

holidays in the

Writing Center?

With a book

exchange, of

course.


Looking

Ahead

Research: Emily R. and Mike have

proposed a session for the NCPTW in

Salt Lake City, one focused on what

students learn in a writing center

course. Zoey and Vivian have also

proposed a session, one about the

different rhetorical spaces that writing

centers can inhabit. Mike will travel to

the IWCA in Pittsburgh in October,

talking on how audio sessions have

been incorporated into English 242.

Publicity campaign: Witt Writes. In the

fall, we will roll out a new ad

campaign. In it, several advisors are

highlighted, talking about how writing

factors into the work they do in their

majors and at Wittenberg in general.

Here’s a preview:

The Incoming Class

We have an exceptionally strong group of

advisors coming in to the Center next

year. We look forward to having them as

part of the staff.

Anna Aylor ‘18

Adam Barstow ‘17

Libby Bauman ‘18

Madelyn DeVore ‘17

Reid Donato ‘17

Emily Faas ‘17

Courtney Huck ‘17

Karina Kowalski ‘17

Rae Long ‘17

Kailey Mau ‘18

Maria Symons ‘17

Amanda Wampler ‘17


A Note from the Director

There is no better place on campus. That’s what I tell anyone who asks about the Writing

Center. It is in this space that students are allowed to explore their ideas, to experiment with

their writing so that they may best inform and persuade a reader. The conversations that

take place at our tables are at the heart of a liberal arts education—imagine a Biology

major talking over a literary analysis assignment with a Psychology major. Those are the type

of exchanges that we have every day. Those are the types of exchanges that help

students—writers and advisors alike—understand topic, audience, purpose, and genre.

The Writing Center is also one of the most productive research areas on campus—advisors

have presented at dozens and dozens of conferences over the years, and we have

continued that tradition this year, with students representing Wittenberg at both the

national (NCPTW) and regional (ECWCA) conferences. Next year we’re looking to again

add voices to the professional conversations about writing center work. There is even a new

online journal coming out that will focus on undergraduate and graduate student research.

Yet another opportunity for the advisors to reflect on and analyze the work they do.

Next year the Writing Center will turn 35, and we hope to spend the year celebrating that

milestone. In anticipation, I’ve been reading through past reports from the Center (originally

The Writer’s Workshop), and though many things have changed over the years—our name,

our location, our budget—the core purpose has not. As Mimi Dixon wrote in the 1981-82

report, “In writing, the collaborative relationship is particularly fruitful; here the tutor plays

reader rather than expert and is able to provide essential feedback on the success of the

communicative act.” What the Writing Center boils down to is a conversation between a

writer and a reader. It always has.

Be on the lookout in the coming weeks and months for information about our celebration

events. We hope to have many advisors back for a Homecoming Open House, honoring

the work of Mimi and Maureen and all the advisors who have given their time, energy,

enthusiasm, and compassion to the writers at Wittenberg.

best,

Mike Mattison

Writing Center Director

Associate Professor of English

113 Hollenbeck

For past advisors, please know that you are always welcome to visit. The Writing Center is

open to you any time. If you have questions about the Writing Center (or suggestions, or

memories to share), please let me know: 937-327-7072 or [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]

2014-2015 writing center newsletter

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