Tammy Ronkowitz
Making writing as simple as One…Two…Three…FOUR
When one is writing a paper, the basics should always be remembered….. ‘WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY’.
WHO is your audience? Of course, the first reader will be the instructor who assigned the paper. Addressing this issue can get a little tricky. Most instructors follow the same format. They assign a topic for the paper and ask the student to write about this topic. Although this sounds simple, one must realize that the instructor already has a preconceived idea about what they want in response. Unless one is a mind-reader, the writer may find themselves in a pickle. How does one prevent the inevitable doom? The obvious, (but more difficult for some students) is to simply talk to the instructor. Most professors are more than willing to share their thoughts and listen to other points of view. Instructors are not there to fail the students. In fact, their true goal is to help their students succeeded. If the student is embarrassed to talk in class, most professors will stay behind to share with their students. If they are unavailable after class, or if your concern needs more time, all instructors have office hours. A student can simply drop in and spend time one –on- one. Additionally, most instructors are willing to work around the student’s schedule to arrange for a mutually agreeable appointment time.
Once the topic is clear, the writing can begin. There are several writing ‘tips’ that will help with the process:
1. Support the paper with valid sources. (Wikipedia is not a valid source!)
2. Using thesaurus tools are helpful – but, make sure the words chosen are right. Sometimes meanings change. Be able to define the word, if needed.
3. Get to the point and stay on topic. Keep away from the fluff. That only confuses or bores the reader.
4. Visit the writing center for guidance.
WHAT will be the focus of the paper? What does the student want to write about? What is the professor expecting from the assignment? To find your focus, think about what interests you as a writer. What make the most sense? Try these steps:
1. Critically look at all topic ideas and write a paragraph on each topic. The topic that feels right should be the choice.
2. Write with passion. Don’t write the paper because you have to. Write it because you love to. Make your paper become a part of you and not just a bunch of words on the paper. Remember, there is a reason why no one can ever cook better than your mom. Her food is made with ‘love’. That is how the paper should be written.
3. Decide what you want to achieve. Are you just trying to pass the class? Or, are you willing to put yourself out there to achieve greater.
4. Go to the writing center for inspiration.
The WHEN is simple.... When is the paper due?
Organizing to prepare for the ‘when’ is the easiest to understand but may not be the easiest to commit to. If you look around the classroom on the day papers are due, there are always more empty seats than usual. There is a very good reason. Generally, the ‘absentees’ are overwhelmed and unprepared. Missing class is not the solution. You are not fooling anyone…..the professors know why you are not there! How does one insure that class is not missed on the deadline day? (You need to save that day for a ‘sick day’ at the beach!)
1. Organize your time. Research, plan, write, proof-read, and re-write.
2. Never wait until the last minute to write the paper. Space out your timing. Write a page or two and then return to it again later. Your best work is done over time. Do not overwhelm yourself.
3. Write a few pages and then consult with your professor to make sure you are on the right track. This will reinforce your understanding of what the professor is looking for.
4. Go to the writing center for help and direction.
WHERE you write helps you understand yourself as a writer. Some writers like to have a noisy environment. Listening to music or having background noise helps them concentrate. Other writers need absolute silence…. No noise… No interruptions. Then there are those who fall in the middle….. quiet but an active environment of people or things to observe while writing.
1. Know your style
2. Try other environments
3. Develop your style
4. Visit the writing center to discuss your options and who you are as a writer.
Finally, we reach ‘WHY’. Why should the student put all this thought into writing a paper? It is only one grade! While this may be true, a written paper usually holds more weight than other assignments throughout the semester. Just giving a little bit more of yourself on a written paper can be the difference between passing or failing, taking the class over, or becoming one step closer to graduation. The attitude we take in writing a simple paper helps define the person we become in life. A student that hands in mediocre work and settles for a ‘C-‘ will settle for mediocre in the real world. While a student that pushes himself to become a better writer will see success. This experience will encourage persistence and perseverance in everything they do. Rewards are sweet! So…..
1. Push yourself to reach higher goals.
2. Demand the best for yourself and don’t settle for less.
3. Ask questions. As the popular saying that states, “There is no such thing as a stupid question” - so don’t be afraid to ask.
4. Check out the writing center… for YOU!
One can conclude that becoming a successful writer takes effort and self-analysis. However, help is always key. Throughout the theme (somewhat tongue in cheek) was the availability of the writing center. There is a misconception that this resource is available for someone to proofread your written work. While that may be true, the writing center has so much more to offer. This peer-based gathering center was put in place to help students focus and receive guidance throughout each step of the writing process. Here, great tools for learning new concepts and for positively developing students’ confidence are utilized. Stop in to experience one of Kean’s true gems. What do you have to lose?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
My Writing Center Philosophy (blog 9)
My Writing Center Philosophy:
Writers come from different learning background, but somehow the “cookie cutter” expects everyone’s work to be the same. Not here at Kean, we recognizes and embrace differences, we understand “there is more than one to skin a cat”. We have an amazing writing center that understands writing is more than grammar and mechanics. Writing a great paper is a goal of the writing center, but our true goal is to do so by assuring cultural/social backgrounds, language, and talents are explored to ensure students become more effective writers. We focus on these areas to help create better writers, covering better individual understanding, while building the writers self-esteem and confidence in their writing ability. Here at Kean, we DO NOT have tutors; We Have PEER COACHES who’s main focus is the student. The coaches are in place to guide and push the student to achieve their true potential. Our coaches believe and stand by the concept that ALL writers will benefit from conversation. The coaches’ tackle writing at all stages--planning, drafting, revising, and editing—understanding writers encounter these stages with different degrees of strength and comfort.
Our coaches themselves come from different majors on campus, and more importantly different cultural/social learning backgrounds. Our head coach Tammy Ronkowitz is dyslexic and dropped out of college twice before. Thankfully, she decided to give it one more try and has been on the dean’s list since her return to school.
The coaches each have their own store to tell, so visit our writing center and check out “Our Wall of Fame”. Each coach has a picture with a paragraph describing their background and challenges they faced with writing, and how they push themselves to achieve their true potential.
Writers come from different learning background, but somehow the “cookie cutter” expects everyone’s work to be the same. Not here at Kean, we recognizes and embrace differences, we understand “there is more than one to skin a cat”. We have an amazing writing center that understands writing is more than grammar and mechanics. Writing a great paper is a goal of the writing center, but our true goal is to do so by assuring cultural/social backgrounds, language, and talents are explored to ensure students become more effective writers. We focus on these areas to help create better writers, covering better individual understanding, while building the writers self-esteem and confidence in their writing ability. Here at Kean, we DO NOT have tutors; We Have PEER COACHES who’s main focus is the student. The coaches are in place to guide and push the student to achieve their true potential. Our coaches believe and stand by the concept that ALL writers will benefit from conversation. The coaches’ tackle writing at all stages--planning, drafting, revising, and editing—understanding writers encounter these stages with different degrees of strength and comfort.
Our coaches themselves come from different majors on campus, and more importantly different cultural/social learning backgrounds. Our head coach Tammy Ronkowitz is dyslexic and dropped out of college twice before. Thankfully, she decided to give it one more try and has been on the dean’s list since her return to school.
The coaches each have their own store to tell, so visit our writing center and check out “Our Wall of Fame”. Each coach has a picture with a paragraph describing their background and challenges they faced with writing, and how they push themselves to achieve their true potential.
Post 7 Bouquet,North, and North
What Bouquet’s, North’s one and two all wrote about how a writing center should work, it’s their philosophy on how to run the perfect writing center. What the three agreed on was that writing is a process and they value coaching. This is all that they seemed to agree on. They both had ideas that were unrealistic. I think North realized his mistakes and recanted a few.
North felt…
1. Students would coming looking for a writing center, it would be so many people they would have to be turned away at the door….(We wish).
2. Students aren’t as motivated as he once thought
3. Teachers aren’t as supportive I he would like
4. Disappointed that peer coaches are looked down upon, lower than the teachers.
5. It much harder then he hoped
6. Not enough training for student coaches
I love how Bouquet down plays “fix-it shop” and want to scrap everything and go with her gut. Hell with the product, let’s start with the thing process…. She got to be a mom! There was a more therapists style in her coaching, something’s broke let’s fix it mentality. I felt more a connection here, surprise, surprise…heheh
North felt…
1. Students would coming looking for a writing center, it would be so many people they would have to be turned away at the door….(We wish).
2. Students aren’t as motivated as he once thought
3. Teachers aren’t as supportive I he would like
4. Disappointed that peer coaches are looked down upon, lower than the teachers.
5. It much harder then he hoped
6. Not enough training for student coaches
I love how Bouquet down plays “fix-it shop” and want to scrap everything and go with her gut. Hell with the product, let’s start with the thing process…. She got to be a mom! There was a more therapists style in her coaching, something’s broke let’s fix it mentality. I felt more a connection here, surprise, surprise…heheh
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
post 6
The aspect of academic writing culture that my paper will focus on is “How student need to write to their Professor, each instructor wants something different”.
The Professor :
• Facts on paper and instructor expectations:
1. begins researching looking for evidence and facts, supporting points; it gives the researcher all the information he needs to have a clear picture of the problem(hand-out on topic).
2. investigate all necessary materials the writer may begin to shape his own ideas(how many references needed).
• What most instructors are looking for: Terms instructors use that students need to know!
1. The introduction (the part where the problems are presented, the thesis statement is introduced);
What is a thesis statement?
tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
makes a claim that others might dispute.
is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.
2. The body (the writer develops the thesis statement, states his\her main points, builds arguments, organizes all the claims in logical relations to the thesis, provides sufficient facts to support his\her position in the paper. It is very important for the writer to be persuasive here);
What is persuasive?
Persuasive writing is a form of writing in which someone tries to get readers to agree with a position. This type of writing is very common in advertising copy, which is written in an attempt to get consumers to purchase specific products, and persuasive essays are commonly assigned in school to get people to use critical thinking skills. Learning to recognize persuasive writing can be a valuable skill, as can mastering the art of persuasive writing for yourself.
What is critical thinking skills?
Critical thinking is that mode of thinking - about any subject, content, or
problem - in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking
by skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and
imposing intellectual standards upon them.
3. The conclusion (the author summarizes all the arguments based on the evidence stated in the body and presents the results of the research).
How to tie it all together.
• What if this isn’t what the instructor wants and how can the instructor help?
First the instructor is not a mind reader talk to them after class or during office hours. All instructors have office hours.
Find a classroom buddy, someone that can help you when you don’t understand.
Go to the writing center, and ask for clarity
The Student:
• Who are you?
• What kind of writer?
• Where are your strong points in writing?
• Where do you need help?
• What would happen if you talked to the instructor? (They can’t kill you)!
What kind of writer are you?
Ask yourself questions
Talk to someone you trust can be critical of your work
When you write do you plan using index carts, outlines, web, etc. or do you just write and then re-write
What Type of Writer Should You Be?
This is a question only you as the writer can answer.
Do you like how you write?
Do you want to improve?
The grade you received, is it to your standers, should you re-write it.
How do they clash Instructor/ Student
• Office hours are during students other classes
• Student is too shy to ask questions
• Instructors can’t stay after class
• Language communication problems
Who can HELP?
• The writing center…
How can they help?
Though communication
Through direction
Through support
Through experience
The Professor :
• Facts on paper and instructor expectations:
1. begins researching looking for evidence and facts, supporting points; it gives the researcher all the information he needs to have a clear picture of the problem(hand-out on topic).
2. investigate all necessary materials the writer may begin to shape his own ideas(how many references needed).
• What most instructors are looking for: Terms instructors use that students need to know!
1. The introduction (the part where the problems are presented, the thesis statement is introduced);
What is a thesis statement?
tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
makes a claim that others might dispute.
is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.
2. The body (the writer develops the thesis statement, states his\her main points, builds arguments, organizes all the claims in logical relations to the thesis, provides sufficient facts to support his\her position in the paper. It is very important for the writer to be persuasive here);
What is persuasive?
Persuasive writing is a form of writing in which someone tries to get readers to agree with a position. This type of writing is very common in advertising copy, which is written in an attempt to get consumers to purchase specific products, and persuasive essays are commonly assigned in school to get people to use critical thinking skills. Learning to recognize persuasive writing can be a valuable skill, as can mastering the art of persuasive writing for yourself.
What is critical thinking skills?
Critical thinking is that mode of thinking - about any subject, content, or
problem - in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking
by skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and
imposing intellectual standards upon them.
3. The conclusion (the author summarizes all the arguments based on the evidence stated in the body and presents the results of the research).
How to tie it all together.
• What if this isn’t what the instructor wants and how can the instructor help?
First the instructor is not a mind reader talk to them after class or during office hours. All instructors have office hours.
Find a classroom buddy, someone that can help you when you don’t understand.
Go to the writing center, and ask for clarity
The Student:
• Who are you?
• What kind of writer?
• Where are your strong points in writing?
• Where do you need help?
• What would happen if you talked to the instructor? (They can’t kill you)!
What kind of writer are you?
Ask yourself questions
Talk to someone you trust can be critical of your work
When you write do you plan using index carts, outlines, web, etc. or do you just write and then re-write
What Type of Writer Should You Be?
This is a question only you as the writer can answer.
Do you like how you write?
Do you want to improve?
The grade you received, is it to your standers, should you re-write it.
How do they clash Instructor/ Student
• Office hours are during students other classes
• Student is too shy to ask questions
• Instructors can’t stay after class
• Language communication problems
Who can HELP?
• The writing center…
How can they help?
Though communication
Through direction
Through support
Through experience
Thursday, September 23, 2010
My paper idea...?...
I idea is more about writing to your Instructor....
When I break down the problem with writing in a school enviorment, the main focus is who are you writing for. Most of the time students write because they have to. Which is what I also do, but I may have insite on how to make your writing experiance a little less painfull.
Ask yourself the question...
First the writer has to understand the writing topic...
* find out expectations from instructor
* Know your instuctors style what they are looking for.
* Ask questions in class or after
Second the writer has to know themself...
* Who is the studend
* What experiances can they draw from
* Strong and weak points of their writing style
These thoughts and tools are great but what happens when it doesn't work
THE CLASH...
* students views are diffrent from instructor (personal)
* students fear of the instructor
* Language miss understanding
* instructor is closed minded
* no feedback to help improve
* misunderstanding...miscommunication...just a miss
THE "MAKE IT BETTER FOR EVERYONE"
* unsure yet still working on this part...to be continued...
P.S. info for the class...
Our instuctor asked for three ref. for this paper... now in my past writing classes that means three different books but after talking to the instructor after class, I found out that we can use the same book but diffrent chapters or stories. example I will be using pg. 296 dealing with family and pg.350 on thinking of self.. all I need is one more. Yeah me!
When I break down the problem with writing in a school enviorment, the main focus is who are you writing for. Most of the time students write because they have to. Which is what I also do, but I may have insite on how to make your writing experiance a little less painfull.
Ask yourself the question...
First the writer has to understand the writing topic...
* find out expectations from instructor
* Know your instuctors style what they are looking for.
* Ask questions in class or after
Second the writer has to know themself...
* Who is the studend
* What experiances can they draw from
* Strong and weak points of their writing style
These thoughts and tools are great but what happens when it doesn't work
THE CLASH...
* students views are diffrent from instructor (personal)
* students fear of the instructor
* Language miss understanding
* instructor is closed minded
* no feedback to help improve
* misunderstanding...miscommunication...just a miss
THE "MAKE IT BETTER FOR EVERYONE"
* unsure yet still working on this part...to be continued...
P.S. info for the class...
Our instuctor asked for three ref. for this paper... now in my past writing classes that means three different books but after talking to the instructor after class, I found out that we can use the same book but diffrent chapters or stories. example I will be using pg. 296 dealing with family and pg.350 on thinking of self.. all I need is one more. Yeah me!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Kean Culture of Writing
I believe that students at Kean are overwhelmed, and boggeled down with reading book after book, and writing because they have to. When you read other students work, after it has been writen it may be informative about the subject but it is a real snore fest. There is no passion or even direction to most papers writen... no personality. However there is a handfull of students that actually pour their heart and soul in to each paper they write. This is something I do and also bring my life experience into everything I write. This a skill I have learned after many years of just spitting out the facts. The problem with this is sometimes you may get the wrong professor and may not want to hear what you think or experience so professors are closed minded. Last semester I had a professor that talked about the health care reform. The students where told that they needed to choose a side and support your beliefs with fact found in books,newpaper articles,and magazines. This was a great topic because it was something current and the students seemed inspired. Well the outcome was horrible. The students that had a diffrent view then the professor, recieved a much lower grade than the deserved. The students were given a chance to re-think their position and re-write their paper. the students that stood their ground and rewrote their paper stayed with the same grade. Students that conformed to the professors belief recieved a B or A-.
So my advice is to write for yourself at home but in class get to know your professor and write for them, once you graduate write for you.
side note: most the professor at Kean are open minded and you should be safe with having your own thoughts as long as you can back them up.
So my advice is to write for yourself at home but in class get to know your professor and write for them, once you graduate write for you.
side note: most the professor at Kean are open minded and you should be safe with having your own thoughts as long as you can back them up.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Describe my writing process
To describe my writing style it is better to tell describe what is isn't. I am not a free writer because I never want to write anymore than I have to. I can't use doodling or sketching because I love to draw and I would get to caught up in my drawing and forget about the writing assignment.
Then to even thing about the composing exercise gives me a migraine, way too many steps and very little time. The use of three-by-five index card is a tool I use for studying for major test but never used it for writing a paper. My writing style is horrible, there is no rime or reason to the way I write. When I get an assignment I usually pick a topic that I understand and just write the paper, then read it, wait two days and read it again if it makes any sense I have someone else read it. Once this is done and it sounds good to that person I print it and hand it in. If for any reason I didn't like my paper I would take what I liked from the old paper and rewrite a new one. If I have a problem picking a topic I would write the topics on a piece of paper fold them up and pick one. I know this isn't the best way but I don't have the time for extra research work.
I would love to say I write for enjoyment but that would be a lie. I don't have time for writing I am a mom of two children a daughter age sixteen and a son age nine. I am married to a wonderful man who works two jobs so I can pursue my dream for becoming a special needs early intervention teacher. The only writing I get a chance to do is Holiday card, thank you cards and the occasional party invite. My best way of communication is talking on my cell phone, and the only writing is texting...LOL or OMG...sad right. I even have a hard time responding to e-mails or facebook posts. I do not understand who has the time to sit there and post how many times their child has gone to the bathroom... I would love the time to sit and talk about nothing,but come on who really wants to hear about your child's bathroom habits. I don't want to know whn my own kids go. Ok I will get off my soapbox now.
I know that my writing style is horrible, since I don't have one. So the best way I would benefit is that I might find a style from coaching someone else. I think that you sould learn somrthing new each day and if you stop, then change what you are doing.
Then to even thing about the composing exercise gives me a migraine, way too many steps and very little time. The use of three-by-five index card is a tool I use for studying for major test but never used it for writing a paper. My writing style is horrible, there is no rime or reason to the way I write. When I get an assignment I usually pick a topic that I understand and just write the paper, then read it, wait two days and read it again if it makes any sense I have someone else read it. Once this is done and it sounds good to that person I print it and hand it in. If for any reason I didn't like my paper I would take what I liked from the old paper and rewrite a new one. If I have a problem picking a topic I would write the topics on a piece of paper fold them up and pick one. I know this isn't the best way but I don't have the time for extra research work.
I would love to say I write for enjoyment but that would be a lie. I don't have time for writing I am a mom of two children a daughter age sixteen and a son age nine. I am married to a wonderful man who works two jobs so I can pursue my dream for becoming a special needs early intervention teacher. The only writing I get a chance to do is Holiday card, thank you cards and the occasional party invite. My best way of communication is talking on my cell phone, and the only writing is texting...LOL or OMG...sad right. I even have a hard time responding to e-mails or facebook posts. I do not understand who has the time to sit there and post how many times their child has gone to the bathroom... I would love the time to sit and talk about nothing,but come on who really wants to hear about your child's bathroom habits. I don't want to know whn my own kids go. Ok I will get off my soapbox now.
I know that my writing style is horrible, since I don't have one. So the best way I would benefit is that I might find a style from coaching someone else. I think that you sould learn somrthing new each day and if you stop, then change what you are doing.
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