Hot Topics in Writing: Rage Against the Writing Machine May 3, 2012

The Hot Topics in Writing team has found a way to talk about prewriting that won’t put you to sleep! In this episode, Matt and Mo explore the surprisingly simple side of prewriting. We discovered that preparing for a paper can be helpful and easy if approached as a simple tool and not as some obtuse writing  machine. We talk to Colin S., a Writing  Center Tutor and Fellow, about ways to make prewriting save you time. Then, Claire Rooney, one of our own Graduate Assistants, tells us about how preparing for a paper can reduce much of the anxiety associated with it. Finally, Matt and Mo debut their new segment called “Off-Topic!” In it, they wrestle with the idea of Grammar Nazism, and how important grammar actually is in our everyday lives. Also, SANDCASTLES! What do we mean? There’s only one way to find out…

Who You Are and What You Say: “Platform” and Writing May 1, 2012

In any discussion of writing (particularly writing in order to be published), the conversation comes back to platform.  You may not have heard that term for it, but “platform” refers to how the author wishes to present themselves.  In the publishing world, this usually means the author’s credentials, where they “fit” into a few conventional categories, and what makes them worth listening to.  You can’t just be a cookbook writer anymore, you have to be Joe Writer, winner of these various national awards and ruler of a social media empire, comparable to this Food Network personality.  “Platform” sounds pretty shallow, but consider the meaning in politics.  Politicians talk about platform all the time to discuss their positions on various issues, and what makes their ideas worthy of your time.  Platform determines how the reader (or the voter) sees you, and affects how they react to your writing.  It’s worth considering, then, how paying attention to your “platform” in academic writing can help you connect with your reader (or professor) most effectively.

When to Judge: on Evaluation in Tutorials April 24, 2012

I try not to be too evaluative in my tutorials (or even my Written Feedback).  Of course, there’s always a time to reassure the writer that they’re on the right track, or that some turn of phrase is well done and should be retained, even exploited or learned from.  There’s also the awareness, though, that placing a value judgment or (heaven forbid) a letter grade on someone else’s work isn’t my job.  For one thing, what if the professor disagrees with me and I’ve now misled the student into thinking their work is one thing, when it’s really being graded as another?  Far more importantly: did the writer come in for a pat on the head, or for constructive criticism and help?

Support Something Cool: Graphic Textbooks April 20, 2012

Ever wish you could have learned from something more engaging than dry old textbooks in elementary school?  Love comics and new media teaching?  Reading with Pictures, a nonprofit that has developed graphic novel textbooks that incorporate the Common Core Standards for grades 3-6, has a Kickstarter account – and you can help get some of their super-cool books published.  This innovative and fun project makes learning a visual experience and could help grade school students get more involved in such subjects as Social Studies, Language Arts, Math and Science.  You can help Reading with Pictures reach their goal by donating, and you get a free copy of the book with your donation.  This is a great project to support for anyone who’s interested in education or writing.

You can read more at their Kickstarter page or website.

This Quarter at the CMWR

Read a mystery, explore culture, and meet people from all over the world!

The Collaborative for Multilingual Writing and Research does all this every Friday.  On April 13th the CMWR re-launched two of our most popular initiatives: The Book Club and the Conversation and Culture group.  The Book Club this quarter is reading The Westing Game, a classic mystery novel, and Conversation and Culture kicked off the quarter with a discussion on changing technology and American culture. Both groups had record turnouts, and we at the CMWR are looking forward to meeting new people and reconnecting with friends from previous quarters.

These groups are open to anyone in the DePaul community who is interested in exploring ideas from a multicultural perspective.   Email us at CMWR@depaul.edu for more information!

Internships: Taking the Next Step April 17, 2012

Two weeks ago I started a new internship with a literary agency.  Writing and editing are my passions, and after working at the Writing Center for the past few months and at a small press in Wicker Park, I definitely felt ready for a more intensive internship.  Around Christmas, my boss at the small press job mentioned that her friend at another company was looking for interns, and after an interview and a lot of emails, I started work there.  I’ve had one in-house internship before and have, of course, worked on writing-based jobs before, but this was different.

Farewell, Writing–Hello, Content! April 13, 2012

In the writing world, and especially in the digital media community, we’re all guilty of obsessing over content.  We fret over whether our content is good and whether we have enough of it.  Businesses specializing in “content marketing” swear to us that it will be the final word in marketing.  But what do we mean by this incredibly unspecific word?

CMWR Celebrates Poetry Across Borders and Boundaries

We text, we tweet, and we Facebook, but do we lyricize?

Plato argued that “Poetry comes nearer to vital truth than history,” and Robert Fitzgerald contended that “Poetry is at least an elegance and at most a revelation.”  In our fast-paced, high-speed internet lives we have become expert at rapidly ingesting information and quickly forming first impressions.  But how often do we pay attention? 

Scrawl Season 3 Episode 9: A Terrifying Tweet? March 15, 2012

Hello, and yes you read that correctly.  Can Twitter be terrifying?  Who would do such a thing?

On this episode of Scrawl, the gang gets the goosebumps and reads a little R.L. Stine.  But what does that have to do with Twitter? Earlier this year, the author of the amazingly horrific children’s book series Goosebumps, R.L. Stine tweeted a story of suspense and horror.  Yes, he tweeted a story!!  Through a series of nine tweets, R.L. shows fans and followers that not only does he still have it, but shows writers that we can use any medium and still create a killer story.

Check Out Chicago Zine Fest This Weekend March 9, 2012

Looking for something fun and literary to do, or a way to take a breather from finals?  Chicago Zine Fest has a variety of events today and an exhibition at Columbia College tomorrow.  Readings are taking place at various places around the city today, culminating in a party at Quimby’s Bookstore in Wicker Park, and tomorrow’s event will feature a bookfair of local and non-local zine writers as well as panels, film screenings, readings, and more!  What are zines?  They can be anything from stapled booklets to chapbooks to self-published novels to mini-comics – as long as they’re independently-made and incredibly creative!  For more information check out the event site.