On Writing

Encouraging my students to write well—and equipping them to write well—is a big deal for me.  I can’t emphasize enough how seriously I take student writing.  It’s important to note that my classroom persona may be friendly, warm, or funny, but that doesn’t mean I’m an “easy grader.”  On the contrary, when it comes to student papers, I’m exceptionally firm in my commitment to quality writing.*

From the syllabus:

The quality of your writing—both its clarity and the depth of thought expressed in it—contributes significantly to your final grade in this course.  It is imperative, then, that you schedule sufficient time to conduct the research required for each paper, write a solid first draft, and conduct several revisions.  I recommend you form a writing group with two or three other students to swap papers at least a few days before they are due.

Because of the number of students in my courses, I can’t review entire drafts of your papers.  That said, I’m happy to look over your proposed thesis statement, an outline for your paper, and a paragraph or two that you’re finding troublesome.  Please do come see me for help with your papers, as there won’t be opportunities to rewrite them for better grades.

But hey, there’s no need to panic.

Nearly limitless resources exist to help you with your writing—from digital tools like spell check, to grammar books, to websites on how to write clearly and concisely.  Here are a few tips and tools I have found useful as a student and a writer:

  • Get your hands on Strunk and White’s slim volume The Elements of Style (available at Amazon.com and Powells.com, as well as local bookstores; those links go to the most recent edition, but there are many earlier editions, and used copies frequently may be purchased for a few dollars).  Read it from cover to cover—especially that bit about comprise vs. constitute, as it’s a major pet peeve of mine.
  • Print out and use this rubric (PDF) for evaluating a term paper in any discipline when you’re revising your papers.
  • Read engaging, lively fiction and interdisciplinary nonfiction, as well as poetry.  Recommended authors, off the top of my head: Ralph Ellison, Margaret Atwood, Louise Erdrich, Robert Penn Warren.
  • Establish a writing ritual.  If possible, write in the same place at the same time every day, and ease into your writing in the same manner (e.g. have a cup of tea, take a walk, practice Shiva Nata, flip through a book of paintings–whatever simultaneously settles you and stimulates your mind.)  Find writing software that works for you; maybe it has a lot of bells and whistles like Microsoft Word or Scrivener, or maybe it’s a plain-text, distraction-free environment like WriteRoom.  Turn off your e-mail and chat software, and mute (and hide) your phone.  Make clear to your roommates, friends, partners, spouses, children, and pets that you are not to be interrupted for at least 30-45 minutes.
  • Write regularly about things you’re passionate about, and share your writing.  Start a blog on a topic of interest, open comments on each post, and enter into conversations with your readers.
  • Swap papers with my fellow students.  Check your ego at the door, bring comfort food and beverages, and write your comments in nurturing green or blue ink (never blood-red!).  Here’s my favorite pen of the moment.

* I have a B.A. and an M.A. in English, and both my parents were English majors and English teachers.  We talked about literature and grammar at the dinner table.  And then I married a writer.  So please consider yourself on notice:


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