NOVA The Gaston College Writing Center Newsletter May, 2011
Optimism ISSUE# 4
In this fourth issue of the Gaston College Writing Center newsletter there are: the center’s mission, an inside story of the center, coaches’ recognition, a “by word of mouth” section, quotes, summer workshop hours, a creative piece and an introduction of the forthcoming student-created literary journal, “Weavings and Unravelings: A Literary Review.”Suggestions and feedback are welcomed and appreciated.
Inside Story By Sandra Reinhardt, Writing Coach
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! .
Poetry Viva Voce Date: May 26th Time: 6:00 pm Location: GC Robinson Room # 236 Email: writingcenter@gaston.edu Featured Poet: Open mic follows featured reader
A typical day in the Gaston Writing Center is such a rewarding experience! Our major purpose, as writing coaches, is to assist students in the writing process. This can entail just about anything – from helping someone brainstorm ideas and get started on a writing assignment, to reading and editing grammatical errors on the final draft of an essay. I usually come into the Writing Center to begin working with students around 3:30 p.m. and leave as the Center closes at 9:00 p.m. This time slot flies by as I work with some students who have standing appointments and others who just drop by to see if they can find someone to help them with an assignment. Students have very quickly discovered that we can offer them assistance on all work that involves writing. After working with many students I realized that a majority of them felt that they could only bring in assignments from their English classes. Once students understand that we offer cross curricular writing assistance, they bring in writing projects from education courses, psychology classes, anthropology courses, and a gamut of other classes. When I am not assisting a student who is actually in the Writing Center, I am working on projects that we feel will enrich or make the Center more accessible to Gaston College students. One of these projects is creating grammar activities and worksheets that we discover we need as we work with the students. Another project that I am currently involved with is creating a Virtual Online Tour for the Writing Center so that students can go online to find out many of the services that Gaston College students have available to them through the Writing Center. While we work with a large number of students in the evenings that come to the Center, we also assist many others as they send in online submissions. Students e-mail their essays to writingcenter@gaston.edu along with an explanation of what their assignment entails and a form telling us what they specifically want us to focus on in their papers. Students can download this form from the Blackboard site. After I receive an essay online, I read the student’s essay along with their requests on specifics in the assignment. I first look at the “big picture” concerns in the essay, though I also try to concentrate on grammatical errors, spelling, and other facets of the paper. Next, I use a software program called JING and actually create a 3-5 minute video that the student receives along with their paper, containing comments and suggestions for improving the assignment. All that the student needs is an e-mail address and a computer with speakers. I e-mail both the paper and the JING video back to the student at his/her e-mail address. When the students open their e-mails, they see a copy of their edited text along with a video detailing the attributes of the essay along with recommendations for improvement. As a student hears my voice on the video, he also sees me pointing out specifics on the paper on his screen.
CREATIVE CORNER May, 2011
Optimism ISSUE # 4
Emmanuella By Priscilla Yeboah (GC student & NOVA Editor) I remember the day you walked into class. Looking nervous and scared till your eyes found mine. I knew right then that we were of kindred spirits. I remember you walking for one eternity to my seat. Your smile as you sat down. Your “hi” sounded so squeaky I looked around for a mouse. We became best buds instantly. Like a flamed rocket our friendship shot off toward the skies Then came down with a loud crash I remember the scheduled fight that was to take place after school I can still here the guys cheering me on, and telling me that I would “whip you really good”. I remember my nervousness as I went into my house to change into more suitable clothes for fighting oblivious to mom’s watching eyes. I can still here the lecture mom gave me about fighting and wishing she would just spank me I still can’t understand a mother’s intuition I think the crescendo of our friendship was when we walked along that lake by your house The crescendo wasn’t because of the walk, but because of our talk on the walk We talked of life, our dads, and the boy who had drowned in that lake the week before It’s been nine years but somehow I don’t think you’ve changed I still see your laughing eyes and teasing smile I can hear your brain cooking trouble that would keep us both from being bored, No, I’m sure you haven’t changed Call it girlfriend intuition.
~Quotable Quotes~
An optimist is the human personification of spring. ~Susan J. Bissonette
Optimism is the foundation of courage. ~Nicholas Murray Butler
Always borrow money from a pessimist; he doesn't expect to be paid back. ~Author Unknown
Optimism is a kind of heart stimulant - the digitalis of failure. ~Elbert Hubbard
Inside Story Cont… Students really seem to enjoy communicating through JING online submissions. After students become familiar with this service, we often hear back from them as they continue to utilize this online assistance. Reading the students’ essays online is fun! As each student’s personality and voice comes through in his/her essay, I have a real sense that I have met this individual. In addition, students often send back an e-mail thanking us for helping them or come in personally to express their appreciation. I feel that online submissions offer an opportunity to those students who cannot physically come into the Writing Center to get help on their work. As a variation on the old saying goes, “Provide writing help, and they will come!” Some of my most memorable moments in the Gaston Writing Center involve viewing the difference between a student’s demeanor as he enters the Writing Center and as he leaves moments or even hours later. When a student visits the Center for the first time, s/he is often quite reluctant to “darken our doors”. However, after the initial session, when students realize that our major purpose is to assist them, they seem much more comfortable with coming in for some advice or just to run an idea past a coach. While most of our students come in for assistance on a writing assignment, others drop in to get help with studying for an upcoming test. Still others visit because they need some support on formatting a paper correctly on the computer or need assistance with using the computer in general. It provides personal gratification when a student enters the Writing Center with stress written all over her face (and sometimes even tears) and leaves with a big smile of relief to replace the previous anxious appearance. That’s when I know that I have made a difference in someone’s day! If I were a faculty member at Gaston College, I would certainly advise, or maybe even insist, that my students visit the Writing Center. The Writing Center exists for the sole purpose of helping students. The writing process is a hands-on process where one learns by doing. The more an individual writes, the better s/he understands the process and finally writing facilitates learning. At this point, as students write in courses across the curriculum, they come to see writing as a worthwhile and valuable skill. Students realize that writing leads to learning! I believe that the Gaston Writing Center is a great asset to Gaston College. It provides an opportunity for students to receive assistance on specific assignments either in the Center or by online submissions. The Writing Center not only provides a place for students to work with a coach but is a place for students to work in small groups with or without a coach’s help. It provides a safe haven and a sounding board for some students who need assistance with the writing process. The Center also provides a venue to showcase upcoming writers and poets through monthly events, such as Poetry Viva Voce. While I have taught for 30 + years and have seen many new ideas come and go, I feel that the Gaston Writing Center is a wonderful benefit for students. It provides academic support for students as well as a refuge for students who just need a word of encouragement that they are on the right track. The Writing Center may be an avenue for students who did not before realize that they possessed a special gift for writing! As Galileo Galilei once said, “We cannot teach people anything; we can only help them discover it within themselves.”
STAFF SPOTLIGHT May, 2011
Optimism ISSUE # 4
By Word of Mouth Your team of coaches did a great job with my BTC181. Their response time was impeccable and their comments were very constructive and simple to understand. Way to go!!!
Anat Lev, Biotechnology Program Coordinator
Gaston College Writing Coaches Receive Campus and Community Recognition by Stephen A. Bishop, Writing Coach After this, our overwhelmingly successful first semester, some congratulations are in store for Writing Center coaches and staff. So, congratulations to:
Sandra, Thank you so much for all of this help. Wow everyone has been right you guys are great and very quick. I will be spreading my wonderful experience with you guys to all my friends. I will send this back to you after I make corrections. Thank you again
GC Student Amanda Holcomb The GCWC makes my life better as an instructor, and helps the students in several ways. I am very pleased with services. Concerning comments I heard in class, everything was positive. I stopped by the GCWC after the last week of papers being due, and thanked the coaches that were there that afternoon for all of their hard work.
Mary Gourley - Psychology Professor
The Gaston College Writing Center will be offering a free fiction workshop this summer. If you write any kind of fiction and would like to have your work reviewed, then this workshop is most definitely for you. The fiction workshop will discuss the basic elements of fiction. Participants will bring in already written short stories. In the workshop, fellow participants will provide each other with feedback. The workshop will be held in the Writing Center, RCB 236, from 5:30pm until 8:30pm on Tuesday June 7th, 14th, and 21st. If you are interested in attending any of these dates, please make sure to sign up as soon as possible. Space is limited, so time is of the essence. To sign up, please email writingcenter@gaston.edu or call 704-922-2369 to reserve your space. When emailing or calling, please make sure to specify that you are signing up for the “Fiction Workshop.” If you have any questions about this workshop, please email Ms. Panzera as panzera.gloria@gaston.edu with “Workshop Question” in the subject line.
Jeff Armstrong for finishing another semester of graduate school at ECU, Stephen Bishop who recently had several articles accepted for publication, Laura Dixon, principal at Bess Elementary, which was named a School of Excellence for 2010, Jefferson Fortner who finished one more semester of graduate school at ECU and was recently named an adjunct English Instructor at Gaston College, as well as a member of the executive committee of Charlotte/Blue Ridge MENSA, Laura Hines for standing in and covering classes for Rebecca Kouider, who is currently on maternity leave and for displaying two original art pieces in the Writing Center Davy Lowman who was recently appointed chairperson of the Democratic Party of Cleveland County, Stephanie Osborne for receiving Gaston College Instructor of the Year and Arts & Sciences Divisional Instructor of the Year in addition to being nominated for the Altrusa Award for Excellence, Kim Smith who, after accepting a new job as a Certified Nursing Assistant, is well on her way to becoming a registered nurse Catherine Sullivan who had an article published in Dog Living and who is currently producing a CD series on craft making, Chris Thurley for presenting a paper at a literary conference in Chicago and for having an article published in Magazine33, Dana Verdino for having several short stories published and placing in fiction contests, John Withers IV who was nominated for the Altrusa Award for Excellence,
OUR MISSION The Gaston College Writing Center exists to help students of the College pursue their educational goals and develop into intellectually mature persons, competent writers, and lifelong learners.
May, 2011
Optimism ISSUE # 4
April 28th Poetry Viva Voce
Workshops Offered by The Gaston College Writing Center If you are beginning a new academic career or a new job and you need a quick course in basic computer skills needed for writing, then come to us! In a three hour session, you will learn the basics needed to survive in a technological world. These workshops are offered on a variety of days and at various times in order to suit nearly anyone’s schedule. This is a hands-on learning experience and is free to all. However, you must register ahead of time in order to attend. The dates and times of the workshops are as follows:
Date
Time
June 1st
9am-12pm
th
9am-12pm 6pm-9pm 12pm-3pm 12pm-3pm 6pm-9pm 12pm-3pm
June 6 June 9th June 13th June 15th June 20th June 23rd
These workshops will take place in RCB 339. For more information, please email or call Elaine Sullivan at Sullivan.elaine@gaston.edu or 704-922-2369.
Coming soon!
Coming Soon!
Weavings and Unravelings: A
Literary Review Do you have a piece of writing, photography, or art you are proud of? Then don’t keep it to yourself! Send it to us. It’s a great opportunity to get published. We consider all works submitted. Submission guidelines to be published on our website later this summer. For more information call the Writing Center or email Stephanie Osborne at Osborne.Stephanie@gaston.edu
Editor: Priscilla Yeboah
Coming Soon!
Summer Hours of operation Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. WC Email: writingcenter@gaston.edu Phone: 704-922-2369 (Center) 2368 (Office) Location: RCB 236 Find us on Facebook!
Coming Soon!