The new Simpson Writing Center provides writing consultations for writers in the Simpson College community.
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Operating as usual
Why do we tell ourselves that writing should be easy? Good writing is supposed to be difficult because it forces us to analyze and develop original thoughts about a concept. Thank you Cyd Dyer for sharing this link.
https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2016/10/31/struggles-writing-are-political-well-personal-essay#.WBdI2t1k3K4.mailto
Visit Grammar Bytes for more great writing tips.
Learn what plagiarism is and how to avoid it!
The Simpson Writing Center would like for you to get to know our staff. We'll be doing a series of quick posts featuring one of our lovely Writing Consultants and some of their top writing tips and fun facts. Up first is senior Lindsey Stubbs!
Lindsey is a Music and English double major from Underwood, Iowa with hopes to work in publishing after graduation. Eventually, she would like to pursue a Masters degree. Given her majors, Lindsey says she has "lots of experience" with music and English papers and considers consulting on them to be a specialty. She also "feels very strongly" about comic books, super heroes, and her cat.
As for her best writing tip, Lindsey says, "Read your own paper out loud, or ask someone to read it out loud to you. It's much easier to hear a mistake or an unfinished thought when you're hearing it for the first time opposed to reading it for the fiftieth time."
Lindsay says she loves working at the Simpson Writing Center because, "it's particularly rewarding to see a student's increase in self confidence by the end of a session, and especially so if they came in feeling uncertain of their abilities. To think that I've been part of a process to help them in some way makes excited to work with them again."
You can stop by the Writing Center in the back of Dunn Library to sign up for consultation with Lindsey.
Tomorrow is National Grammar Day. That makes tonight National Grammar Day Eve. Celebrate appropriately.
https://illinois.edu/blog/view/25
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Simpson Writing Center
Submit your writing NOW to the Second Annual Simpson Writing Across the Curriculum Contest! Any piece of writing submitted for grading in a Simpson College course between January 01, 2014 and February 23, 2015 is eligible.
Click http://simpson.edu/academics/writing-across-the-curriculum/
for instructions and the nomination form.
Award categories include:
Best Research Writing, Division of Education and Social Sciences
Best Research Writing, Division of Humanities
Best Research Writing, Division of Natural Sciences
Best Research Writing, Policy Studies
Best Research Writing, Visual and Performing Arts
Best Writing, Language other than English
Best Research Writing, F14 Simpson Colloquium
Checkout the SWAC writing display in Dunn Library.
http://simpson.edu/library/news-blogs/
News & Blog Simpson Writing Center This month’s display case in Dunn Library was designed by Writing Consultants from the Simpson Writing Across the Curriculum (SWAC) program, and it celebrates college-level writing at Simpson College. Artifacts in the display include photos from some of the fall 20…
When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature house and two amazing Writing Fellows! Thank you Andy Mayes and Maureen Snook for sharing your Gingerbread House with the Simpson Writing Center.
SWC says: "Good luck on your finals, travel safely, and have a happy long winter break!"
Feeling stressed? Studies say "Pet a puppy!"[email protected] tomorrow from Noon - 3:00 PM.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2012-05-13/dogs-stress-relief-on-campus/54921444/1
[email protected]
http://events.simpson.edu/event/doggies_dunn_229?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=Simpson+College#.VHyxuMltRm0
From Kent State University in Ohio to Macalester College in Minnesota, more and more pooches are around campus to help students relax.
Visit our friends in the Research Assistance Center to help you complete research for those final projects. Librarian Liz Grimsbo writes:
With final papers fast approaching, the librarians in the Research Assistance Center are ready to assist students with all steps in the research process: topic selection/refinement, effectively searching the library databases, locating and evaluating resources, and compiling a bibliography.
Please let your students know that we are here to help. Drop-ins are welcome or they can make an appointment. We can track attendance for extra credit, course requirements, and Study Table hours. The Research Assistance Center is located on the first floor of Dunn by the computer lab.
Mary Peterson x1520
Liz Grimsbo x1485
Steve Duffy x1748 (Grimsbo)
Grimsbo, Liz. "Dunn Library Research Assistance Center help
available." Message to the author. Nov. 2014. E-mail.
Service Update--This is a very busy point in the semester. Plan ahead; if you think you might want to work with a consultant, please schedule an appointment. We always try to help writers who walk in without an appointment, but wait times will exceed 30 minutes--if a consultant is available. Please try to schedule your appointment. http://uniqueyenmei.blogspot.com/2010/12/monday-stress.html
Congratulations to Maeve Callan's SC 101. This class achieved 100% participation in the Plagiarism Prevention Tutorial. Thank you for the teamwork.
The SWC still has some appointments available for this week, but they are disappearing quickly. Reward yourself for planning ahead. Schedule an appointment for Thursday and enjoy Doggies at Dunn.
http://events.simpson.edu/event/doggies_dunn_229?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=Simpson+College#.VHyxuMltRm0
Take a doggie study break! Relieve stress with Doggies @Dunn. Doggies @Dunn will be Thursday, December 4th from 12pm-3pm at Dunn Library. Dogs provided from Paws & Effect will be located by the first floor study rooms. Drinks & People treats available.
Congratulations to Nicci Whalen's SC 101 class on achieving 100% participation in the Plagiarism Prevention Tutorial. While this group was setting up, the Cat in the Hat crept up on some cookies!
Congratulations to Heather Priess Groban's SC 101 class.100% of the students in this class completed the Plagiarism Prevention tutorial earning them homemade cookies next week.
Congratulations to Bob DeGraaff's SC 101 class. This team achieved 100% participation in the Plagiarism Prevention Tutorial. After some discussion and coaching from Dean Griffith, it looks like they are moving on to Hockey. Go team!
Congratulations to Dave Richmond's SC 101 class "Can You See What I'm Saying?" for achieving 100% participation in the Plagiarism Prevention Tutorial.
Congratulations to Barb Ramos and her SC 101. 100% of these students participated in the Plagiarism Prevention Tutorial Challenge.
Keep your eyes open for this character. He is visiting SC 101 classes with 100% participation in the Plagiarism Prevention Tutorial Challenge.
Congratulations to Professor Daryl Sasser's SC 101--the first class to achieve 100% participation in the Plagiarism Prevention Tutorial Challenge.
Hello Simpson Community,
Thank you for participating in the Simpson Community Project for the National Day on Writing. The Simpson Writing Center (SWC) staff has worked all week to include everyone’s response in a large display that opens on Monday, October 24, 2014. This is our first attempt at demonstrating two important characteristics of reading and writing: (1) we read and write every day and (2) our reading and writing is interconnected.
We will be placing the finishing touches on the display this afternoon, and we truly hope to see you viewing the display between now and the end of the semester. Based upon participant responses, we read and write in offices and classrooms, coffee shops and homes, while (riding !) in cars, sitting at tables, or curled up in bed. Here are some additional findings:
WHO IS READING AND WRITING?
More than 100 of us participated in this project.
The display includes contributions from administrators, students, staff, and faculty.
WHAT ARE WE READING AND WRITING?
72% of participants described reading primarily academic works such as textbooks, scholarly articles, or other material to prepare for teaching or learning in the classroom.
78% of participants who primarily read for non-academic purposes listed fiction as their preferred genre.
89% of participants primarily write academic texts such as scholarly articles, essays, lab reports, lesson plans, and notes (by both faculty and students).
4 participants have recently or are currently in the process of publishing their own work.
HOW ARE WE READING AND WRITING?
49% of participants responded to the inquiry with complete sentences. Everyone else jotted down notes.
Only 4% of participants specifically described their reading as digital versus traditional texts.
The smallest text a participant wrote was a sticky-note.
The largest texts participants wrote were poetry collections and novels.
Again, thank you for your participation. We hope you enjoy the display.
Best,
Simpson Writing Center Staff
Flip Flop Friday Palindrome #5--ABBA
When spelled in all capital letters the the second "B" inverted, ABBA refers to a 70's Swedish pop band, but there is also a very different meaning for Abba.
The first person to post the meaning of this word as used in the New Testament wins a Simpson Writing Across the Curriculum coffee mug.
Throwback Thursday Word #4: GALLIMAUFRY
A gallimaufry is a collection of confusing or random items.
EX: The garage holds a gallimaufry of possessions.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304708604577504672437027392
If average American homes were examined like newly discovered outposts of an exotic foreign culture, what might scientists learn? The results of a new study from UCLA's Center on Everyday Lives of Families.
Wacky Word Wednesday #5--NAVICULAR
The word navicular means to be boat-shaped.
EX: Edward has sculpted a navicular hedge.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/523684262892790128/
Tug Boat topiary
Tuesday Tip for Writing--
"You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."
-----Jack London.
More writing tips from successful authors--
http://thoughtcatalog.com/cody-delistraty/2013/09/21-harsh-but-eye-opening-writing-tips-from-great-authors/
Never use jargon words like reconceptualize, demassification, attitudinally, judgmentally. They are hallmarks of a pretentious ass.
Fun Facts about Writing--How did Virginia Woolf trick the Royal Navy?
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/feb/05/bloomsbury-dreadnought-hoax-recalled-letter
Letter to go on sale revealing how Bloomsbury group duped an admiral – but feared fake beards would give them away
Flip-flop Friday Palindrome #3--HANNAH
Hannah is one of the few proper nouns/names that is also a palindrome.
EX: Hannah completed the essay yesterday.
http://www.behindthename.com/
The meaning and history of first names, also called given names, as well as popularity statistics and famous bearers.
Throwback Thursday Word #3--STARRIFY
Starrify means to decorate with stars.
EX: She starrified her nails.
http://fashionion.com/decorate-your-nails-with-the-stars/attachment/2047/
Click to see this amazing style!! metallic-white-polish-with-blue-star-designs
Wacky Word Wednesday #4--AARDWOLF
An aardwolf is a type of hyena natve to Southern and Eastern Africa.
EX: The aardwolf pup has a sloping back and a black mane.
http://www.arkive.org/aardwolf/proteles-cristata/image-G75293.html
Tuesday Tip #1--Writers write about writing
http://99u.com/articles/7082/25-insights-on-becoming-a-better-writer
We round up 25 nuggets of writing wisdom from Kurt Vonnegut, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Augusten Burroughs, Geoff Dyer, Steven Pressfield, and more.
Fun Facts about Writing
http://www.bestinfographics.co/amazing-facts-about-writing-and-the-brain-infographic/
Flip-flip Friday Palindrome #2--CIVIC
Civic means relating to a town or community.
EX: Campus organizations promote civic education.
http://simpson.edu/multicultural-and-international-student-affairs/multicultural-student-alliance/
Multicultural Student Alliance MSA coordinates cultural activities on campus like Salsa Night, the Soul Food Sampler, Latino Food Sampling, and the Kwanzaa feast to promote tolerance and diversity on campus. MSA statementWe in the Simpson College community value diversity and tolerance of difference…
Throwback Thursday Word #2--NAMELINGS
People who share the same name are namelings.
EX: Sean Combs, Sean Penn, and Sean Bean are namelings.
http://www.biography.com/people/groups/famous-named-sean
Discover unexpected relationships between famous figures when you explore our group of famous people named Sean.
First Level Of Dunn Library, 701 N C Street, Simpson College
Indianola, IA
50125
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SWC says: "Good luck on your finals, travel safely, and have a happy long winter break!"
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Warren County Leadership Institute
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John C. Culver Public Policy Center
505 W Girard Ave
Rotaract Club of Simpson College
603 N Buxton St