WVU / Pitt / Duquesne Writing Center Conference

So, after some technical issue on our end, here are some photos that were taken at Pitt on November 8, 2008. Pitt hosted the WVU and Duquense Writing Centers for a day long session of sharing thoughts, ideas, and experiences.

Be On Our Podcast!

The WVU Writing Center is currently developing a monthly podcast and we want you to be a part of it!

If you are a WVU student or faculty member who has a strong opinion on writing or have seen success at the WVU Writing Center please contact us at the information below.

We are looking for people who are comfortable talking in front of a microphone and have enthusiastic personalities. The first recording will be the week of November 17, so hurry in!

To contact us or for more information, shoot an e-mail to wvuwritingcenter@gmail.com

November is National Novel Writing Month!

That's right -- there is actually a National Novel Writing Month, and it starts today!

Nanowrimo.org is an organization that challenges people to write all throughout the month of November and ultimately piecing together an entire 50,000 word novel.

It sounds far-fetched, but apparently had over 100,000 participants and over 15,000 winners last year!

You have until November 30th, so get cracking on your typewriters and notebooks. If you are taking on this daunting task, e-mail us and let us know so we can feature you on the blog this month!

To learn more about this organization visit http://www.nanowrimo.org

Fall 2008 Newsletter Now Available!

Download the Fall 2008 Newsletter PDF by clicking here!

Holiday Party and Themes!

Well it's that time of the year again. Santa is making his list and checking it twice, and bringing his list to the Writing Center to make sure the organization works for the prompt.

For the Secret Santa theme days, check the poll out on the right. Vote for the top 5 themes that you think would be the best for this year's Secret Santa.

If you have any suggestions for other themes, feel free to contact us! The poll will be up for 2 weeks!

And the Winner Is...

On a 6-3 vote for the design of the official WVU Writing Center T-Shirt, the winner is:

To purchase a Writing Center T-Shirt for a loved one this holiday season e-mail us at wvuwritingcenter@gmail.com

New Feature Added - Spellcheck

We've just added a spell check feature right above the thesaurus on the right sidebar for your convenience.

You're welcome!

New T-Shirt Designs

Below are the top 3 concepts for the new WVU Writing Center t-shirts. We used wordle.net to compile 5 words from each member of the Writing Center to create this design. The more common the word, the larger it appeared on the image.

If you are interested in purchasing a t-shirt send an e-mail to wvuwritingcenter@gmail.com or to John at doublefault24@gmail.com

Vote for which design you think would look best on a black t-shirt! Click on each design to see a full-sized, full-quality image. We will be announcing the winning design this Friday when the polls close!


Design 1 (above)

Design 2 (above)

Design 3 (above)

Writing Center Service Project Needs You!

The project is in support of Dr. Zenkov, the Director of Through Students' Eyes. Dr. Zenkov and his colleague Jim Harmon (a city teacher in an urban Professional Development School) have worked with youth in the Cleveland area for the past four years on the "Through Students' Eyes" (TSE) project, using a photovoice method to explore what these students believe are the purposes of school, as well as the supports for and impediments to their school successes. TSE has responded to a four decade long droupout rate in urban centers that often exceeds 50%. In an effort to help city students nationwide to explore and enhance their relationships to school, the project has now expanded to Denver and Washington, D.C. Check out http://www.throughstudentseyes.org for more information.

This service project will focus on donating disposable cameras. One camera per person will earn credit for the service project. If you are not able to solely donate a camera, please choose a partner to split the cost. These camera will be donated in an effort by Diane Yendol-Hoppey, the director of the Benedum Collaborative, who is interested in collaborating with Benedum students and faculty from Taylor County schools to extend Dr. Zenkov’s project into rural sites.

A key element of the project is providing secondary school students with disposable cameras so that they can document factors that influence their decisions to stay in school as well as factors that make staying in school difficult.

There will be a drop-off box in the Writing Center for disposable cameras.

Cameras must be donated by Wednesday, October 22 before 3:00 p.m.

Take Five Video

During the Spring 2008 semester, I had the opportunity to produce a 5 minute video in conjunction with the WVU Center for Writing Excellence which focused on students and their thoughts on writing here at West Virginia University.

The questions were meant to showcase the thoughts and opinions that various students had regarding their experience in writing.

Check it out below!

Scholastic Offering Columbus Day Sale

Scholastic publishing is having a Columbus Day sale offering items up to 75% off!

Click here to check out the great deals!

Welcome to the Writing Center Official Blog

Welcome to the WVU Writing Center Blog. This blog will serve as a way for the WVU Writing Center to keep you posted on upcoming events, upcoming workshops, random blurbs from employees, and other interesting information that we think you could afford to know!

For now, check out the Writing Center's first promotional video. This video was filmed last semester (Spring 2008) to help promote the Writing Center and it's new location in room G02 in Colson Hall!