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Staring at a blank screen? September 27, 2007

Posted by arussell in : Getting started , comments closed

It has happened to all of us: you read the prompt, you have an idea about what you want to write, but somehow the words just don’t come out. Minutes drag by, and turn into an hour, maybe two. What’s a writer to do?

One of my favorite writing tactics is what I’ll call the “15 Minute Blitz.” If I’m unsure about what I want to write or how I wanted to get started, I employ this tool to get something on that screen in front of me. I set a timer for 15 minutes and type continuously until the timer goes off. I’m not allowed to reread what I’ve written or to go back and make any changes. When I’m finished, I at least have something on the page. I feel better because now I know I have something, and now I can begin to refine my ideas. It’s a lot easier to work with something you already have on the page than stare at a blank screen while ideas swirl around in your head.

This tactic is also a great way to realize what you really want to say about something and can even yield your thesis. It’s similar to stream-of-consciousness writing, in which one simply writes what is on his or her mind continuously for 15 minutes. Stream-of-consciousness writing often surprisingly yields a new conclusion at the end, and the 15 Minute Blitz can work the same way! Without adding all researched, textual support, simply type out what you want to say and why you believe it to be so. Then you will see what your real thesis is! After you’ve cemented what you are trying to say with your paper, you can go back and break up evidence into paragraphs and add the necessary textual support!

Staring at a blank screen? Try the 15 Minute Blitz today!

Citations and Bibliography September 25, 2007

Posted by arussell in : Citation & bibliography, Style , comments closed

“But this is how I thought we were supposed to cite things?”
“What’s Chicago style?”
“What do I have to cite?”
“You mean I have to cite if I paraphrase? Why?”
“I hate APA. Why can’t we just use MLA for everything?”
“Footnotes, endnotes, in text citations…AHHH”
“What if there is a quote that I’m quoting from a text that is quoting it? Do I quote the original text or the source I have or….?”

The are just a few questions or comments that have been made either by me or other students. Yes, I’ve heard you say them too. :) As it turns out, these questions all have logical answers. Some (if not all) can be found online here under the Citation & bibliography link or in the manuals of style at the Writing Center in the Christopher Center.

Come visit us and we can help you figure out some of those tough questions.

Oh, and yes, if you use someone else’s idea or paraphrase, you do have to cite it….

Consulting Online September 21, 2007

Posted by jhicks in : Consulting with us, International Students , comments closed

An online appointment works well either in the first draft or nearly finished. Your reader will send you an overall response and also make comments in the margin or text. You’ll find questions about ideas and content, suggestions for additions, and tips for corrections in style or usage. When will you hear from us? Usually within 24 hours, but keep in mind our consultants take a break on the weekend until Sunday evening.

The down side of online consultations . . .we can’t talk with each other. The best ideas come from conversation–tossing around ideas, jotting down notes, and making corrections. To try it out, send to writing.center@valpo.edu . Be sure to explain the assignment and include questions you have. International students: please come in to meet in person for your first consultation.

the dash! September 20, 2007

Posted by mlester in : Editing , add a comment

The dash was Emily Dickenson’s favorite punctuation. It is often confused with the hyphen, but but it is much more cool. It is used to set off material that deserves special emphasis. When typing, use two hypens to form a dash, with no space before or after.

So if you have a list to set off, a restatement, or an idea that you want to stand out in your writing, a dash can help you do that.

Example: Mary took a few steps back, came running full speed, kicked a mighty kick–and missed the ball.

In my opinion, I think . . . September 19, 2007

Posted by jhicks in : Love Unit, Style , add a comment

Is it OK to use “I” in my writing? Many profs will suggest eliminating “I” (first person) from your formal writing. Simply make a statement–readers will know it’s from you. However, the assignment itself, the topic, and the purpose will usually give you a sense whether this personal reference works well in the writing.

Tip: When having trouble with a draft, try writing “I think that . . .” often to help you decide what you want to say. Later you can eliminate this construction by using the second part of the sentence.