Writing Studio News & Notes – Faculty Edition
With Winter Break nearly here (although perhaps not quickly enough!), we’re reaching out to fall writing course faculty and faculty slated for spring writing courses, too.
As we prepare to close out the fall semester, we want to make sure the Writing Studio is on your radar AND your syllabus for spring!
In the December newsletter:
- “Scaffolding Writing Across the Semester” Workshop on December 9: Join us for the final Teaching Writing Workshop of Fall 2024 for a chance to kickstart, revise, or fine-tune your spring syllabus.
- Writing Studio Support for Your Spring Courses: Take a look at our menu of options for ways you can incorporate the Writing Studio into your Spring 2025 courses: Add a Writing Studio blurb to your spring syllabi, invite us into your classroom for a writing workshop or a brief overview of our services, get feedback on your course materials through a pedagogy consultation, and more!
- Two Calls for Nominations: Give your students a recognition they’ll appreciate by nominating them for the following opportunities:
“Scaffolding Writing Across the Semester” Workshop on December 9
Scaffolding Writing Across the Semester
Monday, December 9, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Participants will learn how to use backward design to scaffold writing projects and assignments throughout the semester. In preparation for Spring 2025, they will also have the opportunity to workshop syllabi for courses with writing components. Participants should bring a draft of a spring course syllabus or another syllabus they wish to redesign. Let us know you’re coming!
Fall 2024 in-person workshops will be facilitated by Dr. Megan Minarich, Associate Director, Vanderbilt Writing Studio & Tutoring Services.
Questions? Please email megan.l.minarich@vanderbilt.edu.
Writing Studio Support for Your Spring Courses
As you polish up your Spring 2025 syllabus and course calendar, consider the following ways to connect with the Writing Studio.
Keep reading for additional details.
Add a Syllabus Statement about the Writing Studio
One of the easiest ways to let students know that you want them to make use of the Writing Studio is to include a supportive statement on your syllabus, on Brightspace, or on individual assignments. We invite you to copy the example below and paste it into your syllabus:
“One-on-One Writing Support at the Writing Studio
In addition to meeting with me during office hours to discuss coursework, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the services at the Writing Studio; getting feedback benefits writers at all skill levels. Writing Studio consultants can offer a fresh perspective on any of your writing projects. For more information and to schedule an appointment, visit vanderbilt.edu/writing.”
Brief Introductions to the Writing Studio
Giving your students a friendly face to associate with the Writing Studio can make scheduling a writing consultation much less intimidating.
Inviting us to send a writing consultant to offer a 10-minute Brief Introduction to the Writing Studio presentation will do just that, while also leaving students informed about how to take advantage of our services. It’s a high-yield use of your valuable class time!
In-Class Writing Workshops
Graduate writing consultants and Writing Studio administrators are available to lead workshops on specific elements of the academic writing process. Our standard workshops cover a variety of essential topics:
We can also work with you to develop a workshop tailored to your course’s specific needs. Past custom topics have included case studies, literature reviews, film analyses, podcasts, op-eds, and more.
Complete our In-Class Writing Workshop Request form to start the process.
Writing Pedagogy Consultations
The Writing Studio’s Director, Associate and Assistant Directors, and Academic Support Coordinators are available to discuss writing pedagogy: syllabus construction and development, writing assignment design, resources for student writing support, and more.
To schedule an appointment, please contact our Administrative Specialist by emailing writing.studio@vanderbilt.edu.
Visit the Writing Studio’s Faculty page for additional information and resources available for instructors.
Two Calls for Your Student Nominations
The Writing Studio needs your help. Between now and mid-January, we are calling on faculty to
More details about both calls for nominations follow.
Undergraduate Writing Symposium Nominations Due by January 10
Help us celebrate your students’ achievements as writers! We are seeking faculty nominations of strong undergraduate writing to be considered for inclusion in the 17th Annual Undergraduate Writing Symposium, which will be held Friday, March 28, 2025 in the Commons Center MPR.
Seeking instructor nominations for:
- First-Year Essays and other compositions (including multimedia projects) from Fall 2024
- Advanced Research Writing by upper-division students, including Honors, Independent Study, and Immersion projects
Submit a nomination via the Writing Studio’s consolidated Faculty Nominations page. Nomination Deadline: Friday, January 10.
Undergraduate Writing Consultant Nominations Due by January 17
The Writing Studio runs on peer-powered consulting, and we need your help to keep going strong. Nominate a student to join the Writing Studio’s staff as an Undergraduate Writing Consultant in 2025-2026.
For these paid positions, we seek instructor nominations of current first-years, sophomores, and juniors of all majors and from diverse backgrounds. Ideal candidates are thoughtful academic writers with excellent interpersonal skills.
- Nominated students will be invited to submit an application. Applicants selected through our competitive process will join our staff in August 2025, earning $10.50 per hour.
Submit a nomination via the Writing Studio’s consolidated Faculty Nominations page. Nomination Deadline: Friday, January 17.
Share and Subscribe!
We have begun distributing our monthly newsletter to faculty teaching first-year writing seminars and W courses and asking departments to forward it on to their faculty, but you can also sign up to receive it directly.
Want to stay updated yourself? Ensure our emails continue coming your way by taking a moment to subscribe to our new Writing Studio Faculty News and Notes listserv.
Know someone who should be receiving this newsletter? Please help us out by forwarding it on to them!
Questions?
Contact us at writing.studio@vanderbilt.edu.
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