A writing workshop is an opportunity for students to receive
constructive feedback on their writing. It can be an extremely
valuable experience
to hear how your peers receive and interpret your ideas. Does
your
writing really say what you want it to say? Is your meaning
clear?
Participants in the workshop may comment on the writing sample at all
levels:
words, sentences, paragraphs, argument.
The writing sample you submit for this workshop should be a draft of a section of your research paper, so the workshop will also jumpstart the writing process. Your writing sample should be 2-3 pages long including footnotes (at least two, properly cited). Remember to use Chicago/Turabian documentation style, clearly presented with modeals at the University of Wisconsin writing center website: http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/. Your writing sample should present an argument and some of the supporting evidence you have found in your research to this point. It could be the introduction to our paper or it could be a section in the middle.
Three things are critical for a writing workshop to succeed:
First, trust. The workshop is a safe environment. You can trust fellow students to respect your writing, to act professionally, and to critique your work only in a productive way. The workshop will focus on your writing sample and your project, not on you as a person.
Second, attitude. It is important that you approach the workshop with a positive attitude. It is not a competition. We are here to learn from each other, to help each other out. You’ll be surprised to see how much you can learn from the process of critiquing others’ work and from hearing what others have to say about your work.
Third, participation. The
success
of the workshop depends on students’ willingness to talk to each
other.
If you don’t see a problem or area of concern, then offer a
compliment.
If you don’t understand a particular sentence or a particular word, let
the author know. Silence is the hardest thing for an author to
hear
in a workshop!
GROUND RULES:
1. The author will send the writing sample to class members by email
by 7:00 pm the evening before class. S/he will also come to class
with at least 5 extra copies of the writing sample in case someone
could
not open the document or print it out Everyone should print out
and
read all of the writing samples before class on Wednesday and bring the
samples
to class for discussion. Feel free to mark up these documents and
be ready to comment on them.
2. In class, the author will read the writing sample and briefly
explain
the context if necessary.
3. All students (aside from the author) will have the opportunity to
make a comment on the writing sample BEFORE the author has a chance to
respond.
4. Students and author will engage in a discussion of the writing
sample
and the broader project.
5. A time-keeper will announce when 15 minutes have passed and we will
move on to the next author.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS:
Argument
What is the central question or set of questions the author is trying
to answer? What is the issue about which there is disagreement?
What is the author’s position?
What is (are) the opposing position(s)? How are they presented?
Is the introduction effective?
Evidence
What kind of evidence does the author use to back up his/her claim?
Does the author cite sources correctly?