Vanderbilt’s Writing Studio hosted a symposium on “Writing and Discipline” March 19 and 20, consisting of panel discussions and presentations by faculty and graduate students from across the university. Participants addressed issues of writing practice and pedagogy, the roles of discipline and creativity in writing, and the ways in which shifting conventions inform, shape, and re-shape our experiences as writers.
To listen to the podcasts, click on the title of each presentation below.
Writing, with Feeling: Personal Reflection in Student Writing
This panel offers instructors’ perspectives on personal writing as a course component – in the form of journal entries and personal narrative papers, and as part of otherwise analytical papers.
-Sarah Kersh, English Department
-John Morrell, English Department
-Jane Wanninger, English Department
-Panel Chair: Nicole Seymour, English Department & Women’s and Gender Studies Program
iSearch 2.0
We argue for reconceptualizing the research process and, specifically, the I-Search paper (Macrorie, 1988) so that students can take advantage of the possibilities for inquiry, publishing, and connectivity afforded by Web 2.0 technologies and culture. The presenters provide a theoretical foundation for rethinking research and also demonstrate specific strategies for teaching composition.
-Members of the Department of Teaching and Learning: Emily Bigelow, Nathan Phillips, Jasmine Ma, Blaine Smith, Bridget Dalton, Erin VandeWater, Walt Colt, and Tara Alvey
-Panel Chair: Kevin Leander, Department of Teaching and Learning
Teaching and Evaluating Non-Native Academic Writing
Writing in a non-native language poses obvious challenges for both writers and those who read their writing. And clearly there are many purposes for writing in academic contexts. The focuses of this two-fold presentation are 1) to shed light on specific types of problems commonly encountered in academic writing by internationals and 2) to offer workable approaches to problems that arise and resources for readers (professors, teachers, teaching assistants, writing consultants, editors, etc.)
-Nancy Calonge, Language Teaching Specialist, English Language Center
-Michael Jumonville, Language Teaching Specialist, English Language Center
-Rob Watson, PhD Candidate, French Literature
-Brad Teague, PhD Candidate, Department of Teaching and Learning
-Panel Chair: Lee Martin, Assistant Director of the English Language Center
Critical Writing About Mass Media: Bridging the Great Divide
The panelists discuss their distinct approaches to writing about film, television, and other media not counted among the “high” cultural forms that academics are expected to address (the novel, poetry, drama, painting, sculpture, etc.).
-Nafissa Thompson-Spires, PhD Candidate, English Department
-Donika Ross, English Department
-Claire Sisco King, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies & Film Studies
-Panel Chair: Paul Young, Director of Film Studies, Associate Professor of English
In the first annual Vanderbilt Undergraduate Writing Symposium, Vanderbilt students read and discussed successfully written course papers from across the disciplines. The event included remarks from Provost Richard McCarty and Dean of the Commons Frank Wcislo.
Undergraduate Writing Symposium opening remarks
Opening remarks for the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Writing Symposium, Jen Holt and Provost Richard McCarty.
On Loss and Longing
Loss and longing are two classic literary themes. This panel explores these themes through two poetry explications and an original work of short fiction. In her paper “The Labor of Lust,” Allena Berry argues that Wallace Steven’s Poem “Peter Quince at the Clavier” takes the counterintuitive perspective that rather than being erratic, lust is valuable and worth working for. Wentig Chen brings the issue of longing to life in a short story entitled, “The Undergraduates.” In her paper, “The Role of Voice in ‘Man and Echo’,” Hayley Karlan argues that W.B. Yeats’ poem “Man and Echo” employs an ironic dialogue between man and his echo to show that controlling one’s own voice can lead to internal conflict.
Social and Psychological Phenomena
In this panel we have three different papers that explore how individuals influence society, how society influences individuals, and how individuals influence each other. In her paper, “The Effect of Parental Attitudes and Alcohol Use on College Students’ Drinking,” Heather Benzmiller demonstrates how parents’ attitudes towards alcohol use affect their children’s behavior. In his Paper, “Generally on Edge: An Overview of Generalized Anxiety Disorder,” Dustin Lynn investigates Generalized Anxiety Disorder from its definition to its causes and impacts, and suggests some strategies to combat the disorder and minimize its negative effects. In her Paper, “All the Cool Kids are Doing It: The Effects of Group Involvement on Non-electoral Participation,” Aarika Patel suggests that one’s involvement in a group positively impacts one’s participation in non-electoral political processes.
Undergraduate Writing Symposium closing remarks
Closing remarks for the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Writing Symposium, Jen Holt and Dean of the Commons Frank Wcislo. Also, a certificate presentation to participants.
Contact: amanda.middagh@vanderbilt.edu