WWU Writing Success Stories

WWU WRITING FELLOWS PUBLISH & PRESENT

These 2 are collaborative scholarship items from Catherine McDonald and Amanda Hill’s grant last year (2007-08 Writing Fellows):

"Researching the ‘Digidemic’: We’re All in It Together.”  Investigating Digital Tools, Texts, and Use Practices: Collaborative Approaches to Research in English Studies. Ed. Laura McGrath. Forthcoming.

 “Are We Ready for the ‘Digidemic’?:  Digital Waves of Change in Academic Writing.” Conference on College Composition and Communication. San Francisco. March 2009.

Catherine also used part of the research findings in a conference presentation she did alone in Oct.
“Under New Management: Digital Literacy and Public Discourse” Conference: “Who Owns Writing?” Revisited. Hoftstra University. Long Island. October, 2008.

WWU ANTHRO STUDENTS EDITORIAL LETTERS SELECTED AS EXEMPLARY IN NATIONAL COMPETITION... AGAIN

In the Spring of 2007, the students in Professor Kathleen Saunders' Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (ANTH 201) course participated in the Yanomami Community Action Project, organized by the Center for Public Anthropology. Professor Saunder's students joined with other students enrolled in introductory courses from institutions around the country, who registered on the Yanomami Community Action Website and received a 100 page booklet giving background information on an ethical dilemma in anthropology that is a current, undecided issue. Along with the "facts of the matter" came authored opinion pieces that tried to cover the bases for point of view. Students then wrote a letter to a decision maker in the controversy stating their own considered opinion for action. These student letters were then redistributed among the all of the student participants (4 letters per enrolled student) for peer evaluation. Through a winnowing process, five exemplary letters were selected to which all of the other students were given an opportunity to affix their (electronic) signatures before the letters were indeed sent to the addressee. Two of Professor Saunders' students, Lydia Morrison and Brandon LaFave, were among the five authors whose letters were selected. Congratulations to Lydia, Brandon and Professor Saunders on this incredible writing success!

Then, in the fall of 2008, in a new writing competition with almost 1,700 students from twelve universities in Canada and the United States, fourteen of the students in Professor Kathleen Saunders' Introduction to Cultural Anthropology class (ANTH 201) placed among the top 50 winners in Public Anthropology’s Community Action Website’s Third Fall “Action Period!” The fourteen students are: Devin Langker, Keli Van Holde, Lesley Countner, Patrick English, Ashley Allan, Britta Nelson, Jeannie Ubigau, Kayley Gordon, Jillian Veitenheimer, Lorryn Whisnant, Casey Cobb, Kate Billlings, Samantha Weis, and Molly Riegel. Congratulations again to Professor Saunders and her fourteen student winners!