Student Writing Groups: Sonia Rodriguez

Creating Graduate Student Writing Groups and Writing Workshops

 

Description: This presentation focuses on creating writing groups and writing workshops for grad students that facilitate proactive writing patterns. Through a discussion of the purposes and benefits of writing groups and writing workshops, this presentation guides individuals on developing a successful writing group and a productive writing workshop. We will discuss strategies for writing groups, such as setting goals and a writing schedule, and will go over writing workshop do’s and don’ts. A packet of information will be provided.

 

Introductions (15 minutes)

  • Briefly discuss how I came across writing groups and writing workshops.

Questions to consider: Why am I an advocate for writing groups?

How have I implemented them? Have they worked?

  • Discuss the difference between writing group and writing workshop as I have used them.

Writing Group: a support network and system amongst writers. The group should have a writing schedule, clear achievable goals for every meeting, and a larger goal for the quarter (or duration of the writing group)

Writing Workshop: Focuses more on the revision process. The workshop entails exchanging drafts and responding to each other’s work. The writer’s goals and the reader’s role should be clear.

Questions to consider: What are the purposes and benefits of the group and workshop?

Writing Groups (25 minutes)

  • What do you want to gain from a writing group?

Things to consider: What are you strengths and weaknesses as a writer?  i.e. procrastination, organization, style, imposter syndrome. What type of support are you looking for? i.e. research, guided writing, interactive writing, a space to write with others.

  • What to look for in a writing group?

Things to consider: 1. Will starting a writing group with my friends be too distracting? Will we actually get work done? 2. Should all the writers be from the same field? What are the pros and cons? 3. Should the writing group have writers at all levels? i.e. first year students and dissertation students.

  • Setting goals for the writing group.

Things to consider: 1. Set an overarching goal for the group. i.e. finish first draft of seminar paper x by week 9 in order to have time for revisions. 2. Set smaller goals for each writing session. i.e. Each writer is responsible for 1 page of writing. 3. Set realistic goals and steps for accomplishing those goals.

  • Setting a writing schedule and sticking to it.

Things to consider: 1. How often should the group meet and for how long? i.e. Once a week for 2-4 hours. 2. How strict or flexible should the group be on the schedule? There are still goals that the writers need to meet.

Becoming Proactive Writers

  • Spreading your Writing Out

Things to consider: As graduate students still taking course work, the bulk of the writing happens toward the end of the quarter. What are some strategies that we can use throughout the quarter to make us proactive writers?

  1. Admitting our vulnerabilities about writing. Be honest about your experiences with writing.
  2. Develop a writing process that will avoid last minute purging

According to The Craft of Research there are three steps that can help your writing:

Write to Remember

-write down what you already know about your subject

Write to Understand

-write down the patterns you see in what you are reading

Write to Test Your Thinking

-write to get your ideas on paper

  • Abstracts/Prospectuses

Things to consider: 1. Hold each writer accountable for a rough abstract or tentative prospectus for each project.

Handout: “Ingredients of a Good Abstract” (Social Sciences and Humanities) by Wendy Belcher.

Writing Workshops (25 minutes)

  • Be sure to set a date ahead of time for when the workshop will take place i.e. week 9.

Things to consider: You will need sufficient time to read the essay, make edits, and provide a written response.

  • Giving Feedback

Handout(s): “Types of Feedback”-Wendy Belcher

“What Not To Do When You Are Giving Feedback”

-Do not obsess about the author’s bibliographic sources

-Do not obsess about what is not in the article

-Do not obsess about fixing the article

-Do not obsess about judging the work

“What To Do When You Are Giving Feedback”

-Start with the positive

-Be Specific

-Focus on giving response

-Always suggest

-Focus on the macro

-Spend the time

“What to Do When You Are Getting Feedback”

­-Give instructions

-Separate the delivery from the message

-Listen, don’t talk

-Take advantage

-You are the final authority on your own writing

Editing your Essay

Handout(s): “The Belcher Diagnostic Test”-Wendy Belcher

“Words that might need to be cut”

“Words that might need to be added”

“Words that might need to be changed”

“Some Quick Fixes to Weak Phrases”

Conclusions (10 minutes)

  • Briefly recap writing groups and writing workshops

Things to consider: Emphasize importance of writing support system for first generation and grad students of color.

  • Make clear my investments in writing groups and writing workshops. I did not make this stuff up but it has helped me greatly.
  • Open it up for discussion.
  • Handout: Example  of writing group and writing workshop schedule (Peer Mentor/Mentee Syllabus)

 

Sources:

Belcher, Wendy. Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks: A Guide to Academic Publishing Success. SAGE Publications: Los Angeles, California. 2009. Print.