Keys to Positive Writing Experiences

1. Keys to Positive Writing Experiences September 10, 2011 First Class Meeting

2. Reflections • My Feelings about My Experiences with Academic Writing: My Main Strengths Are— • My Feelings about My Experiences with Academic Writing: My Main Limitations or Areas that I Need to Improve Are— • Lessons I Learned from my Positive Experiences of Writing

3. Keys to Positive Writing • Successful writers write frequently and make writing a regular work habit • Successful writers make writing social • Successful writers write despite challenges they experience • Successful writers write incorporating constructive feedback they receive from others

4. Keys to Positive Writing • Successful writers realize that revisions are typical or normal • Writers who revise typically develop stronger projects or products that demonstrate higher quality • Successful writers critique their own work and examine it closely—they become evaluators of their own work

5. Keys to Positive Writing • Successful writers take time to think or reflect upon their writing and plan their work • Such writing plans typically include the development of an outline for scholarly writing assignments • Successful writers pursue their passions

6. Anticipating Obstacles • I really am too busy • My job and my family takes up all of my time • I will write just as soon as …….. • I am too depressed to write • I have just one more book or just one more article to read • I just can’t get started

7. Anticipating Obstacles • I am afraid of writing • I am not in the right mood to write • My responsibilities prevent me from writing • I can’t sit still • I feel guilty about not writing • I write very slowly that I never seem to get much done.

8. Writing Book Reviews September 10, 2011 First Class Meeting

9. Book Review Elements (5 points) • Describe the purpose, content, and structure of the book. • Some reviewers choose to provide brief synopsis of each chapter while other reviewers choose to discuss the major sections of the book. • What are the essential ideas presented by the author? • Additional information about the author might help readers better understand the point of view

10. Book Review Elements (5 points) • Identify and analyze the authors’ arguments. Are they reliable sources and are they valid? • Identify the book’s primary and secondary audiences • Present and discuss the context, theoretical bases, or unique perspectives of the book

11. Book Review Elements: The Evaluation (5 points) • Provide a critique or critical assessment of the book • What are the major strengths and weaknesses? A few examples below: • Relevancy of book, accuracy of book, currency of its content • Critique the organization or structure of book • Critique authors’ writing style

12. Book Review Elements: The Evaluation (5 points) • What is the book’s significance or contribution to the education field and to higher education? • What lessons can administrators, teachers, and faculty glean from this book?

13. Book Review Elements: The Evaluation • Avoid minimal responses of “I like the book” or “The book is very informative.”