Boise State First-Year Writing Program

First Year Writing Program Newsletter

The latest edition of Writing Matters, hot off the server!

First Year Writing Program Newsletter

First-Year Writing Program Newsletter

Latest Issue of Writing Matters

First-Year Writing Program Newsletter

Technical Records Specialist 2 - 170386

We are hiring a Technical Records Specialist 2! The position will provide administrative support to the program directors with particular attention to and awareness of complex program initiatives and university policy.

See our position announcement on the State of Idaho Division of Human Resources jobs site.

https://labor.idaho.gov/DHR/ATS/StateJobs/jobannouncement.aspx?announcement_no=01103030083

Technical Records Specialist 2 - 170386 Division of Human Resources website.

One of our awesome FYW instructors

Some of our amazing first-year students showing off their cookie skills

Free cookies, why not! 😊😊

What could be better than cookies? As part of the National Day on Writing festivities, we invite you to come map your writing process in the most delicious way! The event is from 9:00 - 1:00 in the First Year Writing Program office (or until we run out of cookies).

FYWP Newsletter

Check out the first Fall edition of the FYWP Newsletter!

FYWP Newsletter Exciting New Research OpportunitySamantha SturmanThe First Year Writing Program office is happy to announce the addition of a sizable digital student writing archive! Thanks to the hard work and many, many hours put in by our work study student, Kara Brown, we now have a living archive of student wr...

Start Planning Now For Next Semester

Excellent advice for reflecting on this semester RIGHT NOW to prepare for teaching next fall.

Start Planning Now For Next Semester You can’t build on the successes you achieved this semester if, by the time fall rolls around, you forgot how you achieved them.

Faculty Writing Groups - Center for Teaching Learning

Boise State announces summer faculty writing groups. Express interest by 5/17.

Faculty Writing Groups - Center for Teaching Learning Getting grants, papers and other scholarly writing done can be a challenge. Often this kind of work gets stretched out and pushed aside while more...

FYWP Newsletter

Read all about it! The latest issue of the FYWP newsletter, Writing Matters

FYWP Newsletter Collective KnowledgeAn Early History of Teaching with Technology Karen Uehling ___Editors' Note: The article below was excerpted from the Writing as Technology reading group's presentation at the spring quilt workshop, Wednesday, April 20. We thought those of you who couldn't attend might enjoy read…

The latest post.

Students! It's time for another Writer!
Say hello to Dayna Smith, Senior at Boise State who loves playwriting!

"[On Play writing]...But when you write a play you know exactly who it's for, you're writing for them, and you're writing so that they have an experience."


Theatre Arts Department at Boise State University

Be sure to be on the lookout for more student previews in the future, and if you're interested in sharing your work with the rest of Boise State, message us for more information!

Students! It's time for another Writer!
Say hello to Dayna Smith, Senior at Boise State who loves playwriting!

"[On Play writing]...But when you write a play you know exactly who it's for, you're writing for them, and you're writing so that they have an experience."


Theatre Arts Department at Boise State University

Be sure to be on the lookout for more student previews in the future, and if you're interested in sharing your work with the rest of Boise State, message us for more information!

FYWP March Newsletter

Hot off the virtual presses! It's the latest issue of Writing Matters, the Boise State FYWP's newsletter.

http://us8.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a748525dffa7d5716b1bc2cba&id=52fcc8fff6&e=224f915eba

FYWP March Newsletter Kenya Jenkins Fletcher & Sam Sturman As you know, reading groups have been meeting weekly (alternating in-person and online) this semester to discuss, explore, and revisit theories of composition. Below are some quotes, thoughts, and questions to ponder from these engaging conversations: Genre: Lor…

We Are the Threads...
As the curriculum quilt project continues, we just wanted to highlight some more of the thoughtful ideas from FYW faculty.

Here is a sampling of some of the threads.

“Where I may lack experience, I don’t lack energy; and FYW gets all of that.”

“I like the idea of contributing to transfer. I work to teach students about elements of writing that will help them write in future spaces and genres.”

“I am the thread concerned with practical application. Twelve years in a classroom helps me see things from a student perspective. I love theory but I also want to make sure it works in real life.”

If you haven't contributed your thread yet, come to the FYWP office to check out the quilt and add your thoughts.

And don't forget to take a colleague to coffee!! The coffee talks gift cards are in the FYWP office. Stop by to pick one up and carry on the conversation!

So exciting about how our curriculum redesign is progressing.

The FYWP Quilt Threads Project: A Dose of Awesome!

As part of the ongoing quilt project, we asked instructors to contribute their threads. The threads represent instructors' individual interests/expertise and how they connect to the shared vision for FYW at Boise State. Here is a sampling of the threads we have collected so far.

“I am interested in the way that threshold concepts are continuously worked into the curriculum.”

“I want to contribute all the feels and make it cool to own your feels.”

“Communicate the understanding that writing is an act of collaboration and a community based exercise.”

This project highlights the amazing contributions of our faculty and the continued work being done to give our students an innovative and exciting FYW experience.

Stay tuned for more threads and information on upcoming workshops!

Next up with our quilt project, we begin to give form to our shared vision.

The Quilt Project continues...

At the inservice, you contributed your individual quilt squares (Your thoughts on preparing FYW students for the future) and the framework (mission statements and thoughts on the purpose of FYW). Since then, we have been collecting your threads (individual contributions that hold the quilt together).

If you haven't been down to the office to see the quilt or contribute your thread, please visit. We have gotten some amazing sentiments so far! Here is just a sampling of some of the threads we have collected:
“I am the thread interested in transfer. How do the skills we hone transfer to other disciplines and beyond the university.”

“Talk with your students, don’t talk at them! I value the interactions that function more as an open forum than a lecture.”

“I’m interested in sharing through a collective discourse community.”

We will be hosting a workshop in October to add to the conversation started at the inservice and connect it to the larger university and national context. During the second week of October you will have two options to participate in this ongoing conversation:

Tuesday Oct 13, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday Oct 14, 12:00-1:30 p.m.

Stay tuned for more details!

FYWP Events

We have a great slate of professional development gatherings coming up this fall, starting with Logistical and Management Tools for Teaching with Steph Cox and Jen Black on September 9 at 12:00 in the English department conference room (LA 208A).

Check out our Events page for more upcoming workshops or to RSVP.

You can also view the FYWP Events calendar from Google Calendar. https://goo.gl/ur2qB8

FYWP Events

Wonder how groups of FYW instructors envision the mission of our program? Here are some examples of vision statements developed during "Crafting Our Future," this year's inservice:

FYW's mission challenges the Boise State University community to discover, question, and critically utilize writing and reading to engage and influence the world.

The purpose of first-year writing is to enable students to identify and apply concepts of writing in diverse rhetorical situations within academia as well as the world at large, which allows them to effectively express themselves and be understood.

FYW's mission is to build a foundation based on engaged critical thinking that prepares students to become informed decision makers.

Welcome back, everyone! Last week at our annual inservice, we launched a curricular revision project organized around a quilt metaphor. To get things started, FYW faculty reflected on an experience that informs their approach to teaching writing. Next, we worked in groups to develop vision statements for our program. At the end of the meeting, we all finished the sentence "When I think about preparing my students for the future, I..." These sentences were written on small colorful squares that Samantha Sturman assembled into a quilt. Today we made a border out of the printed vision statements.

Stop by the FYWP office (Suite 256 in the Liberal Arts Building) to see our quilt wall.

Writing Program Honored with National Innovation Award - UPDATE

The FYWP received the Council on Basic Writing's 2015 Innovation Award at the annual meeting of CCCC in Tampa, Florida. This award "recognizes writing programs for innovations that improve educational processes for basic writers through creative approaches."

Writing Program Honored with National Innovation Award - UPDATE The Department of English First-Year Writing Program was honored with the 2015 Award for Innovation presented by the Council on Basic Writing. The award was presented at the March Conference on College Composition and Communication. The CBW Award for Innovation …

2015 National Conference on Undergraduate Research | STEM Station

Here's an opportunity for sharing undergraduate research.

2015 National Conference on Undergraduate Research | STEM Station The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) and Eastern Washington University, the NCUR 2015 host, invite undergraduate students to submit abstracts for posters, oral presentations, and creative and performing arts presentations.

nsfp.boisestate.edu

This weekend is Parent and Family Weekend at Boise State University. Check out the tours, tailgating, events, and Boise State Broncos vs. Fresno State. The welcome station opens at noon on Thursday.

http://nsfp.boisestate.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/09/100485_NSFPO_FLYER_2014_v13.pdf

nsfp.boisestate.edu

Boise State and BAM Mark a Decade of Free Admission - UPDATE

For ten years, the Boise State campus community has received free admission to the Boise Art Museum. During certain times in this academic year, parents and families can get in free, too!

“In celebration of this decade-long partnership, we have extended the free admission benefits to parents and family members participating in the October Parent and Family weekend and the Bronco Venture sessions between Aug. 23, 2014, and Aug. 23, 2015,” said Melanie Fales, executive director and CEO at BAM.

http://news.boisestate.edu/update/2014/09/22/boise-state-boise-art-museum-celebrate-decade-free-admission/

Boise State and BAM Mark a Decade of Free Admission - UPDATE Boise Art Museum and Boise State University are celebrating 10 years of partnering to provide college students with opportunities to experience exceptional visual art exhibitions and educational programs, free of charge. All current Boise State students, faculty and staff with valid ID …

Make College Count! Career Happy Hour, Oct. 9 - UPDATE

Attention first-year students: Check out the Career Happy Hour on Thursday, Oct. 9.

http://news.boisestate.edu/update/2014/09/23/career-happy-hour-new-students-oct-9/

Make College Count! Career Happy Hour, Oct. 9 - UPDATE First and second year students are invited to attend Career Happy Hour from 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, in the Student Union Building Lookout Room. Students will meet successful alumni, campus representatives and potential employers. Register by Oct. 3 at …

Boise State Writing Students Speak Out (with tweets) · EmilySimnitt

In August, the First-Year Writing Program held its annual inservice for instructors. For the first time, we had a panel of students join us to offer their perspectives on first-year writing. gathered some of their comments. Check out her Storify.

https://storify.com/EmilySimnitt/boise-state-writing-students-speak-out

Boise State Writing Students Speak Out (with tweets) · EmilySimnitt Here's just a few experiences + tips Boise State students who have been successful in English 101 and English 102 shared with the instructors of these courses at the Fall 2014 Inservice.

25 Literary Opening Lines Diagrammed on One Giant Poster

Have you ever had to diagram sentences? For the word-nerd or the literary enthusiast, this poster proves that grammar can be beautiful!

25 Literary Opening Lines Diagrammed on One Giant Poster "Grammar is hard!" the Pop Chart Lab creative team said they learned from the process of putting together their latest poster, which applies the Reed-Kellogg model of diagramming to the opening sentences of 25 famous novels.

Boise State Professor Headlines March Fettuccine Forum - UPDATE

Check out this local lecture series, Fettuccine Forum, free to the public. A Boise State professor is headlining on March 6. It could be a great place to get some local inspiration for your next essay or writing project!

Boise State Professor Headlines March Fettuccine Forum - UPDATE The Fettuccine Forum presents “Pop-Up Art: The Temporary Phenomenon of Transforming Place," featuring Amanda Johnson Ashley.

Writing Tips From English 101 (with tweets) · EmilySimnitt

Need a dead week pick-me-up? Check out these GREAT tips from English 101 students in First-year Writing Instructor Emily Simnitt's class. Emily live-tweeted during their last class meeting to capture the excellent ideas flying around.

Writing Tips From English 101 (with tweets) · EmilySimnitt In the spirit of , I live Tweeted writing tips shared by my Boise State English 101 students on the final day of class.

Virginia Woolf on How to Read a Book

Here are some great thoughts on reading closely and attentively. Reading is an essential part of writing effectively!

Virginia Woolf on How to Read a Book "Do not dictate to your author; try to become him. Be his fellow-worker and accomplice."

First-year writing students: We have great news for you! Registration is now open for the Boise State Writing Center's Portfolio Push! Grab a cookie and a cup of coffee and make that final push to finish your portfolio, all with a Writing Center consultant there to help.

More info: http://writingcenter.boisestate.edu/portfoliopush/

Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1fOLOOCEwe1bSni9Q3s9clvh8XdvVypk-Q7eo0pt6_y0/viewform