The Center for Writing Excellence

Quarterly Freshman and Junior Composition Exemption Exams

The Center for Writing Excellence offers students the opportunity to exempt themselves from first year and junior composition course requirements through an exemption exam. Both exams are two-hour timed essays based on a provided text. Exams are offered once each quarter, typically the first Saturday after the first week of the quarter and scored holistically by at least two experienced Ohio University writing instructors. Students may take each exam only one time.

The next Freshman and Junior Composition Exemption Exams will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2009. Students must be pre-registered in order to take either exam. Registration is free but occurs in the first week of the quarter in the Department of English, 360 Ellis Hall.

Contact Melanie Lee at 740-597-1313 or leem5@ohio.edu  through June 12, 2009 for more information.  Read our Mission Statement.

“Getting Started: Graduate Students Talk About Starting the Dissertation / Thesis”

• Facilitated by Melanie Lee
• Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009
• Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
• Place: Friends of the Libraries Room

This interdisciplinary graduate student discussion panel will discuss strategies for starting the dissertation and thesis writing process. Topics will include choosing a viable research topic, criteria for selecting a thesis / dissertation advisor and committee, writing and defending the prospectus, overcoming challenges, and how these processes differ among disciplines. Reservations are not required to attend this event.

“Academic Learning through Informal, Participatory Writing”

• Facilitated by Sherrie Gradin and Melanie Lee
• Date: Friday, April 17, 2009
• Time: Noon – 1 p.m.
• Place: Faculty Commons Conference Room 301U

This hour will begin with a brief overview of informal, writing to learn strategies that facilitate active student participation and that can be applied to any class in any discipline as well as in experiential learning contexts. Conversation topics will include designing effective, informal writing assignments and how informal writing works in experiential contexts and non-writing disciplines to help students digest material and create ideas. Bring your lunch; reservations are not required to attend this informal talk.

“Student Writing: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”

• Facilitated by Sherrie Gradin, Paul Shovlin, Melanie Lee
• Date: Friday, May 1, 2009
• Time: 10 a.m. – Noon
• Place: Faculty Commons Conference Room 301U

What do we expect of incoming students’ writing? What in reality are they able to do? This faculty seminar explores how perceptions of what constitutes good (and bad) writing differ among high schools and colleges and among college disciplines. We will explore practices that can support or obstruct students’ writing development and suggest methods to assist students’ writing processes. Seating is limited. Please contact Melanie Lee at leem5@ohio.edu to reserve a seat.

“Meeting Students Where They Write (Part 2): Integrating Course Wikis”

• Facilitated by Paul Shovlin
• Date: Friday, April 24, 2009
• Time: 10:00 a. m. – Noon
• Place: Faculty Commons Conference Room 301U

Our special emphasis in this seminar will be on developing and integrating wikis into our courses. Faculty will exchange their views regarding wikis and how we might use them in the classroom. Since we will have a mix of skill levels, we will cover the basics for those less experienced. We will learn how to create and manage our own wikis and see examples of the ways these tools can enhance students’ learning. We will discuss what Blackboard 7.3 has to offer versus particular third-party sites for hosting wikis. Seating is limited. Please contact Paul Shovlin at shovlin@ohio.edu to reserve a seat.