© L. Putnam Communications | Toward Better Writing

A QUICK WALK along the path to

professional publishing

13 things you can do to help students improve their writing

Laurie Putnam SJSU SLIS Faculty Institute May 14, 2010

© L. Putnam Communications | Toward Better Writing

1 Don’t expect miracles.

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Do expect progress.

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Design clear assignments. ■  Say what you want & imagine

students doing it. ■  Use class time. ■  Build in process.

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Set checkpoints. ■  Request thesis & outline early. ■  Help struggling students early.

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Try group work or peer reviews. ■  Let students help one another. ■  Provide guiding questions.

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Know what’s important to you.

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Classic criteria Content; substance ■  Research ■  Ideas and analysis

Writing quality; expression of ideas ■  Organization ■  Style ■  Mechanics

Know what’s important to you

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3. 3. Set expectations.

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Set expectations

Sample guidelines

Assignment: Does paper fully address requirements?

Substance ■  Research: Are appropriate sources used & incorporated?

■  Content: Are author’s ideas and analyses well developed?

Writing quality ■  Organization: Is content clearly & logically organized?

■  Style: Is voice clear, strong, & pleasing to read?

■  Mechanics: Are grammar, punctuation, & spelling correct?

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Try using an evaluation tool.

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Try using an evaluation tool LIBR 200 Term Paper Checklist

Title Page • Includes paper title, your name, course number and section, and date

Abstract • Brief but comprehensive summary of the paper’s contents, not

exceeding 120 words (See APA 1.07)

Intro • Topic I.D.

• Why it’s important

• Core overarching/synthetic question assembled from all the secondary scholarship

• The overarching answer/thesis interpreted from all the secondary scholarship

• Naming the sub-topics identified (the sub-headings)

• A new original question that deserves future treatment by the field (based on current gaps or furthering hot topics).

• The best papers will offer a speculative answer to the new question

Lit Review • A brief (one or two paragraphs only) synthetic survey of the most

recent and relevant scholarly writing on your topic.

• Note: this is not just a “revision” of your earlier lit review paper

Gaps • A brief section (about 1 paragraph) noting questions and topics that

you find would strengthen this body of literature or note any gaps you perceive in the current scholarly literature

• A transition sentence or two that reiterates what specific topic your paper will address and how it contributes to the literature

Methodology (According to APA, lit review

comes before methodology)

• Explain the searching processes and search syntax you used to search, discover, and gather sources used in paper

Body and Findings

• Present your findings. This should consist of grouping your secondary sources into categories that makes sense to you. Approach this literature from the point of view of your own original and overarching question.

• Take care to use APA format for your parenthetical references

Conclusion • Summarize by restating the core overarching/synthetic question and

thesis assembled from all the current secondary scholarship you covered

• Restate your own central/controlling question and the conclusions that your research supports. This is also an excellent point to also offer or nominate new or different questions you feel are important but have not yet been asked thus far by the literature on your topic.

References • Reference list should include at least 20 items (mostly peer-reviewed)

and be presented in the style dictated in the APA Publication Manual.

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Criteria Points Comments

Content (50%) 3 6 9 12 15

Organization 1 2 3 4 5

Style 1 2 3 4 5

Mechanics 1 2 3 4 5

Total points & general comments

Try using an evaluation tool

© L. Putnam Communications | Toward Better Writing

A QUICK WALK along the path to

professional publishing

Sample rubrics ■  http://tinyurl.com/Drake-Rubric ■  http://tinyurl.com/MarsHill-Rubric ■  http://tinyurl.com/UC-Harvard-Rubric ■  http://tinyurl.com/UColorado-Rubric ■  http://tinyurl.com/APUS-Rubric

Try using an evaluation tool

© L. Putnam Communications | Toward Better Writing

Read each paper twice. ■  Skim through once. ■  Then read carefully.

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Give summary comments. ■  Restate paper’s main point. ■  Discuss strengths. ■  Discuss weaknesses.

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Encourage. Question. Consider.

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Review others as you would have others review you. ■  Be kind. ■  Be clear. ■  Stay focused.

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© L. Putnam Communications | Toward Better Writing

Remember the goals. ■  Let students know where they stand. ■  Help students improve their work.

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