University Writing Board

The University Writing Board Mission

The purpose of the University Writing Board is to encourage and to support the development and the maintenance of writing-intensive courses in all academic disciplines at SUNY New Paltz. Fundamental to this program is the premise that writing constitutes an important means of learning in all disciplines. Writing is a complex, cognitive process that involves translating thoughts to words, as well as questioning, reflecting, and analyzing in order to seek clarity and meaning. Writing is a means by which a person discovers, creates, and communicates knowledge.

To support the writing-intensive program, the Writing Board:
Conducts workshops that introduce the philosophy of writing as a mode of learning.
Provides opportunities for faculty members to share ideas and approaches.
Sponsors seminars and programs on writing-across-the-disciplines.
Provides ongoing support for faculty members' efforts to make courses writing-intensive.
Recommends courses that have been proposed by faculty members as writing-intensive.

The University Writing Board 2011-2012 Theme: Why Write?



The Writing Intensive Requirement
Submitting a Course for WI Designation
Workshops, Retreats, and Other Events
Link to F04 Designing and assessing student writing workshop here
Members

The Writing-Intensive Requirement

As part of the GEII program, a writing-intensive course requirement was adopted. The requirement stipulates that "to graduate, every student must complete successfully at SUNY New Paltz at least one writing-intensive course." This requirement remains unchanged under GEIII.
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Workshops, Retreats, and Other Events

FACULTY RETREAT
Wed., Nov. 9, 2011
Mohonk Preserve, time TBA
This event brings together faculty to discuss variuls aspects of writing.  Typically sessions are organized around various themes.  Writing exercises and discussions are used to examine aspects of faculty writing as well as student writing.

SYMPOSIUM
Details to be announced


CELEBRATION OF WRITING DAY
Friday, May 6, 2012
Time and Locations TBA
This event will celebrate student writing across the disciplines. The Writing Board wishes to recognize the effort students have put into course assignments and other writing endeavors. This event is held each spring. Students are asked to submit writing samples and read an excerpt of their writing at the event.

Please encourage your students to submit works to the Writing Board for review Submission deadline: Wed. April 18, 2012. Click on the link for the 2012 COW application. We encourage submissions from students in all disciplines, including science, technology, social science, art, history, education,or other disciplines where writing provides a necessary analysis tool. We welcome critical reviews of arts and cultural activity, social and political analyses, news stories, book reviews, and science reports. Of course, we welcome creative fiction, drama and verse.
For additional information, contact Maureen Morrow X3776.

COW FAQs
How many pieces can I submit?
You can submit once for any given category (with the exception of poetry).
How will the submissions be judged?
The criteria for judging the papers includes: Style, content, and originality.
Can graduate students participate?
Yes.
Can alumni participate?
No.

2011 COW participants
(asterisk indicates award of distinction, see below)

Creative Writing:
*Evan Rieger
*Jeremy Simms
Isaac Berger
*Brian Garritano
Gregory Levy
*Evan Rieger
*Jeremy Simms
Jacqueline van den Bergh
Jennifer Wise
*Diane Regal

Memoir/Autobiography:
Steven Berkowitz
Maliqua Fisher
Kate Jordan
*Robert F. Kilcrease
Ashley Mercado
*Evan Rieger
*Tara Scarola
John Sotomayor
*Elizabeth Van Buren

Academic Writing:
Joseph Bacchi
Eirik Bjorkman
*Brian Garritano
Adam Gordon
Matthew Hughes
Emily Jerez
Matthew John Jr.
*Robert Kilcrease
Tara Molloy
Emma Nichols
Danielle Quitoni
Diana Regal
*Tara Scarola
*Jeremy Simms
*John Sotomayor
Sara Sweeney
*Elizabeth Van Buren
Brian Walker
Brianna Walter

Experimental:
Elizabeth Petersen

Awards of Distinction

Creative Writing , Poetry:  
Brian Garritano, Narcissus

Elizabeth Petersen, Perfect

Creative Writing Fiction:  
Jeremy Simms, for two stories, Snakes Don't Die and The Chamber of Mirrors

Memoir/Autobiography:  
Evan Rieger, Therapy for a Nerd

Gregory Levy, There Were Lizards Everywhere

Personal Essay (New Category):
Elizabeth Van Buren, Let's Study Audio Science on the Moon Unit and Eat Diva Muffins! and July Yuletide

Ashley Mercado, Fight of a Hero

Academic Writing:
Sara Sweeney, Challenging Underdevelopment: Argentina's Strategic Use of Third World Cinema as a Medium for Change

Matthew Hughes, Templars and Confraternities: Organizational Competition in Thirteenth Century Iberia

Brian E. Walker, The Plague of Silence: A Sociological Critique of Eviatar Zerubavel's Novel, The Elephant in the Room

Honorable mention: John Sotomayor, Lem and Gibson on the Follies of Science Fiction

Experimental:  
Jacqueline van den Bergh, When Eating the Fruit, Think of the Person Who Planted the Tree

Robert Kilcrease, A Child's Fascination with Death



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Members

Susan Kraat, Chair Peter Kaufman
Ann Lovett Maureen Morrow
Amy Papaelias
Tom Meyer
Morgan Gwenwald Matt Newcomb
Jan Schmidt
Giordana Grossi
Deyanira  Rojas-Sosa



We welcome your comments and questions
Page last updated on December 6, 2011

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