It
sounds intriguing... but what is it?
The
Celebration of Student Writing is a phenomenon! Described objectively,
it is the culminating event for many sections of ENGL 121. For the
Celebration, students create projects based on the research work
they've conducted throughout the semester. Less objectively, it is an
exciting, loud, vibrant event where students, faculty, administrators,
and staff spend time looking at and talking about writing and the
fabulous work done by students in English 121.
What
does it look like?
You should check out the movie above to find out! But below, you'll
also find photos taken at the Celebration of Student Writing. They
don't begin to capture the excitement and noise of the event, but they
will give you a sense of student projects. At the Celebration, each
participating class has about 12 feet of table space to display their
projects. But projects don't all go on these tables--students have
created projects that can only be displayed on the floor (like paper
roads leading to different "signs" of student achievement, each
discovered and developed through research), or on video monitors spread
throughout the room (like a video about a student's research site), and
elsewhere. The more creative, the better!
What
really happens at the Celebration?
On
the day of the event, students and/or classes bring their completed
research projects to the McKenny Union Ballroom, where someone from the
Writing Program is available to help them locate their tables. By 4pm,
students whose work is displayed at the Celebration are at the tables,
ready to discuss their projects with others. Typically, students rotate
through the event--they
spend some time with their projects and some time looking at and
talking
about others' work. (Some instructors set up schedules for students,
for
instance.)
What
kinds of projects can students do?
Celebration projects should be linked to students' research work for
the term. But there's no one model or format for projects -- every
term, students get more creative! Some recent displays have included
Science
fair-type displays of research work
Chapbooks
or compilations of student work
Websites
Video
productions
Models
(of study sites) or other locations
Class
webzines or magazines
Multi-media
displays
Who
attends?
Everyone who creates a project for the Celebration attends (unless they
have another class or inescapable obligation) the Celebration.
Additionally, other students, administrators, professors, and
staff attend. Recently,
visitors from other campuses and area high schools have often attended
the
Celebration. Working with the Department of Admissions, we also invite
significant
teachers and/or counselors from participating students' high schools to
attend the Celebration, as well as prospective EMU students. Over 1400
people
visited the Winter 2005 Celebration!
Do
participants enjoy the Celebration?
We'll let them speak for themselves. Some comments from
Celebration evaluation forms:
I
got to rub shoulders with some bigwigs on campus. I gained
confidence in my writing that I felt was very important.
Being
there was valuable. Seeing other students’ projects made me
laugh
(in a good way) and helped me understand others’ views.
The
experience at the Celebration was very valuable because I have
never experienced anything like this before. It was neat to write
about a certain topic and be able to share it with other people.
Being
a part of this university is fun. It doesn’t always have to
be about sports or clubs, but it is good to know that there are other
ways to be
involved.
I
think it opened us as students up. When a project is on display
you work harder at it and get more joy out of letting people see your
work because it is letting them get to know each other better.
It
shows people that there are lots of talented writers here at
EMU.
So come with your best or funniest materials.
It
was a lot bigger than I expected, also there was a lot of good
work.
I
thought it was a good way of showing all the different ways people
use writing.
How
can I learn more or get advice? Contact
Linda Adler-Kassner
- we'll be
happy to work with you!
