Campus Compact » Program Models Service-Learning In Humanities

The Civic Engagement Newsletter

tdomf_26a6d — Wed, 26 May 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Students who enroll in Allegheny s introductory Technical/Professional writing course confront the challenges of writing for a publication by creating one: The Civic Engagement Newsletter. Published every semester by Fahrner Fellows working with Civic Engagement Council (CEC) programs, the newsletter highlights college – community collaborations that demonstrate best practices in public scholarship, applied liberal arts learning, civic and political engagement, and community service. The newsletter is distributed on campus in the surrounding community and to a national and international network.

For more information go to: http://civicengagement.allegheny.edu/newsletter.php

Contact: Amara Geffen, 814-332-3379, ageffen {at} allegheny(.)edu

http://webpub.allegheny.edu/employee/a/ageffen/MainPage2.html

Creative Writing in the Community

tdomf_26a6d — Thu, 20 Feb 2003 00:00:00 +0000

In this required course for creative writing majors offered for the first time in the spring of 2003, students meet with their writing partners for a minimum of five visits (one hour each) to become acquainted and to eventually explore a significant moment or event in that person s life. This semester, students read The Soul of a Citizen, and the directors of involved agencies gave presentations on their respective agencies and client population. In February of this year, through funding by Lilly Endowment, Paul Loeb came to campus to give a lecture, conduct a faculty workshop, and visit the class. Students also read literature (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and drama) that focuses on some of the issues inherent in the particular situations of the chosen agencies. The cross-disciplinary aspect of the course touches upon psychology, history (of the city of Muncie and its relationship with the particular population engaged), sociology, social work, linguistics, women s issues, socio-political matters, etc. This course is designed for writers to practice the techniques of characterization, point-of-view, setting, & conflict so that in fiction or nonfiction, prose takes on new meaning, intensity, and originality in their rendering of their writing partner s story. Community-based education offers the opportunity for the students to share their skills as creative writers (as they hone the techniques) with citizens in the community. As the students develop as writers, they also develop a broader perspective of the complex ways through which individuals cope with their situations and environments. This semester, students are matched with writing partners from Hillcroft Services, Inc. (group home residents with mental challenges), Big Brothers Big Sisters (clients and volunteers) and Heritage Retirement Village (residents). The end product of the published collection of these works and the release reception for all involved in the effort will be the capstone of the course.

“”Expository Writing III”" course: creating materials for local non-profit agencies

tdomf_26a6d — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In the spring of 2000, Professor Tom Deans guided Kansas State University Expository Writing III students in writing brochures for local non-profit agencies with pressing writing or research needs. Students first developed client relationships with the agencies and followed up with professional quality writing, such as newsletter articles, research reports, web pages, press releases, and so on, that meets the criteria established by the community partner.

Course Description
ENGL 300 Expository Writing 3
Section A: MWF 9:30–D. Smit

??? We will explore how writing depends on different contexts and genre conventions by investigating the writing done in four major communities: the generally literate public, an academic community, a professional or workplace community, and what I call a public forum. We will study the organization and discourse practices of these communities and write up the results of this field work. For each community we will also do some basic stylistic, rhetorical, and critical analyses of the genres these communities use. And finally we will write in one genre used by each of these communities.

Writing and grammar tutors

tdomf_26a6d — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

A work opportunity center and/or GED site through the Minneapolis School District. Students in basic (developmental or pre-college) writing will work with students at these sites either in the form of English tutoring or in the form of group presentations on writing and grammar.