The Writing Center in the Department of Languages and Communications and several honors societies will be holding the first “Peer Review Day on Campus” on Monday, April 3, in Hilliard Hall and The Panther Room in University College. Monday through Friday on the first floor of Hilliard Hall, students work hard to help other students better learn the processes of writing, editing, or simply having their schoolwork looked over with a second eye.
Peer review is important in the writing process because it allows students to improve writing skills. Lettie Raab, executive director of University College, says that it’s important to begin developing writing skills now, not only for course work, but the workforce as well.
“We are bright people, but sometimes have trouble putting ideas down and making those ideas coherent to the reader. It is also important to know how to formulate a resume as well as papers,” says Raab.
When entering college as a PV freshman, many students are enrolled in developmental courses, but Raab states that out of all sections of the THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment) exam, writing has the fewest issues.
“Just because a student can pass a test does not mean they do not need more practice. The more you write the better you get.”
“The Writing Center and the fellow sponsors of ‘Peer Review Day on Campus’ would like to help foster more opportunities for review and writing,” says Dr. Palmer, assistant professor of English and director of the Writing Center.
Palmer, along with the many contributors of this event, wants students to understand that writing is not only essential for English majors, but in all disciplines.
“Writing skills are essential to achievement in academics, the workplace, and in our personal lives. Writing develops higher-order thinking skills and, therefore, helps students of all majors learn and master content in all subject areas. This is why the Writing Center encourages writing in all disciplines,” says Palmer.
Once the success of “Peer Review Day on Campus” is calculated, there are many things in the works to encourage writing across campus.
“Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) is based on the idea that writing is a tool that can help students synthesize, analyze, and apply course content. Writing In the Disciplines (WID) program would be a welcome addition to our curriculum. WID is based on the idea that every discipline has its own conventions and that these must be taught so that students can participate in academic discourse,” says Palmer.
Besides the Writing Center, Palmer explains that there are many outlets on campus to get writing assistance outside of peer review day.
“We encourage students to take advantage of all resources on campus including faculty office hours, the Center for Academic Support in the J.B. Coleman Library, the writing lab in the College of Business, and Delco.”
Raab says that if it becomes necessary for more writing assistance closer to freshman housing, there may be a writing lab placed in University College.