On Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 Texas A& M International University held a writing field
day. The theme for this year was “Real World Writing” and was sponsored by TAMIU’ s Writing
center and the University College. During the events students were able to join sessions where small workshops ranging from retail writing to graduated admissions letters took place.
Inspiration for the event came from observing the student athletes having a field day two years ago. Upon further research, the Director of the Writing Center, Kimberly Thomas, discovered that there was a national day for writing sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English (NTCE) and so decided to try it and take it from there.
When asked what the overall purpose of the event was, Director Thomas, said, ” To encourage them to not hate writing so much, to encourage them that writing is in everything and you don’ t always have to shy away from it.”
During the first session, which began at 9:30 a.m., students were encouraged to sit in for a poetry slam and visit the planetarium where an innovation teaching and technology presentation was shown. The presentation was meant to offer an educational show for professors that included a show and lesson plans that may further develop and explore students’ visual and hearing experiences in the classroom. The second session began at 10:30 a.m. during which time students could partake in retail writing held on platform A, similar methods between art and writing on platform B, slam poetry on platform C, GRE tips at the Student Center Ballroom, and an innovative educational show was once again held at the planetarium.
The third session of the writing field day began at 11:30 a.m. and provided writing workshops such as observation to improve writing on platform A, persuasive messages in business writing on platform B, creacion literaria en Espanol (creating literature in Spanish) on platform, C, jeopardy writing at tent D, graduate admission letters at SC ballroom, and the show at the planetarium. During lunch, 12:30 p.m., students were able to enjoy games and music while visiting slam poets, Kenn Rodriguez, Jessica Helen Lopez and Jasmin Cuffeez gave a performance. The fourth session including art of talking on platform A, legal speaking on platform B, resumes, cover letter on platform C, haiku writing at tent D, and slam poetry at Bene’ s platform.