Writing Tips to an Easier Life

Many freshmen might feel shy to ask professors about their essays. Therefore, the Texas A&M International University Writing Center organized a "Rhetorical Analysis Workshop" on Feb. 5 and 6 in Cowart Hall 203. All those students who are taking or will be taking English 1301 and 1302 are helped by the strategies this workshop offers. This is completely free and open to all TAMIU students, but it mostly helps those taking composition.

By this time of the semester, many freshmen are in the process of composing an essay for their courses, or what some would call a "hard working material." Some problems arise when not knowing how to organize the ideas for this written assignment. Another important aspect is the genres that students have to create for their paper. Writing Center Associate Director Jonathan Martinez stated, "By this point they have their first draft already set... a lot of students may not have it because they might have their ideas, [but] they're just not sure how to organize it...[or] they might not want to tell the professor." For this reason, the Writing Center offers these workshops to give TAMIU students advice on their writing, many tips, and the benefit of providing that extra help that many times professors do not provide because of the lack of time for one on one detailed explaining.

Some professors have many courses to teach and they do not have enough time to sit with each student and explain more in depth certain areas of the essay, so these workshops also help professors. The workshops do not provide a different perspective of what an essay is or teach how to write one, but they are mainly about providing guidance and developing students' writing skills. This workshop helps students through tutoring and with hands on practice. When providing this guidance, students benefit in their writing skills since they may take notes, ask questions, and have a direct interaction with the speaker.

Next, Mark Nix and Yasmin Shariff continued with the presentation and helped students with concerns on the major essay formats such as the rhetorical, analysis, commentary, MLA, and APA. These workshops are planned since December and the speakers start preparing in January, but they are offered the whole semester. Fall of 2012 was the first semester these workshops were offered, so, incoming students are lucky to have this extra help and guidance.

To inquire about the dates and times of upcoming workshops, students may check the academic calendar or look for flyers posted around campus. Professors receive notice of these workshops, this way, students may know in advance when they may attend. For more details, you can also find the events on the official TAMIU Twitter or Facebook accounts. The workshop hours are very flexible; they are offered during the Monday/Wednesday classes or Tuesday/Thursday schedules in order to facilitate students' attendance.

For more information, contact Jonathan Martinez in the writing center at (956) 326-2907 or visit the tutors at Cowart Hall 203.

(Sandy Lugo may be reached at sandylugoespinoza@dusty.tamiu.edu)