Email.
Email etiquette on campus can be a big issue for some. Apparently, not everyone defines and/or practices email etiquette in the same ways! Go figure.
I think it's high time we had an open, public discussion about what our expectations for email writing are in 2009--and what better place to have such a discussion than the WC blog??
Post your thoughts on the following:
1) Under what circumstances is it appropriate to email a professor back? Even to just confirm that you received his or her email?
2) Should emails follow academic grammatical and mechanical conventions? If so, which ones? If not, why not?
3) What is an acceptable time frame for responding to an email that asks a direct question?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Congrats on the Writing Contest!
We need to congratulate Denver Karshner on his win for the Fall Writing Contest with his short piece "Battleground"!
Denver will be receiving his prize, a $75.oo gas card, from Dean Bebee on Monday and having his picture taken. Afterward, the Writing Center hopes to announce the new contest for the winter quarter.
Good job, Denver!
Denver will be receiving his prize, a $75.oo gas card, from Dean Bebee on Monday and having his picture taken. Afterward, the Writing Center hopes to announce the new contest for the winter quarter.
Good job, Denver!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Therapy
I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has found this quarter stressful. It seems like every direction I turn, I run into another struggling individual pouring out their woes. As of late, I've served as a kind ear for many, but it's not so easy for me to open up about my emotional torments. I'm pretty good at bottling it all up until I overflow: a habit I'm destined to manage in the new year. And I think I know where to start. Dishes.
Leona and I had a discussion the other day about cleaning and our most loathsome household duties. She detests laundry; I hate dishes. I'll let dishes go for as long as I can stand it. But, Leona claims washing dishes is "therapeutic." That really resonated with me this weekend. What do I do for therapy? And why do I hate dishes so much?
I don't know what it is about dishes. I started washing them at home as a chore when I was probably seven or eight. I remember my mother pulling a kitchen chair up to the sink so I could reach. I probably begged her to do them at first, like Gracie begs me to help out now. Boy, I wish I had bitten my tongue. Maybe I wouldn't resent washing them so now. I think my aversion to the task is that, when I was younger, I cut my hands on knives and broken glasses hidden by the soapy suds on a couple of occasions.
When I grew up and got married for the first time, I was the only spouse diligent enough to wash the dishes. I remember my ex-husband washed the dishes ONCE in our seven years together. It was after I'd spent three full days and nights at the hospital with my mother. The ex washed the dishes before I came home for a nap and a shower just so that I could make him a steak dinner while I was home. And things haven't changed. Now that I'm remarried, my current husband still avoids washing the dishes. The last time he did it? Mother's Day 2008. I swear. I can remember, because he said he'd do the dishes since it was Mother's Day. I guess that's the one day a year I get to take a break. However, he changes the litter box and takes the trash to the dumpster. I guess I can't argue too much.
The point of my dishes rant is coming soon. The other day, I had a particularly stressful phone conversation with my mother. I was angry, I was hurt, and I had all kinds of raging energy. I set Gracie up with her video game in the living room and said, "Honey, Mommy's going to do the dishes now, because I'm in just the right kind of mood." I took my laptop to the kitchen, started blaring some White Stripes and ran the hot, sudsy dish water. The dishes were piled high. I think every glass, bowl, plate, and pan we own were dirty. That just made me even madder. So, I took to the daunting task of washing the dishes.
I had finished the silverware, then the glasses, all the while staring into the foam and thinking about all of the things that I've been carrying around. I thought about how terrible things have been in my family since my mother and father divorced; I thought about the person I used to be and the person I want to be; I thought about friends I've gained and lost. And as I thought, the tears started flowing. All of the emotions I'd been harboring inside came flowing out into the sink, and I thought, "This IS therapeutic! Leona was right!" It took me a good two hours to finish the kitchen, and by the time I was finished, the tears had started and stopped quite a few times. It was a purging that I needed. Not only did I cleanse my heart of ill feelings, I cleansed my dishes with them!
I like the idea of turning my worst nightmare into something nourishing. That's a start for the new year. :)
Leona and I had a discussion the other day about cleaning and our most loathsome household duties. She detests laundry; I hate dishes. I'll let dishes go for as long as I can stand it. But, Leona claims washing dishes is "therapeutic." That really resonated with me this weekend. What do I do for therapy? And why do I hate dishes so much?
I don't know what it is about dishes. I started washing them at home as a chore when I was probably seven or eight. I remember my mother pulling a kitchen chair up to the sink so I could reach. I probably begged her to do them at first, like Gracie begs me to help out now. Boy, I wish I had bitten my tongue. Maybe I wouldn't resent washing them so now. I think my aversion to the task is that, when I was younger, I cut my hands on knives and broken glasses hidden by the soapy suds on a couple of occasions.
When I grew up and got married for the first time, I was the only spouse diligent enough to wash the dishes. I remember my ex-husband washed the dishes ONCE in our seven years together. It was after I'd spent three full days and nights at the hospital with my mother. The ex washed the dishes before I came home for a nap and a shower just so that I could make him a steak dinner while I was home. And things haven't changed. Now that I'm remarried, my current husband still avoids washing the dishes. The last time he did it? Mother's Day 2008. I swear. I can remember, because he said he'd do the dishes since it was Mother's Day. I guess that's the one day a year I get to take a break. However, he changes the litter box and takes the trash to the dumpster. I guess I can't argue too much.
The point of my dishes rant is coming soon. The other day, I had a particularly stressful phone conversation with my mother. I was angry, I was hurt, and I had all kinds of raging energy. I set Gracie up with her video game in the living room and said, "Honey, Mommy's going to do the dishes now, because I'm in just the right kind of mood." I took my laptop to the kitchen, started blaring some White Stripes and ran the hot, sudsy dish water. The dishes were piled high. I think every glass, bowl, plate, and pan we own were dirty. That just made me even madder. So, I took to the daunting task of washing the dishes.
I had finished the silverware, then the glasses, all the while staring into the foam and thinking about all of the things that I've been carrying around. I thought about how terrible things have been in my family since my mother and father divorced; I thought about the person I used to be and the person I want to be; I thought about friends I've gained and lost. And as I thought, the tears started flowing. All of the emotions I'd been harboring inside came flowing out into the sink, and I thought, "This IS therapeutic! Leona was right!" It took me a good two hours to finish the kitchen, and by the time I was finished, the tears had started and stopped quite a few times. It was a purging that I needed. Not only did I cleanse my heart of ill feelings, I cleansed my dishes with them!
I like the idea of turning my worst nightmare into something nourishing. That's a start for the new year. :)
Friday, January 16, 2009
Funny of the Day
Today, while on my way in to the Learning Center, I witnessed an advertisement for Burger King's newest rage: The Angry Whopper.
Is it now Burger Kings' intention to incite rage among its consumers?! Now that's customer service!
Is it now Burger Kings' intention to incite rage among its consumers?! Now that's customer service!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Photo Board
Hey, everyone! Kate is working on getting our photo board together, and she needs all of our "specialties" to list beside our pics. Could you each please post your areas of expertise here?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait!
We're now working on generating ideas for a possible remodel of The Learning Center! We, the tutors, have been asked to create a "wishlist" of items to include in the revamping! If anyone has any ideas please feel free to post them or let Debra Nickles know your thoughts. We want your input because we are committed to creating the most productive, creative, and inspiring environment possible. This is your chance to voice your opinion. Don't miss out on your chance to initiate change!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
It's a New Year!
Well, we're all back to work, and I'm very excited about this quarter! We're working hard on getting our online tutoring system up and running, and I promise to stay in touch and keep you all updated on how that's going. For now, how about a little shameless self-promotion?!
Some friends of mine and I are starting a new blog, and I want you all to check it out! My first post is a piece I wrote about my Top 15 for this year.
http://snobmusic.blogspot.com/
Enjoy!
Some friends of mine and I are starting a new blog, and I want you all to check it out! My first post is a piece I wrote about my Top 15 for this year.
http://snobmusic.blogspot.com/
Enjoy!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Welcome 2009
Quite a few changes this year for the Writing Center are expected.
Be sure to attend Friday's meeting on the 9th from 10-12noon.
Be sure to attend Friday's meeting on the 9th from 10-12noon.
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