Save the Date

Coming this October: the Month of Writing Challenge. 

Challenge yourself to write as many words as you can. Your words will count toward a scholarship for the DePaul school of your choice. Check back for more details--including a brand-new website--in September. 

Until then, feel free to contact snlwriting@depaul.edu with questions. 

Free Writing Class at StoryStudio Chicago

StoryStudio Chicago is an organization dedicated to providing a supportive community for writers of all levels, and on Wednesday, August 27, StoryStudio is hosting an open house and free class:  

Join us for coffee, tea, and conversation with other writers, and then stay for Your Life As Fiction, a fun, all-levels free class that will explore what happens when you combine personal experience with your imagination.

What: Open House and Free Class

Where: StoryStudio Chicago, 4043 N. Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60613 

Cost: Free!

Click here for more details and to RSVP.

SNL to Host Author Jacinda Townsend

On Tuesday, July 8, the Africa Diaspora Committee will host novelist Jacinda Townsend, author of St. Monkey.

About Jacinda Townsend:

Jacinda Townsend's debut novel, Saint Monkey (W.W. Norton), follows two girls in 1950's Kentucky as they are raised in hardship, separated by fortune, and reunited through tragedy.  The New York Times says, "What's impressive about this first novel — apart from the startling music of its language — is Ms. Townsend’s willingness to steep her characters in heartache without relief."  Flavorwire says, "Townsend is a fine writer who comes out swinging with this first book, and gives us one of the best debuts of the year so far.  Library Journal, in a starred review, calls her "one to watch."  Jacinda Townsend, a native of Southcentral Kentucky, is a graduate of Harvard University, Duke Law School, and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.  A former Fulbright fellow to Côte d’Ivoire, she has also published nonfiction and short fiction in numerous literary magazines and anthologies.  She teaches at Indiana University and lives in Bloomington with two beautiful children.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Loop Campus, Daley 1451

6 to 7 p.m.

Please RSVP to: SNLAfricaDiaspora@depaul.edu. 

There is a suggested donation for the event:  aluminum pop-can tabs for Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe’s organization in Kenya, Sewing Hope. Last year Sr. Rosemary received an honorary doctorate in Kenya from SNL. She has also been named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and a CNN Hero.

Upcoming Incomplete Project Boot Camps

Do you have an incomplete grade? A final project that is dragging on? Finish your missing assignments, ILP, or AP through Writing Boot Camp and attend one or more free, faculty-led sessions. 

The program is designed for SNL students who currently have an incomplete grade on their transcript or students working on writing assignments. Sessions are set up to increase the likelihood students will complete necessary courses to obtain a bachelor’s degree and offer a supportive academic environment, writing assistance, and help with library services so that students can get assignments completed.

You are welcome to sign up for more than one session. 

Naperville

Saturday, May 31, 9:00 am-1:00 pm

150 W. Warrenville Rd., Bld. 200

Oak Forest

Saturday, May 31, 9:00 am-1:00 pm

16333 S. Kilbourn Ave.

Loop

Wednesday, June 4, 5:30-9:00 pm

Saturday, June 7, 9:00 am-1:00 pm

14 E. Jackson, Lab 1325

O’Hare

Saturday, June 7, 9:00am-1:00pm 

8770 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.

To Register: Email snlsa@depaul.edu with your desired session(s).

Items to Bring to Session(s):  Please bring a flash drive, your copy of the incomplete contract if applicable, all prior assignment preparation, including research material, assignment instructions, and assignment writing format (APA/MLA). Please let your faculty mentor know you plan to attend if you are working on an assignment for an incomplete grade.

Announcing the 2014 Writing Showcase Winners

SNL Writing is proud to announce the winners of the 2014 SNL Writing Showcase. Please congratulate them on their excellent work! The essays will be posted to the Writing Guide over the next few weeks, and the winners will be honored at the Awards Luncheon in June. 

Katie Reginaldi: "In Support of a Church Garden" and "Adventures in the Community Garden"

Ronnie Malley: "Andalusia: A Journey of Music and Cultural Exchange"

Marc Raffa: "Let's Get Bready, To Give Back!" 

Angelique Guinn: "Fundamentalism and the Modern American Woman"

Sarah Bishara: "An Analysis of Employee Perceptions of Motivational Factors in the Workplace" 

Jason Meyer: "Splice of Life: The Beatles and the Tale of Their Tape"

April Is National Poetry Month

Yesterday marked the beginning of National Poetry Month. The celebration's organizer, the Academy of American Poets, has hundreds of suggestions for ways to celebrate. Here are a few highlights:   

• Sign up for Poem-A-Day to receive a new poem via email each day.      

• Choose an activity from the "30 Ways to Celebrate list," such as Poem in Your Pocket, recording your favorites in a commonplace book, or gathering friends to play the intriguingly named Exquisite Corpse. 

• Browse poems by topic: love, teaching, parenting, and more--including sharks.

• Listen to readings of the site's most popular poems. (Click here to listen to the site's most popular recording, Dylan Thomas's "Do not go gentle into that good night."  

• Explore the rich history of poetry here in Illinois. (Distance students, click here to find information about your state.) On each state-specific site you'll find biographies and the work of local poets, lists of "poetry-friendly bookstores," event calendars, information about local literary organizations and publications, and poems about the state, its cities, and its people. 

  

Writing Showcase Deadline Is Tomorrow!

The Writing Showcase celebrates the outstanding writing of SNL students. If you have received an “A” on a paper or glowing feedback on an Independent Learning Project (ILP), consider submitting your work to the Writing Showcase. You may submit up to three pieces of writing. By submitting your work, you not only share your accomplishment with others, but also provide inspiration to your fellow SNL students as they work on their writing assignments.  Excellent submissions will be recognized at the Spring Awards Luncheon.

Click here to download a submission form. Email your work and the completed submission form as Word documents or PDFs to snlwriting@depaul.edu.

Dinner on DePaul: Writing & Publishing

Has all the writing you've done at SNL inspired you to continue writing after graduation? On February 11, DePaul students are invited to connect with alumni who have gone on to work in the writing and publishing fields. 

"Dinners on DePaul" provide you with the opportunity to enjoy a free dinner with DePaul graduates and discuss their experience in a featured industry. Whether you already have a set path in mind or are exploring different career fields, Dinners on DePaul are a great way to learn about job possibilities after graduating from DePaul. 

The dinners are free to attend, but registration is required. For more information or to register please email OARstudents@depaul.edu or call (773) 325-8941.

Dinners On DePaul: Writing & Publishing

Tuesday, February 11 at 6:00pm to 12:00am

Lincoln Park Campus, Alumni Center

Interested in Teaching English in China?

Below is an announcement from the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Students interested in TESOL are invited to attend an information session on Thursday, February 6, at 5PM in SAC 301 (Schmitt Academic Center, Lincoln Park campus). More information can also be found here. 

Announcement

The Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse is proud to announce that we have established a direct relationship with the English Department at Huaqiao University in Xiamen, China.  This is part of a larger relationship that DePaul has been building with Huaqiao since 2012.  As a result of recent visits to Huaqiao University by WRD Chair Pete Vandenberg and the Coordinator of WRD’s Graduate TESOL Certificate, Jason Schneider, the two departments have established a direct pathway for DePaul students who complete the Graduate TESOL Certificate (http://tinyurl.com/wrdtesol) to teach Writing and ESL in China, starting in academic year 2014-2015.  Graduates of the TESOL Certificate will be preferred applicants for one-year teaching appointments in the Huaqiao English Department.

A full-time university teaching appointment is a valuable experience not always available domestically to recent graduates.  Teaching at Huaqiao can be a strong foundation for the U.S. college teaching market or doctoral study in a range of disciplines.   Furthermore, spending time working and living abroad can be an invaluable personal experience and is regarded as an asset by employers in many sectors.  Those hired to teach full-time at Huaqiao will receive free single-occupancy accommodations, paid insurance, a travel allowance, and other compensation in addition to their salary. 

The opportunity for this coming year is open to those who will have the TESOL Certificate in hand by summer 2014.  Current DePaul graduate and undergraduate students who may be interested in teaching at Huaqiao in this year or future years are invited to an informational session sponsored by Profs. Vandenberg and Schneider on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 5:00 in SAC 301.  They will talk about the Huaqiao University English Department, the details of the lecturer appointments and the application process, and the beautiful cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou.  They will also discuss options for DePaul students to complete the TESOL Certificate—a teaching credential recognized around the world—concurrently with their graduate work or after finishing an undergraduate degree.  For more information, see http://depaulwrd.wordpress.com/china/.  

Incomplete Project Boot Camp: December 18

Sponsored by School for New Learning Student Association (SNLSA) and SNL Writing

Do you have an incomplete grade? A final project that is dragging on?

Finish your missing assignments, ILP or AP through Writing Boot Camp and attend one or more free, faculty-led sessions. The program is designed for SNL students who currently have an incomplete grade on their transcript or students working on writing assignments. Sessions are set up to increase the likelihood students will complete necessary courses to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

Sessions offer a supportive academic environment, writing assistance, and help with library services so that students can get assignments completed.

Refreshments will be served. 

To Register: Email your name, DePaul ID# and the incomplete course title(s) you wish to work on to snlsa@depaul.edu at least 3 days prior to your desired sessions (messages to this email are reviewed by DePaul / SNL college faculty and staff only)

Items to Bring to Session(s):  Please bring a flash drive, your copy of the incomplete contract, all prior assignment preparation, including research material, assignment instructions, and assignment writing format (APA/MLA). Please let your faculty mentor know you plan to attend.

Submit to the 2014 Writing Showcase

If you received an “A” on a project or essay or glowing feedback on an Independent Learning Pursuit (ILP) this past quarter, please consider submitting your work to the Writing Showcase, which celebrates the outstanding writing of SNL students. By submitting your work, you not only share your accomplishment with others but also provide inspiration to your fellow SNL students.

The submission period closes on April 1, 2014, and the winners will be recognized at the Spring Awards Luncheon.

Click here for more information, past winners, and a submission form.

Month of Writing 2013 Wrap-Up

During the month of October, SNL students, faculty, and alumni created over 700,000 words. A special congratulations to Cynthia Stevens, Karen Snyder, and Katie Wozniak, who each met their goal of 50,000 words and created a combined total of over 170,00 words during the Challenge.

Planning for next year's Challenge will begin in August 2014, so check back in with the Digication site next summer for details on how to participate. In the meantime, we now have a full video recording of last month's Craft of Composing panel discussion available, which you can click here to watch. 

Again, congratulations to all the writers, and we hope to see you again in 2014.

Missing Assignments? Working on an ILP or AP?

Just in time for finals, Incomplete Project Boot Camps will be held at all campuses in the next few weeks. Boot camps are free, faculty- and tutor-led sessions during which students can work on assignments and other writing in progress. Refreshments are provided. To RSVP or for more information, email snlsa@depaul.edu.

Loop
November 16, 9AM-1PM
November 26, 5:30PM-9PM

O'Hare
November 16, 9AM-1PM

Naperville
November 23, 10AM-2PM

Oak Forest
November 23, 10AM-2PM

This Thursday: Craft of Composing Panel

Just a reminder that this coming Thursday, October 17, is the SNL Month of Writing's "Craft of Composing" panel discussion. Click here for more information about our accomplished panelists. The event will take place in room 1451 of 14 E. Jackson and begins at 6PM. 

In other news, the first count from the Month of Writing Challenge is in! Writers from throughout the DePaul community produced 147,848 words in the first week of October alone, and the tally is only going up! Click here to visit our Month of Writing site, which is updated weekly.

Month of Writing Challenge Begins & UCWbL Workshop

Today is October 1, which means the start of the SNL Month of Writing Challenge! But it's not too late to join--click here for more information about our challenge to write 50,000 words during the month of October and work toward a collective goal of 1.5 million words. 

The SNL Writing Program has also partnered with the Office of Advancement to help the Month of Writing make a meaningful contribution to the SNL community. I'd like to draw your attention to our new Giving page. Your support will both motivate writers to work toward our collective goal, and, moreover, allow the Dean to award a scholarship to an SNL student thanks to the efforts of our Challenge writers and their friends, family, and colleagues. 

Finally,  the UCWbL's Collaborative for Multilingual Writing and Research is hosting an upcoming workshop on academic writing: "How Do I Cite This?: Incorporating Sources and Understanding Academic Integrity." The workshop will take place on Tuesday, October 8, from 3-4:30pm in the DePaul Center, room 8005. Email the CMWR to reserve a spot. 

Join Us on October 17 for the Craft of Composing Panel Discussion

On October 17, the SNL Month of Writing will host "The Craft of Composing: A Panel of Writers Discuss the Writing Process." Panelists this year include Rochelle George Wooding of the Neighborhood Writing Alliance; SNL faculty member and author Ann Stanford; award-winning author and SNL faculty member Molly Dumbleton; and SNL alum and Writing Showcase winner Megan Stemm-Wade. Click here for more information about our panelists. 

And remember, the Month of Writing Challenge begins on October 1! Click here for more information and to register.  

Details: 
October 17, 2013
6:00 - 7:30PM
Loop Campus
14 E. Jackson
Room 1451

Month of Writing Challenge Website Is Live!

Registration is open for the SNL Month of Writing 2013 Writing Challenge! 

Please visit our new Digication site for more information about signing up, the Challenge itself, upcoming events, and more. 

Coming This October: SNL's Month of Writing Marathon

Get ready for SNL's annual Month of Writing Marathon! This October, accept the challenge to write 50,000 words in one month, working with fellow students, alumni, staff, and faculty toward a collective goal of 1,500,000 words. More information will soon be available on the Writing Guide; also feel free to contact SNLWriting@depaul.edu for more information on how to participate. 

Also this October, instructor Steffanie Triller Fry is offering a course in conjunction with the Marathon: AI 196 - WriteNow: SNL Writing Marathon. This is a late start (10/3) course that students can take for one competence (A2X, A5, FX). 

Upcoming Chicago Literary Events

Next weekend (June 8-9) marks the 29th Annual Printers Row Lit Fest. The Fest takes place on Chicago's historic Printers Row, on Dearborn from Congress to Polk. In addition to independent booksellers, second-hand book shops, and literary and cultural organizations, the Fest hosts a full slate of presentations, lectures, and panel discussions. This year's schedule includes several DePaul faculty members, including Amina Gautier, Ted Anton, Christine Sneed, and Kathleen Rooney. All events are free, though some do require reserved tickets. 


This year's Chicago Writers Conference will take place from September 27-29. Click here to sign up to be notified when registration goes live.

About Chicago Writer's Conference:

We bring together writers, editors, agents, publishers and social media experts at an informative annual conference, and at workshops and events throughout the year.  Enjoy personal connections with other writers, publishers and agents. Our annual conference is not genre- or niche-specific. Writers of all levels and all genres are welcome! Our goal is to provide practical advice to help writers learn how to sell and promote their work. You don’t need to have a completed manuscript to attend — just a willingness to learn, exchange ideas, and have fun!

2013 Writing Showcase Winners

SNL Writing is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Writing Showcase! The Writing Showcase celebrates the outstanding writing of SNL students. If you have received an “A” on a paper or glowing feedback on an Independent Learning Project (ILP), please consider submitting. More information and the 2014 application are available on the SNL Writing Guide. 

By submitting your work, you not only share your accomplishment with others but also provide inspiration to your fellow SNL students as they work on their writing assignments. The submission deadline for next year is April 1, 2014. Students who will graduate between now and next April are welcome to submit. 

2013 Writing Showcase Award Winners

Carol Hillman: "Eternal Silence"

Sarah Gottlieb: "Urbalism"

Helene Bryant: "Positive Psychology in Professional Development: Using Strengths-based Development"

Jillian Gryzlak: "Cultural Symbols and Textile Communication: The Documentation of a Woven Symbolic Textile"

Ruth Rose Sachs: "Privacy and Marketing Online"