The April 1st deadline for the 2013 SNL Writing Showcase is fast approaching. You should consider submitting any 'A' papers from the 2012-2013 Academic Year. Simply fill out the form available here and email it with the writing submission to snlwriting@depaul.edu. 

Winners will be receive a plaque and public recognition at the Spring Awards Luncheon and have the opportunity to publish their writing on the SNL Writing Guide.

Help on Your Advanced Project

Are you working on your Advanced Project? Check out this blog entry, SNL Advanced Projects: 10 Tips for a Strong Start, on the UCWbL blog. 

Also, don’t miss the opportunity to workshop your Advanced Project paper with SNL faculty on February 23^rd. The SNL Writing Boot camp offers a supportive academic environment, writing assistance, and help with library services so that students can get assignments completed.

Session Date:
Saturday, February 23, 9:00am-1:00pm

Session Location:
Loop Campus, Daley Building
14 E. Jackson Blvd., Room 1325, Chicago, IL

Refreshments will be served!

To Register: Email your name, DePaul ID# and the incomplete course title(s) you wish to work on

to snlevents@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.

Reverse Outlining

By Kaitlin Fitzsimons

 In the New York Times Draft piece, “Outlining in Reverse,” Aaron Hamburger explains how he edits his work by ‘outlining’ what he’s already written. This approach helps guarantee that each paragraph is in support of the main idea of his story, and any superfluous material is later cut. Hamburger says, “I’ve come to prefer a more organic approach to creation, first laying out my raw material on the page, then searching for possible patterns that might emerge. But now, after I’ve completed a first draft, I compose an outline.” Hamburger points out that he is not the only writer to use reverse outlining, mentioning the helpful reverse outlining resources through the Amherst College website and Purdue Online Writing Lab.

Reverse outlining is in keeping with the outlining section of the SNL Writing Guide, which states, “As you begin writing, your understanding of the topic will grow and change. Allow your new realizations to inform your writing...” Writing first and organizing later allows a writer to capture all of his or her ideas on paper without getting bogged down by structural or mechanical considerations. If one or two ideas are found to be superfluous or don’t “fit” within the piece, a writer may wish to save those bits of brilliance for another, more appropriate piece.

Why and How to do Peer Review from MIT