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Writing Studio
By Makenna Myers, Writing Studio Consultant Posted on 11/8/2019 - 2 minute read
“I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.”
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By Jordan Kaiser, Writing Studio Consultant Posted on 10/31/2019 - 2 minute read
October is upon us. The desert winds sweep in to dry out the air. Pumpkins show up in grocery stores, in cafes and on front porches. The nights are chilly, Californians are daydreaming about changing seasons and colorful leaves, and Concordia students are getting excited for Halloween.
By Stacey Parker, Online Writing Lab Consultant Posted on 10/17/2019 - 4 minute read
Writing a research paper can feel daunting. It might not even be the sitting down and writing part that gives you pause, but the tasks of selecting a stance, searching sources, identifying quotations that support your point, and wrangling all of your sources into properly formatted citations. Here are some tried-and-true strategies to help you keep track of your sources as you embark on your next research assignment. These are not necessarily chronological tips; pick and choose to see what works for you.
By Kendall Davis, Online Writing Lab Consultant Posted on 7/19/2019 - 7 minute read
Before you begin researching, it’s important to come up with a research question. A strong research question will provide focus and direction for your entire research process. It’s okay if the question changes a bit as you research and write; in fact it probably will. But if you don’t begin your project with a clear and focused research question, then it’s hard to know how and where to begin finding sources.
By Kendall Davis, Online Writing Lab Consultant Posted on 6/24/2019 - 4 minute read
What if I told you that writing long research papers can be one of the most fun and fulfilling parts of your academic career? Now, maybe this sounds absurd to you. Maybe it sounds like saying that being stuck in traffic can be the most exciting part of the day or that bulk canned spinach can make a delicious dessert. However, with the right approach you can turn what can often be the most stressful experience of the semester into one of the most enjoyable parts of the semester.
By Maggie Langdon, Online Writing Lab Consultant Posted on 6/10/2019 - 2 minute read
When I was in middle school, I tried to write my first piece of “Christian fiction.” It was an allegory, which was (very transparently) about my atheist friend finding God. I gave a copy to that friend, hoping that in some metaphysical way it would help her better understand the nature of God. Her immediate response was, “Yikes!” – Definitely not the praise middle-school-me had hoped for! I learned very quickly that using fiction as a tool to convert my friend was not the way to write well, nor did it effectively express my faith.
By Denise Sprimont, Writing Studio Consultant Posted on 5/13/2019 - 3 minute read
One of the biggest challenges at the start of each school year is shaking off the rust that summer creates on our writing skills. Summer is long, and we often get so caught up in running away from school work that we forget that practice makes progress—especially when it comes to writing. Dr. Armstrong’s words echo in my head whenever I’m feeling like the best thing for my writing skills is to give my pen a rest: “In order to improve your writing, you must read and write, write and read, write some more, read some more, and then do it again.” Simple and repetitive, but true. The worst thing we can do for ourselves next semester is to abandon our writing over the summer.
By Alec Leissring, Writing Studio Consultant Posted on 4/8/2019 - 2 minute read
“Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
By Owen Duncan, Writing Studio Consultant Posted on 4/1/2019 - 2 minute read
Any course, any paper, any time is our motto here at the Writing Studio. It means that you can come in to the Writing Studio with any kind of paper (from an essay to a resume) from any course (from English to Business to Biology) at any stage of the writing process (from brainstorming to final draft). While you can come in with any paper from any course at any time, coming by without any preparation might not be the best way for you to use the Writing Studio. Here are some tips for making the most of your Writing Studio appointment.
By Makenna Myers, Writing Studio Consultant Posted on 3/18/2019 - 2 minute read
Students often view the classic texts they read in English class as dead—the author is nothing but a bag of bones, and the language is difficult to understand. Why bother reading the book at all when a watered-down summary is a couple of clicks away? It is tempting to believe that reading classic literature has no purpose in the 21st century.