The Malone College Write Place

The Malone College Write Place is a resource available to all students.
 
This free service can help you to:
Understand Assignments            Compose an Outline                 Document Sources
Generate Ideas                               Draft the Text                               Grammar Basics
Narrow your Focus                         Revise the Text                           Refine your Writing Style
Develop a Thesis                            Edit the Text                                Improve Word Processing
 
Staffing
Qualified students who have demonstrated exceptional writing skills and an eagerness to help others staff the Write Place.  These students refine their tutoring skills by participating in a comprehensive training program throughout the academic year.  Additionally, the Director of The Malone Write Place, a full-time writing instructor in the Language and Literature Department, also is available for tutoring assistance.
 
Spring 2008 hours:
Mon        11-5 & 7-9
Tue         9-5
Wed       11-5
Thurs      9-5
Fri           9-2
 
 
Contact Information
 
During the academic year, The Malone College Write Place is located in Cattell Library, Room 407.  Stop by in person or call during normal business hours to set up an appointment.
 
DIRECTOR, Leslie Nielsen 
 
Malone College Write Place phone number: 471-8327
 
 
"USEFUL LINKS"  
 
Purdue OWL
 
APA online 
 
Common Errors and Good Advice
 
  
The Malone College Write Place
 
WRITING ADVICE FROM MALONE COLLEGE PROFESSORS:  
 
1.  What word, expression, or error do you never want to see again on a student paper?
 
I do not like use of slang. Incomplete sentences are common. I often see numerous grammar errors as well. Many students have one sentence paragraphs or whole page paragraphs too.
Christy Pester
Nursing
 
There are a few “critical” mechanical problems I figure are death to good papers:  the sentence fragment and the cousin the run on sentence (fused sentences/comma splices); the utterly incoherent “mixed construction”
Dr. James H Brownlee, Associate Professor
Chair, Department of Language and Literature
 
I see students use there and their incorrectly. 
Patti Barone
School of Theology  
 
I'd like all of my sentences to have a noun and a verb and have them match in tense. APA errors--how to cite within the body of the paper; how to do a reference page, etc.  The use of "I" in a formal research paper.
Karen Gehrling  
 
a.      Any form of plagiarism
b.      Their / there / they’re
c.      Affect / Effect
d.      To / too / two
e.      Using “feel” when “think” is meant, (e.g., “I don’t feel that English comp should be required”)
David Entwistle, Department of Psychology  
 
I have a great concern when even the simple spelling/grammar check items remain uncorrected.
Beth Anne Clark-Thomas. Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education  
 
like
Jack Harris
Business Administration  
 
Common word confusion, such as “there,” “their” and “they’re” (probably one of my top five)
Jack Ballard
Commercial Music
 
Improper homophones—cite/site/sight—their misuse is rampant Use of plural pronoun with a singular antecedent—ex. Each student should do their own work.
David Snyder
Dept of Education
 
It’s used as a possessive—it’s title page, it’s organization
Stanford Terhune
Director of Library Services  
 
word errors such as snuck, irregardless, affect/effect, there/their/they're, any modifier with unique punctuation errors such as periods or commas outside quotation marks typographical errors that would have been caught with proofreading
Ann Lawson
Communication Arts  
 
2.  What is the best advice you have for a student writer?  
 
Have someone proof read it for content and APA
Christy Pester
Nursing  
 
REVISE!
REVISE!
REVISE!
REVISE!
REVISE!
REVISE!
REVISE!
Dr. James H Brownlee, Associate Professor
Chair, Department of Language and Literature
 
Proofread and give yourself enough time to write, rewrite, and rewrite again. Rarely does one  write the perfect paper on the first draft.
Patti Barone
School of Theology
 
Use journal articles and texts from their field as examples so they can follow how to write certain phrases.  
Karen Gehrling
 
Write a rough draft and have someone proof read before making your final draft.
David Entwistle
Department of Psychology
 
Why not begin by asking the Holy Spirit what direction He would have you take with this writing assignment?  What would He have to say on this topic?  What insight will He reveal to you so that you can write outstanding content? (Obviously, this does not circumvent the need to develop craft, though many of our students will no doubt be looking for a "spiritual" shortcut.  It does begin to develop an expectation of seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened.)
Jesse Ayers
 Department of Music  
 
Do NOT leave any written assignment to the last minute.  Often simply putting your paper draft away for 24 hours and revisiting it will illuminate many errors otherwise undetected.
Beth Anne Clark-Thomas. Ph.D.
 Associate Professor of Education  
 
just the facts please
Jack Harris
 Business Administration  
 
Get used to being judged (e.g., graded) on your writing skills, regardless of the class you are taking.
Jack Ballard
Commercial Music
  
Be very careful not to plagiarize.  Avoid using electronic sources when possible.
D. Nathan Phinney, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies
 School of Theology  
 
Every paper should be structured with a beginning argument, middle & summary argument. Know where you are going before you write a paper. Do not assemble as you go.
Jane Hoyt-Oliver
 Department of Education  
 
Use spellcheck! PROOFREAD! Read your material aloud—listen for smoothness, clarity, economy of words
David Snyder
Department of Education
  
Read what you have written out loud—you’ll probably catch errors that you didn’t notice when you were reading it.  Also, write an outline of what you are going to write—this will give your writing direction.
Stanford Terhune
 Director of Library Services  
 
Write the assignment several days early, put it away (save it to disc), then re-read it a day or two later. If you write and proofread back-to-back, you won't catch errors because you'll see what you intended to write. Giving yourself a break between writing and proofing will allow you to see it fresh and catch errors in grammar, syntax or organization you might not otherwise see. This is challenging advice since many students seem to write their papers the hour before class! Proofread the paper version after you've printed it. Some errors are clearer on paper than on the computer screen. If you give yourself enough time, you'll be able to make the correction and print out another copy.
Ann Lawson
Communication Arts
      
 
 
1.800.521.1146