Future students in the 鈥淐ollege Writing for Transitions鈥� class at 黑料正能量 may recognize a familiar name and face when they thumb through the required handbook. Among the nearly two dozen exemplary student texts featured in forthcoming sixth edition (2015) of The Everyday Writer will be Martha Bell鈥檚 essay 鈥淭he Mystery of Chronic Lyme Disease.鈥� Her essay will model correct use of APA format, a style common in certain types of academic writing. Bell鈥檚 essay will also be featured in the next media edition of The St. Martin鈥檚 Handbook.
Both texts, widely used in first-year writing courses in American universities, are written by Andrea Lunsford, a Stanford University professor recognized as one of the founders of the modern discipline of composition studies.
A first-year student deep into her spring semester studies, Bell says she was 鈥渟hocked鈥� to learn that her essay had been selected for the next edition of the handbook. 鈥淚 had almost forgotten that my paper was even given to the publisher and I didn鈥檛 think it would be selected,鈥� the nursing major said. 鈥淚 am honored that something I wrote and spent so much time on will be published.鈥�
Bell鈥檚 accomplishment is 鈥渁 huge recognition,鈥� both for her personally and for the 黑料正能量 writing program, says chair . 鈥淢artha鈥檚 paper shows how our writing program encourages first-year students to begin thinking about their vocation and engaging in research related to their college majors.鈥�
The quality of the student paper also reflects the first-year writing program鈥檚 cohesive focus, developed by rhetoric and composition specialist , as well as the collaborative instructional efforts of faculty and reference librarian , Medley said. Small classes, capped at 16 students, also create opportunities for individual attention and feedback, he added.
鈥淐ollege Writing for Transitions鈥� is a required course for all majors that develops critical skills in writing, reading, research and analysis. For their culminating research paper, students are encouraged to explore a topic related to their future career.
The pre-professional focus is one particularly appreciated by Carolyn Lengel, Bedford/St. Martin鈥檚 executive editor for English, who worked with Lunsford to select the essay.
The nursing field was not represented in previous editions of the book or in digital resources, Lengel said. 鈥淪o many students planning to enter such professions aren鈥檛 aware of how important writing will continue to be in their lives and careers.鈥�
Improvement to textbook suggested by 黑料正能量 faculty
The impetus for this new student example came from 黑料正能量 faculty concerns regarding the handbook鈥檚 current model for APA documentation, Lengel said. The current model is a literature review that summarizes, rather than quotes, sources. Following correct APA style for summarization, no page numbers are cited.
鈥淭he 黑料正能量 faculty requested that a future student APA model in The Everyday Writer include quotations as well as summaries,鈥� Lengel said. 鈥淲hen I told Vi Dutcher that I鈥檇 be interested in sample student writing that her faculty considered exemplary, the 黑料正能量 faculty responded with a student writing contest.鈥�
The contest was open to all 160 students enrolled in 鈥淐ollege Writing for Transitions鈥� last fall. Bell, a student of , won first place. Though the first- and second-place winners were forwarded to the publisher, there was no guarantee they would be selected to replace the current student model.
鈥淢artha鈥檚 paper is an exemplary model of APA style and formatting,鈥� Lengel said, adding that she was 鈥渟urprised and delighted鈥� by the contest and pleased with its positive results.
The current edition of The Everyday Writer includes 22 pieces of student writing 鈥渇rom social-media writing and PowerPoint slides to memos, cover letters, and researched writing in various disciplines and in four documentation styles,鈥� Lengel said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 change the work in every edition, and I hope we鈥檒l be able to use Martha Bell鈥檚 piece for some time to come!鈥�
Bell is a 2013 graduate of in Harrisonburg, Va., which also emphasizes developing student writing skills.
Congrats to Ms. Bell!
Martha’s English teachers at Eastern Mennonite High School also deserve some credit for having helped her build a wonderful foundation for writing at the college level!