ROWAN UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF WRITING ARTS
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John Warner Visits Rowan University - Connor Buckmaster

3/29/2020

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On March 5th and 6th, in celebration of their ten-year anniversary, the Writing Center invited author/editor/speaker/columnist John Warner to give two talks on writing to faculty and students. John Warner is the author of The Writer's Practice: Building Confidence in Your Nonfiction Writing, as well as his most recent book Why They Can't Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities. He’s had over twenty years of experience teaching college-level writing. He writes a weekly column for The Chicago Tribune, and is also editor emeritus for McSweeney Internet Tendency.
In his first talk, “Why the World Needs More Writing Degrees,” Warner told his personal story of graduating college with a creative writing degree and finding work. He talked about how, at the time, he didn’t know how to market himself as a writer. Despite this, others saw value in his field of study and writing skills. His first big break came when he was hired by the marketing research business Leo J Shapiro and Associates. Though he had not studied to work in the business field, the methodology he had studied as a writer helped him in this research position. He always began with questions, which led to observations, upon which he could make inferences and conclusions. This method of observing, inferring, then coming to conclusions was the basis of his work in college, how he overcame the assignments and challenges he faced, and the development of his critical thinking.
Warner argues that writing leads to critical thinking, observations, and the ability to overcome novel or foreign challenges. This, for me, was the main take-away from his talk. He encouraged the audience to market themselves in this way: as critical thinkers and writing-related problem solvers. As writers, Warner believes we are flexible, adaptable and curious; we often are divergent thinkers. These skills are valuable in any work environment, and ultimately, are why the world needs more writing degrees. 
His second talk, “The Writer’s Practice: Building Assignments that Get Students Thinking and Acting Like Writers,” was based upon his years of teaching and his two aforementioned books. His talk centered on shifting away from prescriptive college-level writing and towards a more open forum, where the process of writing is held in highest regard. “We can’t prevent students from making errors,” Warner stated. “But that’s okay, those errors are where they are going to learn.” He talked about how students are scared to make errors, how their experiences with writing from grade school have left them unable to identify themselves as “writers.” Students often come to college with some idea of “perfect” writing, but writing is always a process, and there’s no such thing as a perfect writer.
To combat this, Warner suggested multiple approaches which would radically shift the way writing is taught. One suggestion was to have professors share an early draft of a text they had written with the class. After reading, the students would read a revised version. This activity would prompt discussions on the process of writing, while simultaneously tearing down the notion of their professor as the arbiter of “perfect” writing. A focus of process rather than product was also encouraged by Warner. As an example, he removed the research paper assignment from his class, and replaced it as an activity, one which might not produce a “final paper” at the end of the semester. This, again, encouraged his students to focus on writing as a process, and also as an experience, one which can last long after the class has ended. Reflection is key as well. Warner encouraged his students to reflect on the work they had done for the class and well as the ways they grappled with the challenges they faced. All these suggestions empower students to begin to see themselves as a writer who has a process, and to see writing as an ongoing practice. 
In speaking with my colleagues at the Writing Center and other professors within the department, it was clear that Warner’s visit was a success and enjoyed. Warner, too, enjoyed his visit at Rowan, much of which was spent with Writing Center tutors and staff. He wrote a blog about his time at Rowan in Inside Higher Ed. In his blog titled “How’s the Water?” Warner had some kind remarks and reflections on his experience here: “My favorite part of the Rowan visit was spending time with the undergraduate and graduate writing tutors from the Writing Center. This is when I realize how much I miss teaching full-time...Speaking to the master's students who were teaching first-year writing was speaking to colleagues, not apprentices, and I may have learned a thing or two from them.” I highly encourage you to read the full blog!
Thank you to John Warner for visiting our campus and delivering great talks to our faculty and students!

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  • Home
  • Programs
    • Creative Writing Minor
    • WA Major
    • Minors >
      • Publishing and Writing for the Public
      • New Media Minor
      • Technical & Professional Writing Minor
      • Writing Arts Minor
    • Certificates of Undergraduate Study >
      • CUGS in Creative Writing
      • CUGS in Publishing and Writing for the Public
      • CUGS in Technical and Professional Writing
      • CUGS in Writing Studies for Educators
      • CUGS in Professional Communication
      • CUGS in Writing for the Environment
    • 4+1 (B.A.+M.A.) Program
    • Degree in 3
    • Graduate Programs
  • Advising
  • WA Major
    • Writing Arts Journey
    • Required Courses >
      • General Education >
        • Science and Mathematics
        • Social and Behavioral Sciences
        • Literature, History, Humanities, and Language
      • Introduction to Writing Arts >
        • History & Materiality of Writing
        • Issues in Writing
        • Technologies & the Future of Writing
      • Methods Choice >
        • Communication Theory
        • How Writers Read
        • Tutoring Writing
      • Creative Choice >
        • Creative Writing I
        • Writing Children's Stories
      • The Writer's Mind
      • Writing, Research & Technology
      • Literacy Studies >
        • Situating Writing
        • Writing With Technologies
      • Senior Seminar: Methods of Analysis and Evaluation of Writing
      • Portfolio Seminar
      • Free Electives
    • Elements of Language >
      • American English Grammar
      • Editing for Publication
      • Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics
      • Linguistics
      • Rhetorics of Style
      • Semantics
    • Concentrations >
      • Creative Writing >
        • Creative Writing I
        • Creative Writing II
        • Film Scenario Writing
        • Fundamentals of Playwriting
        • Magazine Article Writing
        • Professions in Writing Arts
        • The Publishing Industry
        • Screenwriting I: Writing the Short
        • Screenwriting II: Writing the Feature
        • Tutoring Writing
        • Teaching the Writer's Workshop >
          • Publishing & Writing for the Public >
            • Applied Media Aesthetics: Sight, Sound and Story
            • Editing the Literary Journal
            • Environmental Writing & Rhetoric
            • Fiction to Film
            • Introduction to New Media
            • Media Law
            • Online Journalism I
            • Participatory Media
            • The Publishing Industry
            • Publication Layout & Design
            • Photojournalism
            • Professions in Writing Arts
            • Rhetorical Theory
            • Self Publishing
            • Writing for Popular Culture
            • Writing for the Workplace
            • Internship
            • Research Practicum
        • Writing Children's Stories
        • Writing Comedy
        • Writing Creative Nonfiction
        • Writing Fiction
        • Writing Genre Fiction
        • Writing Poetry
        • Writing the Young Adult Novel
        • Internship
        • Research Practicum
      • Technical & Professional Writing >
        • Developing Health and Scientific Literacy
        • Introduction to Technical Writing
        • Medical Writing and Rhetoric
        • Professions in Writing Arts
        • The Publishing Industry
        • Scientific Writing and Rhetoric
        • Tutoring Writing
        • Writing to Bear Witness
        • Writing for Nonprofits
        • Writing for the Workplace
        • Internship
        • Research Practicum
    • WA Learning Community >
      • Publishers
  • Internships
    • Internal Internships
    • External Internships
  • Careers
  • Faculty
    • Faculty Resources >
      • Best Practices in Online Learning
      • Syllabus Requirements
      • HyFlex/Remote Learning
      • Canvas Support >
        • Writing Comedy
      • Accessibility in Online Courses
      • Racial Equity Online
      • Supporting Developmental Writers Remotely
      • Building an Online Classroom Community
    • Acknowledgements
  • Blogs
    • Writer's Insider Blog >
      • Spring 2022 >
        • Writing Diverse Characters
      • Fall 2021
      • Spring 2021
      • Fall 2020
      • Spring 2020
      • Fall 2019
      • Spring 2019 >
        • An Interview with Devon James & Rachel Barton
        • Confession Travel Writer
        • Self-Publishing: A Change in Perspective
        • CCCA Career Fair: Having Your Future in Mind
        • Alumni Success: Entering the Working World
        • Behind the Scenes of Rowan's Hiring Process
        • Writing Comedy
      • Fall 2018 >
        • Singularity Press: Rowan's New Start Up
        • Writing Arts Club
        • How Can We Evaluate Creative Writing?
        • More Inclusive Events for Technical Writers
        • Guest Speaker Manuela Soares
        • Glassworks Reading
        • Spotlight: Taylor Henry, Recently Published Rowan Alum
      • Spring 2018 >
        • Publishing and Writing for the Public: A Reconstructed Concentration
        • What You Think You Know About Technical and Professional Writing is Wrong
        • The Toni Libro Medallion Award Winner: Myriah Stubee
        • An Interview with a Publisher
        • Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Winner: Sara Skipp
        • The College of Communcation and Creative Arts 6th Annual Student Awards and Showcase Ceremony
        • Rowan Alum, Marissa Cohen, On Self Publishing and Advocacy
      • Fall 2017 >
        • Upcoming Classes in the Writing Arts Department
        • The Writer's Journey Blog by Earl Garcia
        • Rewriting The Department's Social Media Platforms
        • Rowan University Writing Arts Club Reinvents Mission
        • Glassworks Launches Issue Fifteen
        • For Futuristic Consideration: An Exploration of Careers in Writing
      • Spring 2017 >
        • Technical Communication: An Overview
        • A More Inclusive Future for Technical Writers
        • Easing the Tension: Breaking Down Technical and Professional Writing
        • Growing the Technical and Professional Writing Concentration
      • Fall 2016
      • Spring 2016
      • Winter 2015
      • Fall 2015 >
        • 2014 and Prior >
          • Archive
    • The Bulletin Board
    • RU Writing? Podcast
  • Creative Writing
    • CW Faculty Publications
    • CW Course Offerings
  • Writing Center
  • Alumni
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
  • Awards
    • 2022 Emerging Writers Scholarship
    • Denise Gess Literary Awards
    • Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Award
    • AnToinette Libro Graduate Medallion Award
    • Past Awards >
      • 2008 Hollybush Writing Competition
      • Write Rowan, Right Now! Contest
  • Student Groups
    • Writing Arts Club
    • Avant Literary Magazine
    • The Whit Newspaper
    • Her Campus Rowan
    • Odyssey at Rowan
    • Singularity Press
  • Events
  • ECCCA
    • RU Deptartment of Writing Arts - Home
    • News & Announcements
    • Rowan University - Home
    • Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts at Rowan University - Home
    • Student Groups
  • About Us
    • Our Vision and Mission
    • Land Acknowledgement
    • Our Call to Action