Clue Fourteen

Our conversation with Blair Powless at the Dovetail continues. In this episode, Blair clarifies:

1. That we think about what words mean through denotation and connotation.

1. That a poetic awareness helps writers consider the layers and layers of meaning that word connotations bring to our writing.

1. That including poetic language like metaphors in our writing is a powerful way to make our ideas come alive.

If you hear a background slurp, my apologies. Sometimes I need a little coffee to keep me going. Listen in.

Blair Powless calls himself a freelance educator. He's been writing faculty at Lake Superior College, has coached local Spoken Word Poets in a group called Are Poets, and is currently studying history in hopes of teaching it. In this episode, Blair emphasizes that:

1. Academic writers will benefit from poetry because such language will help connect emotionally with readers.

1. Poetic language is a path to finding the elusive "voice."

1. Like Tanner Servoss says in the Feedback episode, reading or hearing our writing out loud is an important step in our writing process.

Blair and I met in the Dovetail Café, so enjoy the ambient sounds of a Friday lunch rush as a bonus. Listen in.

Kelli Hallsten Erickson is back, and this time with a very practical discussion of Outlines. I figured that would get you excited. Right. Anyway, pay attention to how Kelli:

1. Argues that outlines save time as well as provide clarity.

1. Is a big fan of all things Delayed Gratification.

1. Shows how outlines are valuable to college composition students, novelists, and also in everyday life.

The term "Pantsing" also comes up. I don't know about you, but in my experience, pantsing was generally something humiliating that happened in Phy. Ed class. Listen in.

In this episode, LSC's Executive Diversity Officer Sarah Lyons is going to explore the intersection of Implicit Bias and College Writing.

1. She breaks down the difference between explicit and implicit bias.

1. She shows how our implicit biases, while hardwired into all of us, can be problematic if we don't pay attention to them.

1. She rocks our composition world by showing us that we need to pay special attention to biases as college writers.

Explicit content ahead. Also implicit. Listen in.

Because seeking feedback is a key to good writing, LSC and Fond Du Lac writing tutor Tanner Servoss uncovers what is valuable about this sometimes intimidating process.

1. Tanner reveals that there are higher level concerns that college writers should consider, and – spoiler – they are not grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

1. Tanner reveals that meeting with a tutor might just be a conversation about the writer's ideas.

1. Tanner gives away one of his best writing secrets, which he learned from his wife.

If you think this is good, just wait until you actually meet with Tanner or another writing tutor to discuss your writing. For now, listen in.

Amy Jo Swing, LSC writing instructor and poet, returns in this episode to do a little time travel with us. That's right. This English language that we wrestle with has a history, and knowing how we got into this mess is helpful. Amy Jo breaks down...

1. How a succession of invaders, in addition to a lot of bloody mayhem, actually changed this language.

1. How English is literally divided into three historical periods. Old, Middle, and Modern.

1. And how English continues to change as the forces of culture and technology do their work.

Pay attention. Dates will be on the quiz. Kidding, but listen in.

In this episode, poet and LSC English instructor Amy Jo Swing is going to help us uncover wordiness. You know, when we're using words we just don't need. Listen for these clues:

1. Chuck the dead wood.

1. Avoid Passive Voice.

1. There are better words, so use 'em.

Amy Jo will expand on those ideas and more, so listen in.

In this episode, Kelli Hallsten Erikson, writer and LSC English instructor, digs into the importance of considering audience.

Three clues that Kelli shares are.

1. The point of most writing, even if it's assigned

1. How writing a diary and writing just about anything else are very different things.

1. Just how granular Kelli gets thinking about her own audience as she writes.

Listen in.