Do it Now, Not Later!

Hello again, Roxy Readers! Today I have to make choices, and one of the hardest choices I have to make is between surfing and writing. It always seems the waves are best when I need to stay on dry land. The end of the semester is fast approaching, and final papers are due soon. I’m in the trenches with all of you right now as I have a final paper due, too. I won’t tell you the length because it will just shock you. I have to get it done once I’ve finished my blog post. :-) If you put things off like I do, I want to encourage you to stop procrastinating and get on it!

When you find yourself procrastinating, you just have to prioritize. Do you really need to re-watch Parks and Recreation? Is Destiny really more important than your grade? Of course not! Procrastination happens for many reasons, and sometimes we need a little help with our choices. I’ve gathered a list of handy websites, apps, and add-ons that will help you in your ongoing battle against procrastination.

1.       Self Control

This is a program that is only available to Mac users. You tell it how long you want it to block your favorite websites like Facebook, Imgur, Pinterest and anything else that sucks up your time. You can’t even get to these websites if you restart your computer or delete the application! It’s cruel, but it’s for your own good.

2.       Get Cold Turkey

This is basically the same thing as Self Control but for Windows users. The interface uses a humorous-looking turkey and asks you to donate any amount you want ($0-$20) to block websites from your viewing pleasure. It also gives you the option of donating the money to charity.

3.       Productivity Owl

This Chrome extension is really serious about keeping you on track. If it notices that you’ve been spending too much time on frivolous websites, the Productivity Owl flies in and closes your tabs. Of course, you can control what the owl thinks are frivolous websites and regulate how much time you’re allowed to spend on the sites.

All of these programs have one thing in common, you have to want to get things done. Sometimes all we need is that extra push. Push yourself, please; you’ll be happy you did. The end of the semester is so close, and we just need to hang on. Before we know it, we’ll be riding the waves again.

This is my last entry until next semester. Gotta finish that paper! Good luck on your finals! See you next time the sun is up, the breeze is cool, and the waves roll into view. ‘Til then, hang ten!

The More You Read

Hi, again, Roxy Readers. You know, I’ve been surfing for a long time. In fact, I come from a long line of surfers, and I learned a lot by spending time with them. I watched other surfers on the water, I studied the equipment they chose and the routines they used to care for their boards. I spoke with old-timers and beginners like me. I hung out with other surfers, read surfing magazines, scoured Reddit boards, and joined Facebook groups hoping to learn as much as possible about the sport.

I approach writing in the same manner. To become a more effective writer, I not only write as much as I can, but I also read all the time.  I know you’re thinking, “How can reading A Game of Thrones help me with my research paper?” Crazy, right? But it’s true.  The more you read, the more you learn about different styles of writing.   

Even if you’re not writing fiction, reading a novel can help you pick up cool new words and different sentence structures to use. Reading persuasive magazine articles or newspaper editorials can help you fine tune your argumentative essays, and book reviews can aid in your literary analyses. You can also see what doesn’t work so well. 

Lots of my buddies tell me they don’t really read anymore, but most admit that as children they loved a good book! What happened? Children’s books are simple, they have pictures, and they always have a happy ending. Somehow, as we get older, some of us lose our love of reading. The books are longer, they lose their pictures, and they’re not always happy.

As college students, we have to write, and reading helps our writing skills. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to read books, maybe you just haven’t found the right format. Maybe your go-to choice is a magazine, a graphic novel, or online message boards. Just read! Any type of reading counts and helps, especially this blog Roxy fans. ;-)

Roxy’s Tip: If the waves are flat, go read something! 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

You Decide!

Hello again, Roxy Readers – I’ve been sitting on the shore, watching the constant motion of the waves rolling in and out. It’s what I like to do before I grab my board and hit the water. Like surfers, writers need to decide what method works best for them. Many students believe that introductions must be written first, then body paragraphs, and finally a conclusion. It took a while before I learned it didn’t have to be that way. Wow! You get to decide where to start.

Everyday students tell me they can’t start writing because they have no idea what their introduction is going to be. I tell them, “That’s okay, because you don’t have to write your introduction first!”

It’s better to get something on the page than to just sit there frustrated, right? Writing my introduction last works for me. Having trouble with the intro? Start with the body paragraphs. Remember, you steer the process. You need to write in whatever way makes sense to you. As long as it’s in the correct order when you finish, you’re good. I promise.

The writing process is creative, and the creative process is messy. It doesn’t have to start out pretty; in fact, it probably won’t. Don’t worry about how it looks when you’re drafting, your teacher just wants to see a polished end product. I hope this helps you in your journey to becoming an amazing writer.

Roxy’s Tip: There is no one “right” way to write. Discover what works for you, and then dive into the writing process wherever you’re comfortable.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! My next entry is coming soon. 'Til then, hang ten!

Words are Powerful

Words, like killer waves, are powerful.

What we say about ourselves can make a difference in how we feel and even how well we do in our work. I often hear students say, “I’m a bad writer” or “I can’t write!”

When I hear students express such opinions, I ask them, “Do you text? Do you tweet? Do you write songs, poetry, short stories?” When they inevitably say, “Yes,” I then tell them, “Then you write, and you’re a writer!”

What students often mean when they say “I can’t write” is that they do not feel comfortable writing academic essays.  Fair enough. Academic essays are a specialized type of writing with specific requirements and grading criteria.

The good news is—there is help available! The SWC has writing tutors to help with every aspect of the writing process, from helping students understand the assignment requirements, to brainstorming ideas, to revising. We also provide additional resources on our website www.delmar.edu/swc.

Writing, like surfing, takes practice. I did not learn to surf in one day, and I had to ask questions and get advice from more experienced surfers. I've also wiped out more times than I can remember. The same holds true for writing: each time you put your pen to paper or begin typing words on a screen, you are becoming a stronger writer.

Roxy’s tip: Don’t say “I can’t write.” Instead say, “I must practice my writing!” 

Remember, with every essay you complete, you are becoming a more effective writer.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! My next entry is coming soon. ‘Til then, hang ten!

Welcome Back to School!

Hey Roxy fans,

One thing I’ve learned from my years of surfing: If you’re waiting for the perfect wave to come along before you jump on your board, you’ll end up dog-paddling the day away! The same lesson is true for writing; if you’re waiting to get started on an essay until the perfect intro or a fabulous thesis pops into your mind, all you will have at the end of the day is a blank page and a mounting sense of frustration.

I know starting an essay can seem really intimidating, but I suggest you dive right in.  Just write something. Getting your first idea (even if it’s really rough) down on the page will make it easier to right the next sentence and the next, and before you know it, you have written several paragraphs! 

Having trouble getting started because you keep worrying about wiping out on your first try? No problem—that’s why it’s called a rough draft! There will be plenty of time later to revise and polish until your writing looks as effortless as a pro surfer. 

Practice makes perfect whether it’s in writing or surfing.  So if you have an essay that you have been putting off, I challenge you to put down your board (for now), pick up a pen, and start writing something (sometimes, I even start with “I don’t know what to write. I don’t know what to write. I don’t know what…and then the ideas come rolling in, and I am off!).

Remember we are always ready at the SWC to help you in any stage of the writing process!

Roxy’s tip: Just do it! Just start writing, and the ideas will come!

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Hey Roxy Readers! Change is like the tide; sometimes you just have to roll with it, and keep an eye out for the gnarliest wave. Well, the Stone Writing Center, my home away from home, has made a huge change, and it is totally rad! The room has new furniture and a set of killer laptops. So, to all my fans, if you're around Del Mar College, stop by the 4th floor of the White Library and check out the new SWC digs. I know you'll love it as much as I do.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves rolls into view! 'Til then, hang ten!

L401 - Then

L401 - Now

Now Taking Walk-Ins!

Hey Roxy fans! Things have been so rad at the Stone Writing Center that I haven’t had a chance to break away and update y’all. I haven’t even had time to catch a wave! Why? The Stone Writing Center now offers walk-in tutoring, and we are super stoked! If you need help with a writing assignment for any class, drop by the SWC on the fourth floor of the White Library. We have lots of tutors that can help you.

Our hours:

Monday – Thursday, 8a – 7p

Friday, 8a – 1p

Saturday, 10a – 3p

Can’t tear yourself away from the beach? Remember that Del Mar College students have access to our Online Tutoring Program. You can access OTP from our website at www.delmar.edu/swc.

Still have questions? Email us at swc@delmar.edu or call us at 361.698.1364.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

Defeating the Dreaded Deadline Doom

As final exams are upon us, this will be my last entry of the semester.

On a good day at the beach, it’s easy to lose awareness of time. Whether it’s swimming, enjoying the sand and the water, or sharing time with friends, time can move more quickly than we expect. When this happens, it isn’t long before the sun goes down, and the nice day at the beach is gone.

As good students, we should be aware of the passage of time. Because semesters often pass quickly, it’s always a good idea to manage your time as carefully as possible.

However, there may be times when there isn’t much choice but to work at the last minute. This is not always a time management problem. Sometimes circumstances arise beyond of our control. When this happens, your remaining time left becomes all the more important.

First of all, it’s important not to feel too rushed or panicked by the approaching deadline. Fear and stress are understandable, and they may even be used to help motivate you. However, they can also undermine your productivity and well-being. As you approach the assignment, don’t neglect to take care of yourself as well.

When writing on a short deadline, set a list of priorities for yourself. Focus first on the essentials. For instance, make certain you know the most important elements of the assignment, and do your best to deliver these. If there’s a set page count, think about how much you must write to meet the length requirement. Also consider any content requirements set in the assignment. If the prompt asks for a discussion of literary elements, then each literary element should be discussed in the paper. Consider your assignment prompt carefully and make certain that you’ve included all the required content before turning your attention to anything else.

However, the most important priority when facing a looming deadline is in getting the essay written. While you shouldn’t neglect grammar concerns, especially major errors like fragments and run-on sentences, you first need an essay to revise. Focus on getting a rough draft finished first. If you do have time to do some revision, consider content first, then look at major grammatical concerns before moving to the smaller ones.

Best of luck on your finals!

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

For Future Reference

Although an umbrella may provide shade, it doesn’t cover every area on the beach. It’s similarly difficult to cover every aspect of MLA citation in a simple reference. The current edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers adds up to 292 pages in its entirety, and it covers a wide range of research topics. However, it is possible to account for the most common kinds of sources you might encounter in an essay.

In addition to citing books, newspapers, journals, and web sources, you may eventually need to cite a personal interview. This includes face-to-face interviews as well as phone interviews. When citing an interview in-text, you would only need to cite the last name of the person you interviewed in parentheses. In the Works Cited page, you must include the name of the person you spoke to, the fact that it’s a personal interview, and the date the interview took place. For instance:

Smith, John. Personal interview. 1 April 2014.

If the interview was conducted by phone, you would need to cite it as ‘Telephone interview’ instead. MLA expects this information for the purpose of accuracy and completeness. While telephone interviews are not common in college writing, personal interviews are sometimes required for assignments.

Another possible source you may have to eventually cite is a movie. Sometimes you will need to analyze film, much as you might interpret a novel or a poem. At other times, you may be asked to contrast historical events with a Hollywood film. In those cases, you would cite the film under MLA rules.

When citing a film in a Works Cited, you would only need the following information: the title (in italics), the film’s director, the distributor, the year of release, and the medium of publication. You may also include the names of the lead actors, the screenwriter, or the producer if they’re available and relevant. A typical film citation might look like this:

Gravity. Dir. Alfonso Cuaron. Perf. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. 

          Warner Bros. Pictures, 2013. Film.

The medium will depend on the specific source you used: Film, DVD, Blu-Ray, Slide program, or Filmstrip. However, you must include other information if you viewed the film on a streaming website such as Netflix. When citing a movie published online, include the name of the website (in italics), list “Web” as medium of publication, and include the date of access. The citation would then include the following:

Gravity. Dir. Alfonso Cuaron. Perf. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. 

          Warner Bros. Pictures, 2013. Netflix. Web. 14 April 2014.

Finally, when citing a movie in the body of your essay, it is preferable to do so without a parenthetical citation. Cite the film in italics as you discuss it, but make sure you include the film’s name in your sentences as you paraphrase what takes place.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

The Play’s The Thing

On the surface, the beach might seem like a natural stage. In some sense, it is. Any setting is nothing more than a backdrop for human drama. When looking at a play, a literary critic is trying to see the meaning that lurks beneath the words on the page. The play, like any form of literature, is a pool that can reflect human emotions and timeless ideas.

Although analyzing a play may seem similar to other forms of literature, be aware of the intended purpose and audience. Unlike prose or poetry, a play is not meant to be simply written and absorbed by a reader. A play is designed to be performed for an audience, and any analysis should at least consider this. Consequently, there are visual and auditory components to a play that text alone cannot duplicate. This does not make the form better or worse than others, but it has distinctive elements that a literary analyst should consider.

Firstly, a play will not have the same level of vivid description that a prose story will, although it may include classic literary elements. A play will generally include setting information and stage directions, though these will usually be very brief. Because of the shortage of detail, the reader must determine how the stage directions should be interpreted.

Different readers will imagine the setting and the action in various ways. For instance, one recent BBC interpretation of Hamlet imagined Hamlet’s father and uncle as twin brothers, which allowed one actor to play as both characters. While there is nothing in the original play to suggest that Shakespeare ever intended this, it also doesn’t contradict anything Shakespeare wrote. Different performances will interpret the script and stage directions differently, which any analysis of the play should be able to account for.

A modern performance of a classic play will take liberties with the original script. Sometimes the differences will be based in the performance itself. For instance, in Shakespeare’s day, female characters were portrayed by male actors. A modern performance of Romeo and Juliet would not be performed that way today.

In addition, modern interpretations of a timeless play will often cast the story in a new light.  A character that was treated as heroic centuries ago might be seen as deeply flawed today, since social views have evolved after the play was written. A modern performance might even update the setting to modern times, so the story may change to reflect the new setting.

Part of the reason that many plays are studied for centuries is that they may be interpreted in many different ways. Any literary analysis of a play should be able to find a new way to look at a work that has lasted the test of time. Account for the elements that make a play distinctive, and the analysis explores a deeper layer of meaning.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

Closing Arguments

Sometimes it's hard to leave the beach after a great day of surfing. If the sun is going down, it may be a good idea to head home. One of the most important skills to master in writing is knowing when it's time to leave. If you’re writing an essay, you’ll want to be aware of the pace of the essay and understand how long you should stay as well as finding the best time to leave. Don't overstay your welcome. 

Consider writing a conclusion as much like being a guest in someone else’s home. While you don’t want to leave the scene too early, as that may cause offense or concern, you also don’t want to stay too late and impose on your host. Consider your audience, then, to be your host, and always try to consider what the audience needs when deciding how long you should stay.

Admittedly, it’s often difficult to decide how long you should stay for your audience, and you may not easily know the right answer. Some readers may expect more and some may expect less. However, with practice and experience at writing, you may gain enough of a sense of audience awareness that you can guess. Sometimes it may just “feel right” to leave at a certain time.

Still, there’s always a balance that any writer should consider when deciding when to finish an essay. A sentence or two will not be sufficient for several reasons. Think about the flow of your paragraphs and how much you’re giving the reader in each paragraph. Is what you’ve written enough to keep an easy rhythm between your paragraphs, or are you just stopping because you don’t believe you have enough to say? Consider whether adding to your conclusion might also add balance and flow.

Also think about the visual space in your paragraphs as you’re writing them. If your body paragraph is a wall of text that consumes over a page, then an overly short paragraph won’t look satisfying in comparison. The reader should be able to see that there are new thoughts that help give shape to the conclusion, and the shape should look balanced against your introduction as well as your body paragraphs.

Finally, any good conclusion should deliver that final strong sentence that should wrap up your content. The final sentence should never leave the reader wanting more, but should instead answer all of the reader’s remaining questions. Does the conclusion feel like it just suddenly stops, or does it guide the reader towards a satisfying close? The final sentence should speak with power and leave nothing left to be said.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

Getting Personal

While the beach is always a place for surfing and swimming, there are times when it’s important to stop a moment, enjoy nature, and reflect. Sometimes a walk along the beach can be a personal journey of discovery, and you might learn more about yourself by taking the first step.               

The act of writing can often reveal more about the writer than about the topic itself. A personal essay might be used to release the writer’s own concerns or frustrations in a constructive way. When Stephen King wrote The Shining, it flowed from his own past with alcoholism. In this way, a poem or a short story can often reflect the inner world of the writer as well. Sometimes writing can raise and answer questions that the writer doesn’t intend to necessarily share with the world, but may address issues that can still connect with an audience.

When you write anything, it will inevitably be some kind of reflection of yourself as a person. Sometimes you may do this consciously because you have something to say about your own experiences, as with a personal narrative. At other times, you may unintentionally draw on yourself during the writing process. While this may seem a bit frightening, this is a perfectly normal process. We typically write what we know, and it’s generally true that we know ourselves best. Indeed, it can often be difficult to distance yourself from a piece of writing.

The good news is that this revealing aspect of writing can be used for your own benefit. If you’re not certain about why you’re drawn to a topic, or why you’re feeling blocked, you can always freewrite to answer those questions. Find some time to write in a quiet space; this can be at home or even in a peaceful space at the beach. Once you’re settled, just make a commitment to keep writing nonstop, not pausing for even spelling or grammar. Search yourself for answers as you write, keeping in mind the questions you want to ask yourself.

Writing is a personal act. By knowing why a piece of writing is important to you, it becomes stronger. The world may never know the answer to your personal question, but it’s important that you alone know that answer. The answer should be able to drive your writing along until you reach your final draft.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

A Question of Style

Although MLA Works Cited pages or APA references lists may seem unimportant, consider them like leaving marks in the sand for others to find. When other people want to retrace your steps on the beach, they need marking points to identify the path you’ve taken. Citations are the bread crumbs that writers leave to clearly mark the direction the research has gone.

Each citation style has been developed by professional organizations that expect specific standards by those in their disciplines. The Modern Language Association (MLA) is concerned with citations that are relevant with the humanities, such as literary essays and other English papers. The American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific organization that concerns itself especially with the social sciences; their style reflects that focus.

When comparing MLA and APA, they appear not to agree. Those differences reflect the standards set by those organizations. MLA does not require URL addresses in the Works Cited page, though specific instructors may request URLs from their students. Instead, MLA only requires that the essay’s author list whether a source is “Web” or “Print”. The humanities are less concerned with where the information came from than the general source. APA, however, will ask for the URL address as well as the date of access, since scientific information requires rigorous testing and exactitude.

Similarly, APA will require the year of publication of each source in the body of the essay, while MLA does not. Indeed, APA considers the year of publication so important that this information is always the second piece of information cited in an APA references list. Because APA has a scientific focus, scientific writers must look at the year of publication to determine how current it is since they want to know the information sourced is still true and reliable. Because scientific understanding is always changing with each new discovery, a scientific writer must always consider whether information has changed since publication.

Even the basic formatting of the essays will be noticeably different. MLA usually will not require a cover page, though some instructors may ask for one. APA, however, will usually require one, and they are looking for specific information such as the author’s name, the title, and the name of the institution you’re writing for. (For instance, if you’re writing the essay for a DMC instructor, the institution is Del Mar College.) There may be other information you’ll have to provide as well, depending on your instructor’s expectations.

That having been said, the two styles can be deceptively similar in many other respects. When using MLA or APA, be aware of the specific rules, using a style guide as needed to develop the proper citations. Each style adopts its rules for specific reasons, and you should be aware of those reasons when you cite those sources.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

The Method Behind the Madness

The English language can so often be like navigating murky waters without any kind of a map to show the way. For those who are uncomfortable with the language, it may seem even hazier. It can often seem like the way native English speakers write might make no sense at all, given the list of rules that don’t seem consistent. However, there is a method behind these rules, and even if they seem arbitrary or dated, there are reasons why they exist.

Words themselves can often be confusing, especially if they sound or look the same. It’s tempting, for instance, to confuse the words “their”, “they’re”, and “there” because they sound like the same word. But they’re not the same word, especially when their meaning is not there.

It helps to remember that “they’re” is just “they are” expressed as a contraction. You would not look they are for the meaning of the word; you would, instead, look there. Similarly, remember that “there” is a direction, while “their” is a statement of ownership. I might be pointing in their direction, but without ownership, I am just pointing there. This might seem confusing, but it helps to focus on how the word looks instead of how it sounds.

Another common mistake is the difference between “affect” and “effect”, which look mostly the same and can sometimes even be pronounced similarly. The main difference is the part of speech and how it’s used in the sentence. It’s possible to affect something, but there must always be an “e” in effect.

The point to consider in the affect/effect confusion is that each word acts differently. “Affect” is a verb and must be treated like an action. In contrast, “effect” is a noun and does not convey any kind of action. You normally wouldn’t use a noun to show action, nor would you refer to a thing with a verb. Remember the parts of speech and how they work, and it’s easier to keep the differences in mind.

There’s a similar issue at play when comparing “loose” and “lose”, though this one is a bit on the trickier side. It’s possible to lose change as well as loose change, but the meanings are very different. The problem here is that while “loose” is often an adjective, it can also be used as a verb. On the other hand, “lose” is always a verb and can’t be used as an adjective. So this is a more complicated case if you’re looking for just the right word.

In this case, it may be best to consider their opposites. “Loose” is the opposite of tight, while “lose” is the opposite of find. If you don’t want to tighten something, it’s best to loosen it. If you can’t find something, then maybe you’ve lost it. While the two words only differ by a single letter, they work in very different ways that are easier to spot.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!