Embracing Imperfection in Writing

Often, writing serves as a good representation of the experiences and opportunities individuals have had as writers, in addition to any academic achievements that have been made up to a certain point in time. From my own experiences in courses like WRIT 311 (Advanced Composition), Explorations in World Literature, and general English Composition, I have learned to recognize that room for improvement always exists, and consistent perfection remains unrealistic.

I would like to provide some tips for embracing your abilities as a human being and writer:

  • By relaxing into your work without feeling so much pressure to excel, you will have a better chance to discover or rediscover genuine enjoyment in writing
  • Find your unique voice and style and incorporate them into your writing! Do not over-fixate on making it sound exactly right in your first draft
  • It is possible to maintain the proper tone throughout a writing piece AND tailor the writing process to meet your needs and interests at the same time!
  • During the peer review process, be respectful and open to both giving and receiving criticism, but know that it remains up to you whether or not you apply that feedback to your writing

These are just a few tips/suggestions for embracing imperfection as you write, and I hope you find this helpful! Thank you for reading 🙂

~ Devin Sparwasser

The Spring Semester Has Sprung!

Hello, all! Welcome to the Spring 2025 Semester at Millersville University!

My name is Devin Sparwasser, and I am a new tutor and blog writer at the Writing Center! I hope you all had a restful Winter Break and are starting off the semester with some academic ambition.

I want to make you all aware of a couple campus resources you can utilize to help you succeed this semester, specifically those pertaining to reading and writing!

1. The Writing Center Adjusted Hours

Monday-Thursday: 12:00-8:00 pm

Friday: 12:00-4:00 pm

Schedule an appointment with one of our tutors through Starfish! We prefer in-person or Zoom appointments, but online appointments through email are welcome as long as you provide the information we need. This includes your Name, M#, Class Name, Professor, and what type of assistance you are looking for.

Walk-ins are always welcome, too! Never hesitate to stop by 🙂

2. Kurzweil Online Software

Kurzweil is a learning software provided to all students through Learning Services. It can be downloaded onto your computer, or you can use the online version! If reading, taking notes, and/or making outlines is challenging for you, Kurzweil can help. The software includes features like translations in at least 12 different languages, multiple voices to choose from that can read to you, organizer templates to map out writing assignments, vocabulary definitions, and highlighter breakdowns of specific concepts!

If you have any further questions about using Kurzweil, feel free to contact Learning Services!

Kurzweil 3000

Kurzweil 3000 is a web-based learning solution built on the technology of Kurzweil Education, Inc., a comprehensive reading, writing and learning solution for reading disabilities.

3. Learning Services Workshops

In Lyle Hall, Learning Services offers a variety of workshops that target specific academic skills throughout the semester. These topics include critical thinking, note-taking, study skills, time management and organization, strategies to boost memory, and understanding students with disabilities/disorders, among others. I have attached a list of the Spring 2025 workshops being offered below for anyone interested!

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Thank you all for reading! I hope you have a wonderful semester, and remember that these resources are always accessible to you if and when you need them.

Thanksgiving Break

Hello all you Turkeys,

Thanksgiving is known for family festivities like gorging yourself on dry turkey and getting into heated political debates with distant relatives. But what it is not known for is the ample amount of time open for writing. There are many topics to write about, you can prepare a speech about climate change, you can reflect on your first semester, you can write thank you cards to all your lovely relatives, and most importantly you can leave positive comments on the writing center blog. Wishing you all a happy last week of classes!

P.S. With finals coming up, our hours will be changing, but we will still be around to help you with any final papers.

Egg Hunt Palooza!

Howdy folks, Lauryn here.

This just in: be on the lookout for some bright orange pumpkin eggs scattered about campus! We tutors have placed eggs all over campus for you to find!

When you locate an egg, crack it open and bring it to the Writing Center to redeem a cool prize!

Happy hunting!

Book Recommendations

Hi readers, Lauryn here. I am bringing to you exclusive book recommendations from your favorite blog writers: Jake Long and Lauryn Everly.

Lauryn’s Book Recommendation: The House on Mango Street

A deeply poetic and moving kind-of-sort-of YA memoir, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros follows a young girl by the name of Esperanza, as she grows up in a shabby house on shabby Mango Street. Young Esperanza faces a plethora of trials and tribulations as she hopes and dreams of someday having a real house of her own, far away from her rundown town. Mango Street offers poignant, poetic snapshot chapters of what it’s like to come of age as a young girl–the good, the bad, and the ugly.

 

Jake’s Book Recommendation: The Count of Monte Cristo

In “one of the best revenge books ever written” (-Jake), we follow the protagonist, Edmund Dantes, through false imprisonment and a journey for treasure. The book is incredibly raw and never holds back. Dantes, something of a Robin-Hood figure, is an extremely well-written character, and the entire book makes for an overall extremely exciting read.

 

We hope you enjoy our books! Comment down below if you love these books.

Stay frosty, cool cats.

-Laur

Farewell Carson

There are many ways to say goodbye but the variety doesn’t make the goodbye any easier. Here at the writing center, we would like to inform our readers that our fellow Tutor, Carson Bolash, has recently left his position as tutor. I know that some of you may be worried that his writing expertise will be put to waste, but do not fear, he is pursuing a English teaching degree and plans on continuing his pursuit of english excellence in a classroom of his own, where he hopes to find the next Hemingway or Poe. Carson’s contributions to the writing center have not gone unnoticed, his Tiktoks always put a smile on the faces of viewers and his advice always soothed the hearts of his students. And we as a whole would like to say thank you for all you have done for the Writing Center.

Overcoming Writer’s Block

“I don’t know what to write.”

“I don’t know how to get started.”

Hey all, Lauryn here. Even as a fourth-year English major, I, just like you all, experience bouts of writer’s block. Additionally, writer’s block is something that we are very often asked about at the Writing Center.

So… what can we do about it? Well, there are a few different things you can try. And I’m going to name a few, just for you! Let’s get started.

1. Change Your Environment

Sometimes, a change of scenery can do wonders for your mindset. New sights and sounds can spark fresh ideas. Personally, I like to write in the library; the environment always makes me feel more productive.

2. STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS WRITING

Whether you’re writing creatively, or don’t know where to start with your research paper, writing down your stream of consciousness can be a great way to spark some ideas. Set a timer for a few minutes and write down everything you’re thinking about. Every single thing. It might help you think of something new!

3. Read for Inspiration

I am a firm believer in learning by example. Finding a mentor text to use as a model for your own paper can be incredibly useful, especially if you’re stuck on formatting. Remember to use mentor texts responsibly! Always cite information you find elsewhere.

4. Talk It Out

If you’re stuck, try discussing your ideas with a friend, a classmate, or… a Writing Center tutor! Talking through your thoughts can sometimes help you figure out where you’re headed. A fresh perspective could be exactly what you need to get on the right track.

5. Set Small Goals

We get it, sometimes you end up writing a whole paper in one night. But that stress might be what’s holding you back and blocking you! Instead of forcing yourself to write a whole lengthy paper in one sitting, give yourself the time to do it in chunks. Plan accordingly and try for a paragraph a day. Taking breaks and pacing yourself can help when you really aren’t feeling a whole paper.

So… did that help? I hope it did!

Remember, you aren’t alone in the writing process. Schedule your appointment at the Writing Center today and talk through your writing struggles.

That’s all for now!

-Lauryn

Paragraph Structure

Hello all you Writing Center Blog Lovers. Don’t we all just love writing essays. Some turn out great others not so much, but if you’ve consistently fallen into the latter, then you’ve come to the right place. When it comes to writing a solid essay, the emphasis is on content, a well-rounded argument, and clear diction. However, for these dreams to become reality, a consistent, firm paragraph structure is necessary for readers to grasp what it is you are trying to say. A consistent paragraph structure also makes it easier for you, as a writer, to formulate your thoughts because you no longer must worry about what order you must structure your paragraphs in, giving you more time to formulate strong arguments.

The first step to writing a well-structured paragraph is to write a topic sentence. Yes, you heard me right, topic sentences are necessary outside of the introductory paragraph. The topic sentence gives your audience an idea of what to expect from the proceeding writing. Are you going to write about Julius Caesar’s love life or his conquests, the dark or light side of the moon, or igneous or sedimentary rocks? That’s for you to decide, but the introductory paragraph gives your audience an idea of what will come next.

After the topic sentence, you want to dedicate 3-4 sentences to bolstering your topic sentence. In these sentences, you are writing about what you know for certain, based on research or observation. Typically, each sentence ties back to the topic sentence, with the same or similar subjects being used for each sentence. Let’s say you were writing about the properties of igneous and sedimentary rocks. In the topic sentence you would establish which rock form you are writing about, then each sentence would begin with that rock. Or, these sentences can follow a linear progression, meaning that each sentence introduces a new subject which is the topic of the next sentence. For Julius Caesar’s love life, one paragraph may be dedicated to a particular lover and progress using the many traits that made them appealing to him.

The final sentence is what you’ve been leading it up to. It is when you can offer a grand explanation as to why Julius Caesar’s first lover was perfect for him or why igneous rocks are the prettiest rocks for a windowsill. This is when facts and information reach the tip of the dropper and a drop falls into the bucket full of other small drops, each one with their own reason for being in the bucket.

I hope you now feel more confident approaching your essays with a paragraph format at your disposal.

 

 

English-Related Resources on Campus

Good afternoon readers!

This is Lauryn back again to give you some information on some English-related resources on campus.

The Writing Center is not the only place on campus you can go to find individuals that are well versed in writing and reading! Here are some other English-loving orgs & institutions on the Millersville campus:

  1. English Club

The English Club meets regularly to do English-related activities! Join the English clubbers to experience all things English and meet many writing & literature lovers!

2. Librarians

The librarians can help you brainstorm ideas, research topics, and find good, credible sources! Check the library website to learn more information about what they can do for you.

3. The Snapper

The Snapper meets regularly to write on and report all the happenings in the world and on campus! The Snapper is great for students interested in news writing.

4. Sigma Tau Delta National Honor Society

S.T.Delta is a nationally recognized English Honor Society. The university’s chapter invites eligible English majors annually. S.T.Delta’s members are invested in literary endeavors, as well as philanthropy.

5. Professors

Make valuable connections with your English professors; they are great resources! Make sure to introduce yourself and make an effort to visit their office hours so that they can best serve you as your instructors.

 

Those are just a few great English-related orgs and resources on campus. Involve yourself in the English community!

Thesis Statements

Hello everyone, welcome to another blog post written by yours truly, Jake Long. Today we will talking about the elusive perfect thesis statement because now is the time when we get our first speeches of the year. According to UNC Writing Center, a thesis statement is a roadmap for the paper that tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. At times, it is appropriate to write your thesis statement after writing the body sections of your paper because you may not be ready to refine your main ideas until after exploring what you have to say. A thesis statement should give a reader a one sentence synopsis that they can refer to if questions arise as to how certain points relate to your topic. Let’s say you’re writing a paper on the effectiveness of the University bus system and your thesis reads, “The University bus system offers a beneficial service for students who need to get from one end of campus to the other in a short amount of time.” If later in the paper you wrote, the bus drivers are reckless and put students walking calmly to class at risk of getting hit in order to deliver their passengers on time, then a reader can reflect back on the goal of your paper and recognize your dedication to staying on theme is lacking. A better secondary topic would be a personal anecdote of a time when the bus system got you to class on time. This idea would be both clarify and support your thesis statement, and your reader will appreciate being prepped for what is to come in your writing.