HERDSA: Tertiary Writing Network

[Coral Watson]

Colloquium of the Tertiary Writing Network (TWN)
Last chance for early bird regstrations
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Enquiries to L.Emerson@massey.ac.nz

Massey University is hosting the third Colloquium of the Tertiary
Writing Network (TWN) at the Coachman Hotel in Palmerston North,
from November 31 to  December 1, 1998.

TWN was established in 1995.  The first colloquium, held at Victoria
University, provided an opportunity for tertiary level writing teachers,
working in a variety of areas such as English, Linguistics, Student
Learning Support and ESOL, to exchange ideas.  Meeting again at
Massey in 1996, members of TWN voted to establish an incorporated
association at this year's colloquium, to acknowledge the importance
of writing at tertiary level.

The vitality of tertiary writing programmes is demonstrated by the
range of papers on offer at this year's Colloquium.  Presenters from
Norway, China, Australia and New Zealand include the editor of
a scientific journal and independent consultants, as well as teachers
at universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

The  ESOL stream of the Colloquium will look at such areas as the
influence of students' first languages on their acquisition of English,
peer-editing,  proofreading and plagiarism, as well as sharing
strategies to promote autonomous learning amongst international
students.

Papers and presentations on academic writing include the teaching of
writing within such varied programmes as Applied Science,
Engineering, and Nursing Studies, meeting standards for post-graduate
and publishable writing, the effect of different formats in literature
assignments, the teaching of teachers, techniques for classroom
activities and a report on state of writing in Norwegian universities.

Despite recent concerns about levels of writing competency, the
teaching of writing is often marginalised, with many academics
regarding it as 'remedial' and therefore inappropriate at tertiary
level. Others,  however, recognise the vital role writing plays in
learning development, enabling students to clarify their thought
processes.

Registration forms for the TWN Colloquium are available from
Lisa Emerson, Head, Learning Support Centre, Massey University,
Email <L.Emerson@massey.ac.nz.>
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Lisa Emerson
Head
Student Learning Centre
Massey University
Palmerston North
New Zealand

ph 06-3506172
fax 06-3502251
email L.Emerson@massey.ac.nz