WHAT IS CSWR?

The CSWR is a bi-annual event showcasing student writing on campus sponsored by the Center for the Study of Writing and SAGES in conjunction with SOURCE’s Intersections Symposium and Poster Session as well as the Research ShowCase to provide a venue for CWRU students to present their individual and group research and creative projects.

WHEN AND WHERE IS IT?

The Spring 2018 CSWR will be on Friday, April 20, from noon-3:00 in The Veale Convocation and Recreation Center.

WHAT’S THE BENEFIT OF PARTICIPATING IN CSWR?

Particularly for classes that have final projects and oral presentation components, CSWR is a meaningful and celebratory way to wrap up the course that gives students “real-time” opportunities to share their work with others and to demonstrate that writing and research takes many forms.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE STUDENTS?

-practice in the skills that will be valuable to their Capstone preparation. -opportunity for students to see actual Capstone projects at the adjacent Intersections and Research Showcase display

-opportunity to see and share what other SAGES classes are doing

-opportunity to win prizes for their presentations

– free food!

 

WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?

CSWR students have the opportunity to win prizes for their work in two categories.

Best SAGES class as a whole: This award goes to the SAGES class that has the most interesting presentation as a whole.

Best individual research presentation: This award goes to the student or small team of students who present a meaningful research project most effectively. Instructors can nominate up to two students/teams per class for this award.

DO ALL STUDENTS IN MY CLASS HAVE TO PARTICIPATE?

No. But if the project is part of your course syllabus, it would make sense. However, not all students have to be present throughout the entire CSWR session. They can take shifts manning the display(s).

CAN I MAKE CSWR MANDATORY FOR MY STUDENTS?

Yes, but if you do, then it needs to be clear how you plan to evaluate participation and how much it counts toward the final grade. It is also possible to offer extra credit for participation in cases where involvement is not mandatory.

WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP PREPARE DISPLAYS?

The Elevator/Pitch Workshops:

Wednesday, April 11

Friday, April 13

12:45-2:00

Location: Olin 313

SOURCE offers workshops on preparing effective posters.

The Freedman Center offers inexpensive printing and scanning options.

SAGES class budgets can fund the cost of display materials.

We will help locate larger monitors for digital displays.

 

ARE THERE ANY ONLINE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS TO USE IN PREPARING THEIR PROJECTS?

 

CWRU Intersections (Helpful Quick Tips): http://www.case.edu/provost/source/intersections/intersections.html

Tips for Designing Better Research Posters, Natalia Rodriquez: https://www.elsevier.com/connect/infographic-tips-for-designing-better-research-posters 

The Craft of Scientific Posters, by Michael Alley: http://www.craftofscientificposters.com/

Guide to Creating Research Posters, Undergraduate Research, U of Texas  https://ugs.utexas.edu/our/poster

 

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF EXHIBITS THAT OTHER CLASSES HAVE DONE?

A poetry wall where students make their own poems and encourage passers-by to do so as well.

A Facebook page where characters from different class readings converse with one another.

Posters or Power Points that walk the reader through individual or group projects or research findings.

Creative projects related to course content. Examples from specific classes include—

Maps of travel narratives

Models of museums or other buildings

Students’ own comics or graphic novel creations

Herbal or food displays with fresh samples

Posters and pamphlets on organizations that students designed

Newsletters related to course content

Games related to course content

 

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE INFINITE!

WHO CAN I TALK TO ABOUT MY IDEAS?

The CSWR Event Coordinator is Barbara Burgess-Van Aken. Her classes have participated in every CSWR event since its inception and can share logistics and ideas that others have used for successful displays. Contact her at bab26@case.edu.

 

I’M SOLD. HOW DO I REGISTER MY CLASS FOR CSW?

Complete the simple Online Registration form on the Center for the Study of Writing webpage, which you can access at writing@case.edu. You will receive an email with a link to the registration mid-March.