How to Come Up with Topics for Open-ended Assignments

Posted on: July 30, 2020 | By: Julia Bleakney | Filed under: Invention Techniques, The Writing Center, Writing Process

When it comes to writing papers for class, I have found that most difficult assignments are the ones that are open-ended. Sure, it’s nice to have the freedom to write about a topic of my choice, but when I’m juggling the work of other classes, it’s much easier to answer a specific prompt. Nonetheless, we will all continue to get assignments where we are responsible for coming up with the topic. Generating ideas is something I often have trouble with as a writer, but thankfully help is available!

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The Expert’s Guide to Multimodal Projects

Posted on: June 14, 2022 | By: shan2 | Filed under: Disciplinary Writing, Invention Techniques

Hello, my name is Rylee McKinney. I am a Writing Center Consultant and Elon Teaching Fellow. After college, I plan to use my English Education major and minors in Coaching and TESOL to teach high school students. Freshman year of college is a big adjustment, and most of us have been told that college is no walk in the park. We come to college with a thousand worries in our heads. The scariest thought: college papers.  However, in the age of technology, the lengthy college paper has begun to take on new forms. Many first years are introduced to the term “Multimodal” in their foundational classes. As a first-year student, I was completely lost when I heard this term for the first time. It was hard to imagine replacing the standard ten-page paper with something more creative. I had spent most of my high school preparing for college papers. I…

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Writing Tips To Make Your Writing More Effective & Enjoyable

Posted on: January 4, 2022 | By: Julia Bleakney | Filed under: Invention Techniques, The Writing Center, Visiting The Writing Center, Writing Process

It’s harder to stay motivated and engaged when you lack interest in your topic. Here are 4 tips to help you get interested in your writing and to stay on task!

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