First Year Writing Program

A Showcase of Writing is like a science fair! Writers set up at booths or stations to display their writing projects, and when judges and parents and students walk over, writers give short speeches about their projects. Writers then field questions from judges and parents and students about their writing projects. When one group of onlookers moves on and another arrives, the writer starts the speech over and engages in a new Q&A session.

The First Year Writing Program Showcase of Writing will be held between 1 - 6 pm on Friday, April 5, 2024 in the Student Center Ballroom at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas.

At the First Year Writing Program Showcase of Writing, participating students will give 5 - 7 minute poster presentations about one of their ENGL 1301 or ENGL 1302 papers. Participants will be scheduled for a one hour presentation slot, between the hours of 1 - 2 pm, 2 - 3 pm, or 3 - 4 pm. If you are scheduled to present during your regular ENGl 1301 or ENGL 1302 class, your class absence will be excused. Easels will be provided in the Ballroom to display posters. During their presentation slot, participants will present their papers with the help of their posters to faculty, staff, and fellow students who stop by to look and chat. Some of the faculty members will be serving as judges of the presentations--based on judges' evaluations of poster presentations, students will be awarded scholarships or Dusty Dollars at the Reception and Award Ceremony held from 5 - 6 pm.

If you decide to participate in the First Year Writing Program Showcase of Writing, you will choose a paper that you have completed or are currently working on from your ENGL 1301 or ENGL 1302 class. With this paper, you will create a short speech that informs the Showcase audience about that paper: what it is about, what you discovered in writing it, and why you wrote it. Along with this speech, you will create a poster that will serve as a visual aid and reference point to help your Showcase audience follow your speech.

No. You can only use a paper that you have written or are writing for ENGL 1301 or ENGL 1302.

The First Year Writing Program will help you! Dr. Sharity Nelson and Dr. Teresa Scott will be communicating with you about deadlines and helpful resources, such as an instructional video guide and digital handout. Also, a graduate student in the English program will be working as the dedicated tutor for Showcase participants. This tutor will be available by appointment to help you prepare a speech about your paper and a poster. We will share the tutor's information with you once you have confirmed that you wish to participate in the Showcase.

No! Your poster presentation will not be graded by your ENGL 1301 or ENGL 1302 instructor or by anyone in the First Year Writing Program. However, your poster presentation will be assessed by Showcase judges on the day of the Showcase to determine scholarship winners and Dusty Dollar winners--everyone will win something!

So many things, tangible and intangible! Firstly, you'll develop marketable skills, such as time management, public speaking, and active networking, which are important to future employers. Secondly, as you transform an ENGL 1301 or ENGL 1302 paper into a poster presentation, you'll experience another revision process for that paper that can help you with your Final Portfolio for the course. Thirdly, on the day of the Showcase, you will connect with other TAMIU students who are--like you--committed to earning a university degree and passionate about their writing and research. Lastly, at the Showcase Reception and Awards Ceremony, you'll get to munch on (free) delicious appetizers, film Instagram reels for TAMIU's social media, and win a scholarship or Dusty Dollars!

Email Dr. Sharity Nelson (sharity.nelson@tamiu.edu) or Dr. Teresa Scott (teresa.scott@tamiu.edu) by Friday, March 8, 2024 to express your interest in participating. You will receive email instructions in return to help you get started!