Center for Academic Writing “Impulse”
Writing is the best way to talk without being interrupted.
Writing is thinking on paper.
When writing about science, don't simplify the science; simplify the writing.
Writing is a lot easier if you have something to say.
The reason one writes isn't the fact he wants to say something. He writes because he has something to say.
Good writing is clear thinking made visible.
A man who is ignorant of foreign languages is also ignorant of his own language.
Only the educated are free.
One`s work may be finished someday, but one`s education never.
What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul.
Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.
News
03.11.2016
Insights into American Writing Centers
The Center had a great chance to broaden its horizons by participating in the program “Developing Academic Writing Centers” supported by the US Department of State and the USA Embassy in Moscow. The program lasted for two weeks from October 19th to November 4th, 2016. Eight representatives of different universities were nominated for the program, including Kazan Federal University, the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Yekaterinburg) and the participants of 5-100 project MISIS (Moscow) and ITMO (Saint-Petersburg). Tyumen State University was represented by Nadezhda Zhuravleva, Deputy Director of the Center. The participants visited seven writing centers in Colorado, Indiana and Massachusetts, including Harvard, MIT and Purdue University.American academic writing centers have a different scope of activities as they focus mainly on the development of students’ writing skills. The main objective of Russian writing centers is to provide support to faculty, post-graduates and researchers who wish to get published in English. During the meetings the program participants discussed the overall writing centers management, tutors’ training, collaboration with other organizations, materials design, etc. In the framework of the Consortium of Academic Writing Centers development in Russia it was really beneficial to familiarize with the International Writing Centers Association, its objectives and activities.
The participants also visited libraries, publishing houses and university career centers. These units have a very broad range of activities, including supporting the disadvantaged sector. The Center for Career Opportunities at Purdue University runs workshops and courses on employment issues for students, collaborates with employers who are invited not only to participate in the curriculum, but also conduct on-campus job interviews.
During the visit the Russian specialists took part in the International Symposium on Second Language Writing. This year it was hosted by Arizona State University. Hundreds of scholars from all over the world shared their research results and discussed ways to deal with some common issues. The Russian representatives had a new experience of one hour reflection at the end of each day that included discussions of practical skills the participants acquired during the conference.
The trip was very fruitful and the gained relevant experience and knowledge will enable the Center team to organize the work efficiently.
