Writing Commons launches ‘How We Write, How I Write’ series to explore how Ohio University academics write in their fields

How do university professors write? What does writing look like in different academic disciplines? How do scholars turn ideas and information into writing for specific audiences?

The Ohio University Writing Commons, part of the Academic Achievement Center, is excited to explore these questions and more this fall with the launch of the new “How We Write, How I Write” lecture and discussion series.

The series invites Ohio University faculty and staff to share how writing functions within their fields and to discuss the approaches, strategies and challenges that shape their own writing practices. By hearing directly from the people who produce the papers, articles, reports and other publications they encounter in college, students can gain a better understanding of how writing functions across academic and professional contexts.

Faculty will share how they approach their audiences, organize information, develop and refine ideas, revise their work and communicate knowledge. Each presentation in the lecture series will give students a glimpse into the writing processes behind the finished products.

The first presentation was held in September and the next will be held on Thursday, Oct. 29.

On Sept. 30, Dr. Laura M. Harrison, professor and chair of the Department of Counseling and Higher Education, led a presentation on “Translating Your Good Ideas into Publishable Pieces.” Drawing on her extensive experience as a scholar, author, editor and mentor of writers, Harrison discussed the process of moving from an initial idea to a finished piece of scholarly writing.

The lecture was very well received, as Harrison presented helpful information and tips for the audience of students, faculty and staff.

The Write Formula: How to Write Technical Reports That Are Clear, Organized, and Effective

On Thursday, Oct. 29, Dr. Anne Perez, professor of biological sciences, will present “The Write Formula: How to Write Technical Reports That Are Clear, Organized, and Effective.”

Perez will introduce students to the writing practices used to communicate scientific and technical information, focusing on the importance of audience, organization, clarity, concision and objectivity.

Through examples and interactive activities, Perez will demonstrate how the same information can be communicated differently depending on the expected readership. Students will examine the anatomy of a technical report, practice identifying and correcting common problems in technical writing, and discuss how clear writing contributes to the credibility and usefulness of scientific information. The session will also address responsible uses of artificial intelligence in technical writing, with an emphasis on maintaining accuracy, integrity and ownership of one’s work.

Perez joined Ohio University’s Department of Biological Sciences in 2017. Her research focuses on forensic entomology, including the development and validation of models used to estimate time since death. Her experience teaching courses ranging from undergraduate science for non-majors to graduate-level forensic science gives her a broad perspective on communicating scientific information to different audiences.

All members of the OHIO community are invited to the Oct. 29 event.

Event details

The Write Formula: How to Write Technical Reports That Are Clear, Organized, and Effective
Dr. Anne Perez
Oct. 29
3-4:30 p.m.
Alden 319 (Friends of the Libraries Room)

All events in the series are presented by the Ohio University Writing Commons, part of the Academic Achievement Center.

• You can register for the series and find more information here.

The Writing Commons hopes to continue the series with additional Ohio University faculty and staff in future semesters, providing students with ongoing opportunities to explore the many ways writing is developed and practiced across the university.