My Research Proposal

Title:

How has the Southeastern Writing Center Association evolved throughout its 30-year-history?

Introduction to the Research Project:

This semester my potential project will be an inquiry into the Southeastern Writing Center Association (SWCA). The SWCA is entirely what its name implies: an association of writing centers located in the southeastern portion of the United States. Founded in 1981, the SWCA is approaching its 30-year-anniversary. Throughout its history, several approaches have been taken in running, organizing and representing the SWCA. My search will then focus on how the evolution of the SWCA has progressed, what has been a part of the evolution and what this progress entails for the future.

The issue to be researched is one that I am personally and academically attached to as I am a writing center tutor for St. Thomas University. I began tutoring about a year ago and I am still learning about the world of writing centers. This research then will continue my foray into understanding how writing centers have adapted throughout their history, what are their significance and function across campuses, the role of the SWCA in running these writing centers and what the stories are of those that come into, work for and interact in any manner with a writing center.

Throughout the research, I will also be inqurying into the history of writing centers and how this has intertwined with Southeastern Writing Center Association. It is important to discover how the evolution of writing, writing centers and the SWCA are all related.

Specific Research Questions:

-          How has the history of the SWCA evolved over their 30-year-history?

-          What is the importance of the SWCA within the international writing center community?

-          How has the SWCA affected how writing centers are operated?

-          What are the stories of those that interact with writing centers and how does this involve the SWCA?

Potential Research Plan

Background information on the SWCA will be found on their website and its publication, The Southern Discourse. Their website will provide a brief history and mission statement, a membership guide, access to archived publications and contact information for the executive board, representatives-at-large and Southern Discourse editor. These members will provide potential interview subjects, as their experiences throughout their involvement with the SWCA will serve as the primary source for the SWCA’s history. A potential survey will involve the STU University Writing Center and other writing centers that are members of the SWCA. This survey will shed light on my research questions asking the significance of writing centers across different campuses. The observation aspect of this research project will entail observing the STU University Writing Center and surrounding writing centers such as FIU’s Center for Excellence in Writing.

Potential Multimodal Writings

There are several writings that can be produced from the research on the SWCA. One that has been created and I would like to perfect is a brochure for the SWCA. This brochure incorporates the history, mission statement and other important information on the SWCA. Unfortunately, I don’t believe it is up to standard, and this research project will allow me to liven up and substantiate the brochure.

Another potential multimodal project will be inspired by a presentation I attended at last year’s SWCA conference in which the presenters discussed advertising videos for writing centers. There were several aspects to the videos created such as comedic vs. serious, presentation style and technical features. It’s my hope that the research will be able to supplement the information in the video and showcase the writing center in an enlightening and appealing manner.

Other multimodal writings will involve a potential presentation at the SWCA conference and an article for the Southern Discourse. These writings will be a retrospective and investigative review of my research project.

Conclusion

In summary, this research project will be an inquiry into the past, present and potential future of the Southeastern Writing Center Association. The SWCA is a large association that will branch out into investigating the historical significance of the SWCA in the writing field, explore its main theme of writing centers and possibly turn into a venture of study into my Professional Writing major. The research project will incorporate interviewing members of the SWCA, surveying writing centers in the SWCA and observing those that interact with writing centers. This research project will also incorporate an addition of multimodal documents such as a brochure, video clip, (potential) presentation at a conference and article in the Southern Discourse.