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Start a TAA Chapter
TAA recently launched a new TAA Chapter system as a way to encourage TAA members to develop textbook or scholarly article writing support groups: Click for more

Listen to recording of TAA Teleconference on online feedback tools for authors
TAA members can now listen to a recording of the September 25th TAA Teleconference "Make Your Book Better and Sales Bigger With Online Feedback Tools" presented by David Brake, founder and CEO of Content Connections: Click for more

Hannah Rockwell

updated 10/8/08

BTAA People: A. Jane Birch, Tara Gray
A. Jane Birch, Brigham Young University, and Tara Gray, New Mexico State University, will be presenting two sessions at the Professional and Organizational Development Network (POD Network) Conference, October 22-25 in Reno, Nevada. "Ten Ways to Let Your Database Do Your Work For You", will demonstrate the ten ways a database can be used by faculty developers -- and will help participants identify and clarify the data needs and solutions of their own centers. "Facilitating Scholarly Writing Circles That Work," will present proven strategies that help scholars improve their writing and increase their productivity by a factor of four. Click for more

TAA member receives President's Medal from Human Anatomy & Physiology Society
TAA member Kevin Patton was awarded the Human Anatomy & Physiology Society's President's Medal on May 26, 2008 for exceptional services to HAPS and its mission of promoting excellence in teaching and learning of human anatomy and physiology. Click for more

Busy TAA People: Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson (North Mankato, MN) recently published an article in Gifted Child Today (2008, 31, 41-29) entitled, "Internet Strategies for gifted students." His latest book, Teaching and writing: Research-based strategies for teachers, tutors, parents, and paraprofessionals, Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, will be out in September 2009. He is also under contract to write a second edition of his social studies textbook, Making connections in elementary and middle school social studies, Thousand Oaks, CA, Sages.

updated 9/4/08

Writing workshops provide support for academic authors
Holding writing workshops is an effective way to support, celebrate and teach writing. That’s what Andrew P. Johnson, Ph.D., director of the Center for Literacy and Inclusion at Minnesota State University, Mankato, discovered when he ran a Writer’s Workshop (WW) on campus aimed at professors. Read the entire article: Click for more

Two new How-To articles on writing
Read two new How-To articles on writing by prolific author Kenneth Henson, presenter of the TAA sponsored workshops, "Writing for Publication" and "Grant Writing." The articles, entitled "Don't Use a Scalpel to Peel an Apple" and "The Most Important Writing Tool", will be published in a new book by New Forums, Inc. in Stillwater, Oklahoma, entitled, It Works for Me, edited by Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet.
"Don't Use a Scalpel to Peel an Apple": Read here
"The Most Important Writing Tool": Read here

Requesting and receiving feedback and how to use it effectively
We shall take it as a given that a good academic work is focused. I have trouble imagining a dissertation writer who wouldn't agree that their dissertation ought to be focused. But focus doesn't get enough attention early in the process. Yes, early in the process we are seeking to refine a focus by exploring a range of possibilities. All of these are important reasons not to focus too intently, too early. Read the entire article: Click for more

Tip for writing at home when you're not alone
Here's something Jane Karwoski, an adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, started recently that seems to really work to keep family members from interrupting her when she's writing at home: Click for more

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