Participate: Take Pictures, Contribute to Research: WC Signs and Posters

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Wonderful Colleagues,

I hope the new year is treating you well! I write with an invitation to contribute to a fun project I’m undertaking.

Inspired by the upcoming IWCA/NCPTW theme of spaces, I aim to gather information about what lives on the walls of writing center spaces. That is, what kinds of texts (signs, posters) do writing centers post in their spaces, and what do these items communicate about the writing center and/or writing?

To do this work, I ask for your help: 10 minutes of time taking pictures around your center and sending them to me. So, if your consultants have down time, a slot without an appointment, perhaps ask them to take some pictures and contribute!

I need pictures! I’d like to ask you all to take pictures of the texts on display in your center:

  • This includes: signs, posters, flyers, and other items that are meant to be read.
  • It also includes: postings in staff areas, break rooms, etc.
  • This does not include: art and decorative items.
  • When in doubt, just send it along!
  • Please also exclude any flyers advertising events not part of the writing center.

When taking pictures, I’d ask for:

  • 1 picture of the general space of the WC so I can see roughly where these texts live.
  • A clear image of each text.
  • Feel free to just use a phone to do this.

To submit, there are two options! Do whatever is easiest for you!

  1. Simply email them to me here: wcsigns2025! Or reply to this email address if it’s easier! NOTE: There may be a size limit to attachments to email. Don’t worry if there’s too many pictures: I’ll happily receive multiple emails! Whatever you need to do!
  2. Use this link: tinyurl.com/WCSigns to upload your images to a cloud folder (with no account required). NOTE: It will ask you for name, but feel free to just put your institution or WC name or any identifier you’d like. Names are not necessary.

That’s it. I’ll be taking pictures until the end of the month! Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to seeing your pictures!

Thanks,

ENRIQUE PAZ
Assistant Professor
& Writing Center Director

SCHOOL OF LITERATURE, WRITING, AND DIGITAL HUMANITIES
SIU WRITING CENTER
MAIL CODE 6650
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
605 AGRICULTURE DRIVE
CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901

enrique.paz
SIU.EDU