Preparatory Gathering for Drafting Your Capstone Essay in Composition Class
The Mary W. George Freshman Research Conference at Princeton University is an exciting event for first-year students enrolled in the Writing Seminar. This conference offers a unique platform for students to showcase their research projects, receive feedback, and learn from their peers.
The Writing Seminar at Princeton is a challenging course that feels like two courses combined due to its packed schedule, constant writing, and peer editing. One of the key assignments in this seminar is the R3 (revised essay #3), which requires students to develop an original argument. The conference provides an excellent opportunity for students to present their R3 and receive valuable feedback, helping them improve their academic writing skills.
At the conference, students present their work in small panels, with each presentation lasting ten minutes. This setup allows for an intimate setting where students can ask questions and gain insights into how their peers approached difficulties and encountered challenges in the draft and revision process. The conference also offers exposure to a variety of topics researched and written about by other Writing Seminar students, providing inspiration for unique and nuanced arguments.
Preparing a few questions before attending the conference is beneficial. Good questions to ask include inquiries about the research process, difficulties encountered, source finding, thesis development, changes from D3 to R3, and focus on Writing Lexicon terms. The Writing Lexicon, a handout given in writing seminar, lists key terms for academic writing and is often continued to be used by students after finishing the seminar.
In summary, the Mary W. George Freshman Research Conference at Princeton University is an essential event for first-year students in the Writing Seminar. It provides a structured environment to practice and refine research and writing, engage with peers and faculty, and gain confidence in presenting their work early in their college careers. The conference is an invaluable resource for students seeking to improve their academic writing skills and develop strong analytical writing and research competencies essential for academic success.
The Writing Seminar at Princeton primarily focuses on academic writing, serving as a platform for students to enhance their skills through challenging assignments like the R3. The Mary W. George Freshman Research Conference further supports this education-and-self-development by offering an online-education opportunity where students can present and learn from their peers, refining their writing talents in a supportive environment.
