Nursing students just learning APA (non-trad)

Hi everyone, I just had a quick idea about somethign for us to blog about. I am sure we all have been in this situation by now, and I am just curious about how other people handle it. No right or wrong ways per se, I am just curious about what course of action people take and maybe the sharing of ideas can lead to insight. The situation: You've been here before and you can almost predict it.... You notice that you have a new student and you have a blank slate as far as what you will be doing with them today. You meet them, and then after some small talk, you find the reason for why they are here. Perhaps you note that, they are a non-traditional and they have filled out nursing as their program on their logsheet. They grimace slightly as they mention that they have to use APA and they have a super-strict professor when it comes to proper citations. "Oh boy..." you think to yourself. They then say the words that you could have bet money they would say. Like a child confessing that they have just eaten a forbidden cookie from the jar, they nervously chuckle to disguise their true feelings of vulnerability, You hear the sound of their nervous ruffling of papers in their binder, and you observe that they probably have kids of their own your age.... "I haven't been to school in 20 years and we never documented anything, or did research or papers like this, now I have to learn this APA thing and its pushing me over my edge. Can you help me?.... These words can be a little unnerving when you first hear them. You think to yourself, wow, they are a professional with a career, going back to school, they have so much more life experince than me, and they feeling vulnerable doing something that I deal with all the time- APA. Akward huh?

One-on_one in 2011

As we enter the second month of the new year and await the blizzard snow, let's promise to engage in more online professional development via our blog. I have reinvitated everyone to join so that we might share the novel, the treasured, and the tedious consultation. To get started, I'd like us to think about how we engage (or fail to engage) our clients in a dialogue about their writing. In other words, what informs the process we employ? Is it reserach? If so, based upon what data? Is it anecdote? If so, shared by whom? Is it personal preference? Let's consider what we do each time we sit down with another human being and his/her writing, how we do it, why we do it, and how we know that it yields writing development. To ensure that we all hone our consulting acumen, I've asked Genevieve to meet with each of you about your process. In addition to talking with you about your interactions with clients, she will co-tutor and observe. Her role is not to evaluate you for rehire or to record your less successful moments. Her goal is to listen, affirm, redirect, and advise as needed. Starting this week, Genevieve will begin contacting you to set up initial meetings. You need not wait for her, though. She and I will be happy to discuss your role one-on-one as needed. While I am often busy with andministrative paperwork and meetings, please don't misinterpret my time in the "glass castle" as anything but required service. If you need me, I can quickly move back into studio circulation because without clients and dedicated staff, my paperwork is moot.

“COMMA DRAMA” - Podcast Coming Soon

There are multiple uses for commas, such as: separation of clauses, parenthetical phrases, between adjectives, before quotes, in quotes, in dates, in geography, in numbers, and in names, etc.

Separation of Clauses

Commas are often used to separate clauses. In English, a comma is generally used to separate a dependent clause from the independent clause if the dependent clause comes first: After I brushed my teeth, I used mouthwash. (Compare: I used mouthwash after I brushed my teeth.) A relative clause takes commas if it is non-restrictive, as in Pamela often wears high-heeled shoes, which have three-inch heels. (Without the comma, this would imply that only some of the heels – those over three inches tall – were worn. Some consider the word "that" to be preferable when such a meaning is desired: "Pamela often wears high-heeled shoes that have three-inch heels.") Two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or having a complementary relationship may or may not be separated by commas, depending on preferred style, or sometimes a desire to overcome ambiguity. While many style guides call for commas, many authors omit them, particularly with short sentences.

Parenthetical Phrases

Commas are often used to enclose parenthetical words and phrases within a sentence (i.e. information which is not essential to the meaning of the sentence). Such phrases are both preceded and followed by a comma, unless that would result in a doubling of punctuation marks, or the parenthetical is at the start or end of the sentence. The following are examples of types of parenthetical phrases:

Introductory Phrase: Once upon a time, Rapunzel let down her hair.

Address: Rapunzel let down her hair, Your Honor.

Interjection: Rapunzel let down her hair, I swear!

Aside: Rapunzel, if you don’t mind my telling you this, let down her hair.

Appositive: Rapunzel, a jaded and bitter woman, let down her hair.

Absolute Phrase: Rapunzel, her lips emitting a sigh, let down her hair.

Free Modifier: Rapunzel, leaning out the window, let down her hair.

Resumptive Modifier: Rapunzel let down her hair, hair of gold.

Summative Modifier: Rapunzel let down her hair, as no one had before.

Between Adjectives

A comma is used to separate coordinate adjectives; that is, adjectives that directly and equally modify the following noun. Adjectives are considered coordinate if the meaning would be the same if their order were reversed or if and were placed between them. For example:

The dull, incessant droning but the cute little cottage. The sweet furry dog suggests there are furry dogs (one of which is sweet), while the sweet, furry dog does not carry this connotation.

Before Quotes

A comma is used to set off quoted material that is the grammatical object of an active verb of speaking or writing, as in Mr. Malburg says, "You should know how to use a comma." Quotations that follow and support an assertion should be set off by a colon rather than a comma.

In Dates

When a date is written as a month followed by a day followed by a year, a comma separates the day from the year: December 7, 1941. This style is common in American English. Additionally, most style manuals, including The Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook, recommend that the year be treated as a parenthetical, requiring a second comma after it: "Feb. 14, 1987, was the target date."

In Geographical Names

Commas are used to separate parts of geographical references, such as city and state (Dallas, Texas) or city and country (Kampala, Uganda). Additionally, most style manuals, including The Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook, recommend that the second element be treated as a parenthetical, requiring a second comma after: "The plane landed in Kampala, Uganda, that evening." The United States Postal Service encourages the writing of address labels without any punctuation (and all in capital letters).

In Numbers

In representing large numbers, English texts use commas (or spaces) to separate each group of three digits. This is almost always done for numbers of six or more digits, and optionally for five (or even four) digits. However, in many other languages (and in South Africa) the comma is used as a decimal separator, equivalent to the decimal point. In addition, the comma may not be used for this purpose at all in some number systems, e.g. the SI writing style, and a space may be used to separate every three digits instead.

In Names

Commas are used when writing names that are presented surname first: DelVillano, Ron. They are also used before many titles that follow a name: Ron DelVillano, Ph.D. Commas, however, would be used incorrectly if put after a clause, then followed by a name.

Coordinating Conjunctions

A coordinating conjunction can join two main clauses that a writer wants to emphasize equally. The pattern for coordination looks like this: main clause +, + coordinating conjunction + main clause. (cc) "It's tough to stay married. My wife kisses the dog on the lips, yet she won't drink from my glass." (Rodney Dangerfield) Coordinating Conjunctions include: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, & So. “THINK FANBOYS!”

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Comma Confusion

What is a serial comma? It is not a comma who goes around punctuating every innocent sentence fragment. Joking aside, everyone knows that we need to use a comma when listing items of three or more. The question is where do the commas go? Example: I love apples, oranges, and peaches. The comma after oranges and before peaches is called a serial comma. But why can't we just write: I love apples, oranges and peaches. Do we need the serial comma??? To relieve our frustrations I linked a helpful website to this blog, which explains style guides that support mandatory use of the serial comma, as well as style guides that oppose mandatory use of the serial comma. I hope this helps. P.S. Yes, APA/MLA/Chicago all support the serial comma.

Being the Instructor... If Only For a Moment

I just had two presentations discussing APA style back to back for a Rhetoric 160 course. There is something so liberating and rewarding about sharing information to people who, for one reason or another, listen. I want to encourage all the staff to take advantage of presenting APA materials to rhetoric classes for a variety of reasons. Reason #1 If you are going to be a teacher, you should get all the practice you can. Reason #2 Being shy is not a good excuse for not getting in front of a small class. All consultants have a working knowledge of APA and reviewing the material on the PowerPoint will make it easy to discuss with a class. In fact, if you are shy you should find ways to safely move out of your shell and what better way than to present to a class who wants to listen (because they want a good grade)! Reason #3 Eventually someone (probably you) will have to take my position as APA guru and I need an apprentice. I want to continue spreading the word about how easy and great APA is and I need your help! Reason #___ Insert your own reason in the comments section. I agree with Aaron, we need to breathe some life into this blog! Cheers, Genevieve

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Writing That You Love!

Howdy Folks,

I've been reading/watching great writing/screenwriting this semester and I would like to get some insight on what everyone else is reading/watching. Because this is so broad, I'm dividing this post into a multiple sections. Sharing is caring! Click on the links for further fun!

Enjoy!

First - SHORT STORIES -

Everyone is aware about the wealth of short story material that Ernest Hemingway has provided to the English language. Since we've been informed about this consensus and somewhat trust it to be true, some of us feel like there is little value in experiencing his short stories for ourselves. I was one of these skeptics. Of putting Hemingway in a box, I was the chief of sinners. But forgive me, Ernie, I didn't know. Recently, I completed In Our Time. This collection of stories is nothing short of genius. Sure his minimalism and ventures in modernism may cause wrinkles on the frontal lobe, but after you've carefully personally experienced Hemingway you will realize that there is something super special to his literature. His work is of the highest quality. Now, I wasn't completely chaste from Hemingway's short stories, I've read some. But rereading the few familiar passages brought a new level of appreciation. "Hills Like White Elephants" is regarded as one of the greatest short stories of all time and the more you read it the more you love it. I strongly recommend Hemingway's In Our Time collection.

COMING SOON!

Second - FILM -

- Citizen Kane (Welles 1941)

Third - NOVEL -TBD

Fourth - POETRY -

T.S. Eliot's Collection- The Wasteland

5 Poems/Parts.

William Blake's "London"

PLEASE LET'S GET THIS BLOG ACTIVE!

LET'S ALL PARTICIPATE! ADD MORE SECTIONS IF YOU WANT!

THE MORE THE MERRIER!

Thanks :)

Aaron