By Alex Philippsen
The Student Writing Journal is an online publication that showcases work from students interested in the communications, arts, and humanities.
Megan Trexler is one of the professors who serve on the Editorial Board of the Student Writing Journal. She helped found this journal to give aspiring writers the opportunity to publicize their work for other students.
Recently, Trexler discussed this journal and its importance in more detail.
How long have you been a professor at DCCC?
I’m in my fourth year. I taught a couple of years part-time and then full-time. I’m teaching English and I teach reading as well.
Tell me more about the Student Writing Journal.
It’s entirely online and it’s a peer reviewed journal. It originally started for English 100 and English 112, then expanded to include all English courses, as well as any communication, arts, and hummanities courses.
Why did you help begin the Student Writing Journal?
I wanted to give students additional time than what they could do in the classroom. It allows them to extend their work when they’re writing.
What is the focus and/or goal for the Student Writing Journal?
For us, to be able to work with students. We wanted to showcase student work. Put students in connection with each other and be able to peer-review prior to publication. I also wanted to increase the readership.
What kind of work do you publish?
Our focus is on academic writing, which can take many forms. We welcome argumentative essays, persuasive text, research-based writing, critical analysis, and so on. We are hoping to include multimodal texts too, like videos. The text we receive might have a creative element, but we don’t accept fictional writing, poetry or drama.
How many students have submitted thus far?
It varies from year to year, but we had 18 texts last year. We’ve already had 19 texts submitted for Volume 4. The journal is growing but is a little complex in its process.
It originally started with six faculty members for editing, until it became student-to-student based. Now, it’s a mix of both with five student reviewers. They’ve done an excellent job [providing] thoughtful feedback.
What are some of the best works you’ve received from students?
There’s so much variety in the type of essay. We have students who are writing about critical thinking and current issues. The first three volumes are online…and the fourth volume isn’t due until March.
Why should students participate in this journal?
It’s a great experience. It can be challenging for students to sustain their work for one text. [This] can help reach their full potential, can help for students who look to transfer…graduate students too. Learning to take feedback and apply that into their writing is very important as well.
How can students receive more information about the journal?
They can go on our website…on the Campus Life Section, under Student Clubs and Activities, and under Student Publications. Then type in “Student Writing Journal” otherwise. We have flyers located in the Communication Arts and Humanities Office. They’ve been informed by classmates…[I’m] happy about students telling about it.
Is there anything else you wish to add?
I’d like to see it expand over time outside of humanities…but it takes time for that to happen.
Contact Alex Philippsen at communitarian@mail.dccc.edu
