Latest Journal Release (Vol. 4 No. 1)
The Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy at UTM is thrilled to announce the release of the fourth volume of Writing for University and Beyond: A Journal of First-Year Student Writing at UTM, featuring outstanding papers from ISP100 students in 2023-2024. This year’s issue continues to celebrate the diversity, creativity, and critical thinking of our students, whose contributions reflect the growth and innovation within the ISP100 course. With 58 sections being offered this fall and over 1,400 students engaging in this foundational writing class, the journal continues to expand alongside the course.
A major highlight of this issue is the introduction of a new section dedicated to the Theory of Writing assignment, an innovative component designed to cue learning transfer at the end of the course. These reflective essays allow students to articulate how their semester-long journey through ISP100 has shaped their writing skills, self-knowledge, and future academic pursuits. The essays in this section illustrate the various ways in which our students are applying what they’ve learned to different contexts, both inside and outside the university.
In addition to the new Theory of Writing section, the journal continues to feature longstanding categories such as Writing Stories, Discourse Community Analyses, and Genre Analyses. These sections push the boundaries of what student writing can achieve, exploring everything from the impact of linguistic diversity and ChatGPT on writing identity to professional and leisure discourse communities.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the faculty who have supported the journal and mentored our students. Special thanks go to Mark Blaauw-Hara, Jordana Garbati, Jonathan Vroom, and Sheila Batacharya for their continued guidance and dedication. A heartfelt thank you also to Talla Enaya for her behind-the-scenes work in preparing these papers for publication. Most of all, we are especially grateful to Nelesi Rodrigues for her leadership throughout every stage of the process, from mentoring student editors to supporting authors. This issue would not have been possible without her tireless efforts.
To ensure that the remarkable work of our student authors reaches a wide audience, we encourage you to share this journal within your networks. Let’s celebrate the achievements of our students and showcase the incredible writing they have produced during a time of growth and reflection.
