Pop-up books and bumper stickers were some of the items in the UA writing showcase.
Students had the opportunity to creatively present topics about which they felt passionate at the first-year writing showcase.
More than 400 first-year writing students presented a broad range of topics Tuesday in the Student Union Memorial Center Grand Ballroom.
Mounds of popcorn were served as students had a chance to present and explore projects in an exhibit-like fashion.
The showcase focused on visual-spatial writing, which allowed students to take writing beyond a typical research paper.
“”They get an actual response from a public group unlike oftentimes they would get with their papers,”” said Christopher Minnix, the assistant director of the UA writing program.
Minnix said he thinks the writing showcase process gives students a real knowledge of how to argue and the opportunity to explore something about which they feel passionate.
Students are allowed to choose their topics and present them in the manner they see fit.
Jeff Gluck, an engineering freshman, created brochures and used body art to argue for lowering the drinking age. Gluck said he enjoyed the creative leeway the showcase allowed.
“”It’s really interesting to get everyone’s views on these controversial issues,”” Gluck said. “”Our jobs are going to involve solving these.””
Jackie Dumagpi, a physiology freshman, had a personal connection to her topic. She was inspired to do her project on creating stricter DUI laws after she had a friend die while driving drunk.
Dumagpi said doing the project was at times difficult because of her personal connection, but she found the research rewarding.
“”It’s been awesome; I got to learn more about something I’m interested in and talk about it,”” Dumagpi said. “”Personally, writing is not my favorite topic, but seeing it in this form make me more interested in it.””
Mariana Ceja, a freshman majoring in special education and rehabilitation and Spanish and Portuguese, created a children’s pop up book to teach about organic farms.
“”It took me a lot of time watching videos and websites to see how to make it,”” Ceja said.
Ceja said she enjoyed seeing what everyone else had developed and the chance to be creative.
