Celebrating our history - Harrisburg Academy

Consider the audience when writing, speaker advises
By AnnElizabeth Konkel ’10
Dr. Kim van Alkemade infused the Monday
morning mood in Dr. March’s IB/AP
English classes by talking with 10th graders
about the gradations of writing.
As professor of rhetoric, composition,
technical, and creative writing at Shippensburg
University, Dr. van Alkemade
is knowledgeable about multiple levels of
writing. She began by detailing the differences
in professional, formal, and casual
writing. The students’ first assignment was
to write a text message or an email to a
peer about an assignment. For the second
assignment, students had to write to their
advisors about the same experience.
The important part of this exercise was
to consider the audience. The purpose of
good writing is to solve a problem; reflect
the organization’s standards; is, on occasion,
collaborative; and conveys information
The well-read mind appreciates Homer; however, to many, reading
The Odyssey is a daunting task. Fortunately, my classmates and I had
the privilege of learning from an expert. Dr. March arranged for a guest
speaker – trustee and former Academy teacher Helen McVey Colvin
’60 – to further educate us on the complexities of The Odyssey.
A graduate of Vassar, Mrs. Colvin brought fresh ideas and a sense
of humor to each class. She began her lecture with a depiction of
what appeared to be a boat. Horrified and amused at her lack
of artistic ability, she laughed and told us, “This is why I don’t
sub for Mr. Bowie.” The drawing was immediately followed by a
series of seemingly bizarre questions: “Has anyone read Zen and
the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?” “Has anyone been in fog?”
“Has anyone seen Star Wars?”
At that point the mood shifted in the classroom. We were
intrigued and eager to see what Mrs. Colvin would do next.
Her unique drawing style could only be surpassed by her vivid
descriptions of Odysseus’s adventures within The Odyssey.
Homer’s epic story came alive, and Mrs. Colvin successfully
captivated our interest. The lecture exceeded our expectations and
went well beyond the parameters of The Odyssey, spilling into all
with a different—often more appropriate
to the recipient—tone.
“The note to the sponsor is a lot more
filled-out and sounds a lot nicer,” Davone
Colbert ’11 noted. Students looked at
both emails to advisees and a formal letter
accompanying a request for consideration for
publication. Professional writing is not about
using “fancy language”; rather, it is about
providing what the reader needs and wants
to know, Dr. van Alkemade told the class.
In the junior classes, the emphasis was
on creativity and publishing. Here, Dr. van
Alkemade detailed the finer points of how
to get something published. When a piece
is ready to be submitted, it must meet all
the required guidelines of that magazine.
Dr. van Alkemade advised sending a piece
of work to about 20 publications at once
to increase the likelihood of publication.
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Academy News
She also suggested reading the magazines
beforehand.
Dr. van Alkemade also talked about
creativity and how to develop an idea for
a piece. She asked the students to think of
a special meal they have had – to think of
the tastes and the occasion for the meal.
She then asked students to write about
this meal in any form: poetry, essay, etc.
The original idea of a meal blossomed into
pieces that included the history of rice
and the beauty of the Italian countryside.
Students surprised themselves with their
writing from this powerful prompt. We
thank Dr. van Alkemade for sharing her
extensive knowledge, experience, and wit
with Academy students.
Odyssey comes alive when related to other aspects of life
By Jasmine Rae Moss ’11
aspects of life as they related back to the epic struggles of Odysseus.
Her final thoughts were clear and defined. Within The Odyssey
there lies an even greater message. Be aware of other cultures, keep
your integrity, and stay loyal to your truths. Her intelligence, open
mind, and creativity are an asset to the learning community. Thank
you, Mrs. Colvin, for sharing with us.