Tell the National Conversation on Writing (NCoW) how your institution is celebrating

NCTE’s National Day on Writing!

NCTE’s National Day on Writing, October 20, 2009, will celebrate writing, demonstrating how central
all forms of composing are to our lives, our work, and who we are. This moment will mark a place in
history supported by the House of Representatives resolution 524 on the National Day on Writing, and
praising the fact that writing is integral in 21st century life.

WPA’s Network for Media Action has been advocating for the importance of literacy and literacy
education many years. Now, through its National Conversation on Writing, we can go public with the
various celebrations and events that you may be planning to mark this historic event.

Why celebrate? Because celebration is an act of advocacy that counters the message that “Johnny can’t
write.” To celebrate counters the negative messages about writing that are out there with the message that
writing—and writing instruction—is alive, well, and worth supporting. To celebrate
• focuses us on what we value and what is positive.
• is a critical action that focuses on what has been accomplished and what is possible.
• marks an important moment.

In short, celebrating writing shows our conviction about the power of writing and positively spotlights the
work of everyday writers and literacy educators across the nation.

The National Conversation on Writing supports—and can help you support—this moment of celebration.
We invite you to tell us about the ways that your institution is marking this occasion—so that we can share
those ideas with others who might also join in.

Ready to Celebrate Writing? Here’s what you can do!

• If you have a celebration planned, let NCoW know about it. We’ll share your ideas with others
so that they can plan their own celebrations.
• If you hold a celebration, document it with pictures, video, stories, audio interviews, etc. and
submit those artifacts to the National Conversation on Writing.
• Encourage writers on your campus (and remember, EVERYONE is a writer) to submit their
writing to the National Gallery of Writing at http://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting. The Council of
Writing Program Administrators has its own gallery on the site to which you can contribute, and/or
you and individual writers can submit on your own.
 • Join the National Conversation on Writing at www.ncow.org,. Document your ideas. Share
your assignments. Click “Contribute” for more information on how we can help spotlight your
work at the national level and get more people talking about writing.

Do you Feel Like Celebrating (Writing?)

Electronic Resources for Celebrating Writing:

1. Visit NCTE’s National Day on Writing Site at http://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting,

where you will find:
• Full information on how you can support and make use of this national spotlight on writing on your own
campus and in your own community.
• The proposed U. S. House of Representatives resolution supporting a National Day on Writing:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.RES.524:
• How to contribute to the National Gallery of Writing: http://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting/gallery

2. Visit the National Conversation on Writing site at www.ncow.org, where you will
find, among a wealth of other resources
• A video introduction to the National Conversation on Writing:
http://ncow.org/browse/video/calling_teachers.html
• A discussion of the impact of media depictions of literacy crises, and a response to it, through a multi-
media presentation on the “Why Johnny Can’t Write” effect: http://ncow.org/features/feature_1_09.htm
• Ways to contribute your efforts to the National Conversation—and ways we can help publicize those
efforts: http://ncow.org/site/contribute/index.htm
• An archive of local efforts to change the national conversation on writing and how we can help to
spotlight your work on a national level: http://ncow.org/site/spotlight/index.htm

3. Visit the Network for Media Action site at http://www.wpacouncil.org/nma, where

you find a wealth of communications resources to help you get your message out,
including:
• Tips on how to frame messages for the media through the WPA’s Network for Media Action:
http://www.wpacouncil.org/nma
• NMA Campaigns and Message Frames that can help lend national support to your local advocacy efforts
at http://www.wpacouncil.org/node/138
• Tips on contacting and speaking with members of the media, sample press releases and press release
templates, and other resources that you can use to publicize your local efforts:
http://www.wpacouncil.org/node/499
• Ways to join the Network for Media Action: http://www.wpacouncil.org/nmaroles
• Links to other advocacy sites that can help guide your efforts.

4. For more information, support, or to suggest ways to further develop our efforts,
contact any of the following:
Shannon Carter, Texas A & M, Commerce (NCoW Co-Chair/Archivist): Shannon_Carter@tamu-
commerce.edu
Dominic DelliCarpini, York College of Pennsylvania (NCoW Co-Chair): dcarpini@ycp.edu
Stephanie Roach, University of Michigan, Flint (NCoW Co-Chair): smroach@umflint.edu
Darsie Bowden (Network for Media Action Chair), DePaul University: dbowden@depaul.edu
Glenn Blalock, Our Lady of the Lake College and CompPile (NCoW Webweaver):
glennblalock.phd@gmail.com