The Patriot

Issue date: 1/8/08 Section: News

Media Credit: John Sweeney Dr. Jennifer Kunka, associate professor of English and director of the Writing Center, works with a student in her office.

Kunka [Click to enlarge]

One of our own English professors is prominently listed as a contributor in the newest edition of a popular reference guide.

Dr. Jennifer Kunka, associate professor of English and director of the Writing Center, contributed to the seventh edition of "Prentice Hall Reference Guide" by Muriel Harris of Purdue University.

The reference guide is similar to the "Everyday Writer," used primarily in English composition classes at Francis Marion.

"Having worked with Dr. Harris at Purdue, I welcomed the possibility of collaborating on this project," Kunka said in a press release.

Kunka went through a 10-month audition process and later spent 13 months contributing to the guide.

The guide makes references to several FMU students and teachers, includes student essays and references Kunka's husband, also an English professor at Francis Marion.

In the guide, Kunka analyzes student essays by breaking them down and using her knowledge of common mistakes and problems to provide tips throughout the book.

Kunka also contributed material about visual rhetoric, multimedia presentations, portfolios and writing for the Web.

"Prentice Hall Reference Guide" uses visuals, and questions and answers, to make the guide easy to understand, English Professor Jon Tuttle said.

"There is a clarity to it that a lot of books are lacking," Tuttle said.

Kunka hopes the guide will "help students become the most effective writers they can be."

The seventh edition of "Prentice Hall Reference Guide," which was released in November, is expected to be used in schools and programs across the country.

Kunka hopes the book will be helpful to students nationwide and shine some light on FMU.

"This project presented a unique opportunity for me to bring a tremendous amount of attention to Francis Marion University," Kunka said in a press release.

Tuttle said the book will benefit the university.

"It will raise our reputation," he said. "Jennifer is making us all look good."
Tuttle and other colleagues found out about Kunka's contribution to the book on their own.

"Somebody had to tell me because Jennifer didn't tell me," Tuttle said. "Kunka is very humble."

Kunka, whose time is split between teaching and working in the Writing Center, thought of her students' papers when writing parts of the guide and what would make the book easier for a non-English major to use.

Kunka and the English department look forward to possibly using the guide in classes in the near future.

"Our whole department is considering using it," Tuttle said. "She designed the book towards schools like us."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools