“I will always place the mission first.”
United States Army, Warrior Ethos
At its core, a writing center’s mission is to help students become more effective critical thinkers, writers, and communicators. Writing centers arm students with the analytical and rhetorical skills that help them navigate not only their classwork but also their professional and personal encounters in an increasingly global community, where audience awareness and strategic communication techniques are paramount.
In military colleges, this mission is no different. However, the skills must also translate to the complex, transcultural world of national defense, in the space where military might meets academic thought.
This blog explores how writing centers at military schools approach written communication, broaching conversations about the narratives, discourse communities, genres, and practices that drive our mission. Please join the conversation. Let’s work together to help our students, and each other, write and communicate more effectively.
What Writing Centers Say
“In a world where careful analysis of security challenges is sincerely needed, writing well takes on increasing importance, not only as a means of communication but as a reflection of one’s ability to think critically and analytically.”
Graduate Writing Center, Naval Postgraduate School
“The conversations that occur in the [writing center] are designed to help all writers express themselves more clearly, forcefully, and effectively.”
Mounger Writing Center, United States Military Academy
“As effective writing is the result of critical thinking to address thorny problems, the Writing Center provides a welcoming and engaging venue for the continued development of professional writing and communication skills.”
Writing Center, U.S. Naval War College
About the Author
This blog was created by Aileen Brenner Houston, the attribution lead for the Graduate Writing Center and Thesis Processing Office at the Naval Postgraduate School, where she was among the first of the school’s full-time writing coaches.
As a military spouse and editor in the intelligence community, Aileen is attuned to the challenges that military students face with writing and education. Her graduate research in rhetoric, writing, and digital media studies is focused on writing centers, academic writing, plagiarism prevention, editing, and publishing. Click below to see Aileen’s curriculum vitae.
Let’s communicate better.
The views expressed on this website are the author’s alone. They do not reflect the views of the Naval Postgraduate School.
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