An interdisciplinary panel of faculty members judged the contest submissions based on source selection and variety and how well the student developed a viewpoint or argument based on those sources. Panel members also considered style, voice, fluidity, and the writer’s ability to engage the reader throughout the piece, said Director of Writing Programs Dawn Abt-Perkins.

Abt-Perkins called Waszak’s paper “fresh” and “provocative.” Written for her Introduction to Women’s/Gender Studies course, taught by Senior Lecturer in English Tracy McCabe, Waszak examines the role of rape humor among comedians in creating social and cultural conditions for what is right and what is wrong.

Waszak said she came up with the idea for the paper after watching a news report about the topic. She also volunteers for social groups dedicated to helping victims of sexual assault. For example, she has been a member of the student organization Students for Women’s Awareness Network (SWAN) since her first year, and she also is involved with the Zachariah Sexual Abuse Center in Gurnee, Illinois and the College’s Health and Wellness Center.

Waszak’s paper along with past winners of the All-College Writing Contest and First-Year Writing Contest can be viewed in the new Lake Forest Papers online journal. Visitors also will find authors’ notes and photos.

The College recently invested in the repository service from a company called Digital Commons, which among other benefits will make students’ work more searchable online. Additionally, it tracks the number of hits each paper gets, so the College can gain a better sense of circulation. Previously, the journal was published as a book.

Lauding the Lake Forest College faculty’s investment in producing high quality writers, Abt-Perkins says Digital Commons will provide the College one more way to showcase its good work.

News Contact

Kellie Doyle
doyle@lakeforest.edu
847-735-6177

Related Links:

• Visit Lake Forest Papers online