Featured Student Writer: Asaad Al-Saleh

Featured Student Writer: Jonathon Modica

Interview and Transcription by QWC Tutor Bailey McBride

Originally from Smackover, AR, Jonathon Modica has been active across the University of Arkansas campus, from playing on the Razorback basketball team to working as a graduate assistant in the Multi-Cultural Center with the Silas Hunt Scholars. He did his undergraduate work in broadcast journalism and earned his master’s degree in advertising and public relations. He is currently working on a doctorate in higher education and plans to complete the program in the fall of 2011. Jonathon’s goal is to work as a student affairs administrator at an institution of higher education.

BEM: You went to the U of A as an undergrad and are back for graduate work. How does your undergrad experience compare to your graduate experience? What have you learned?

JM: Well, I have definitely developed better study skills as I have done my graduate work. I think the biggest difference between being an undergrad and a graduate student is that the graduate work definitely requires more focus and time.

BEM: This is your first semester using the QWC. How did you hear about us? What made you decide to want to use the QWC?

JM: I have heard about the QWC ever since I’ve been here, but I started to utilize it when I became a graduate student because graduate writing is expected to be so much better than undergrad writing. The QWC has definitely helped me with that.

BEM: What types of documents are you working on this semester?

JM: Well, I’m currently working on two research papers for my classes. Mostly I do chapter abstracts and synthesis papers, though.

BEM: What is your writing process for those documents? What challenges do you face?

JM: I start by putting all my thoughts on paper first and just don’t worry about grammar or organization at first, really. Then I go back multiple times to really try to make the corrections and make sure there’s organization and flow in the paper, and I correct any mistakes I might have made.

I think the biggest challenge for me, especially as a grad student, is researching for writing I do on literature and trying to understand complicated content so I can put it into my own words and truly understand it when I write about it.

BEM: How did the QWC help you as you worked through the writing process?

JM: The QWC definitely helped me with a lot of grammar issues— I would say ultimately that’s what has been the most helpful to me as a writer.

BEM: What are your goals in becoming a good writer? Do you feel as though you are improving?

JM: I do feel as though I’m improving, and I feel that’s a true testament to the QWC. I look forward to becoming a more technical writer, writing reports and things like that.

BEM: What advice do you have for undergrad and graduate students who want to become better writers?

JM: Definitely visit the QWC because that has helped me so much. Write so that your ideas come across clearly and show that you know the material.

If you would like to read interviews from the QWC's previous featured student writers click here.

Featured Student Writer: Jonathon Modica

Interview and Transcription by QWC Tutor Bailey McBride
Originally from Smackover, AR, Jonathon Modica has been active across the University of Arkansas campus, from playing on the Razorback basketball team to working as a graduate assistant in the Multi-Cultural Center with the Silas Hunt Scholars. He did his undergraduate work in broadcast journalism and earned his master’s degree in advertising and public relations. He is currently working on a doctorate in higher education and plans to complete the program in the fall of 2011. Jonathon’s goal is to work as a student affairs administrator at an institution of higher education. BEM: You went to the U of A as an undergrad and are back for graduate work. How does your undergrad experience compare to your graduate experience? What have you learned? JM: Well, I have definitely developed better study skills as I have done my graduate work. I think the biggest difference between being an undergrad and a graduate student is that the graduate work definitely requires more focus and time. BEM: This is your first semester using the QWC. How did you hear about us? What made you decide to want to use the QWC? JM: I have heard about the QWC ever since I’ve been here, but I started to utilize it when I became a graduate student because graduate writing is expected to be so much better than undergrad writing. The QWC has definitely helped me with that. BEM: What types of documents are you working on this semester? JM: Well, I’m currently working on two research papers for my classes. Mostly I do chapter abstracts and synthesis papers, though. BEM: What is your writing process for those documents? What challenges do you face? JM: I start by putting all my thoughts on paper first and just don’t worry about grammar or organization at first, really. Then I go back multiple times to really try to make the corrections and make sure there’s organization and flow in the paper, and I correct any mistakes I might have made. I think the biggest challenge for me, especially as a grad student, is researching for writing I do on literature and trying to understand complicated content so I can put it into my own words and truly understand it when I write about it. BEM: How did the QWC help you as you worked through the writing process? JM: The QWC definitely helped me with a lot of grammar issues— I would say ultimately that’s what has been the most helpful to me as a writer. BEM: What are your goals in becoming a good writer? Do you feel as though you are improving? JM: I do feel as though I’m improving, and I feel that’s a true testament to the QWC. I look forward to becoming a more technical writer, writing reports and things like that. BEM: What advice do you have for undergrad and graduate students who want to become better writers? JM: Definitely visit the QWC because that has helped me so much. Write so that your ideas come across clearly and show that you know the material.