Student writing in new English textbook

There’s a new text in town, and its name is “Backspace.” Starting in the Fall 2010 semester, “Backspace,” a magazine, will be appearing in Viterbo University’s bookstore as a text for students in English 103.

“[Backspace] will be made up entirely of essays from English 103 students,” Associate Professor of English William Stobb, the publication’s adviser, told Lumen. 

“I got the inspiration for it from a similar publication I saw back at the University of South Dakota,” Stobb said.  The goal of “Backspace” is to provide English 103 students with examples of the kinds of essays they may write in the course.

“When the student editors and I were trying to select a group of essays, we knew we were looking for essays that were high quality, diverse in subject and tone, and that could cover the scope of English 103,” Stobb said. “There’s everything from research papers to creative nonfiction pieces. We didn’t want the collection to become monotonous, with the same kinds of essays over and over. We wanted to show the unique kinds of vision students can bring, even in English 103, which is considered to be a beginner’s course.”

“Backspace” received its name from a contest held last year that was judged by the English department, with a $40 gift certificate to Big Al’s Pizza as the prize. The winning entry of “Backspace” was submitted by Kelly Netwal, an adjunct instructor of English.

“I remember a couple of finalists that I liked. One was The Thinker. And then there was another one that I thought would remind students of Viterbo’s Franciscan values, The Illuminator. The name emphasizes the act of revision, of thinking and rethinking your work, and it’s a snappy name, too,” Stobb said.

The essays aren’t the only student contribution to “Backspace,” however. The magazine will be edited by Viterbo students.

“It’s an opportunity for upper-division students to get a chance to work with ‘Backspace,’” Stobb said. The jobs of these student editors include facilitating the decisions about what goes into the issues, as well as correcting errors that the original writers may have missed when they handed in the essays.

Stobb recently announced which essays would be included in the first issue of Backspace: "The Big Hunt," by Kendra Bundy, "Lights, Camera... Oh Crap," by Ashley Von Arx, "Linguistic Relativity," by Graham Donohoe, "The Big Move," by Mandy Elliot, "Be My Real World Friend," by Joycelyn Fish, "Environmental Optimism," by Jason Lewis and "Tiparillo Cigar Ad," by Matt Long. The essays are now being edited and the manuscript is being compiled. During finals week, the completed magazine will be sent to the printer.