Today I took a group of four students to the University of South Carolina in Columbia for a workshop with Dr. Cotton, Op-Ed writer for the New York Times. We learned valued information from the source herself, a much needed trip to break the mundane and offer the kids a value added to their education in my classes. Some of the information we learned pertained to:

• Developing a tone
• Participatory voice
• Attention Economy
• Audience Building
• Storytelling development
• Large issues applied to best cases

In all fairness, I knew most of these tricks but not all. The presenter provided a systematic method of development op-Ed’s emphasizing media writing reality and tactics of writing in practical terms. Her method of writing was brilliant. I learned from her in that regard very much.

I guess this is what it’s all about! I’m a professor at a Claflin who shows students what is possible in both formal and informal settings. It’s my gift and focus. Customer service in higher education is king, in my book.

In sum, going to USC Columbia today was worthwhile.