Writing Specialist
Liverpool Hope University
(Fixed term contract until Aug 2010 for duration of CETL funding only)

My role in the Write Now Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is to support the Liverpool Hope University’s academic community in both their teaching and research responsibilities and to provide development opportunities in these areas. Particularly, I provide advice and guidance on the types of curricular intervention that support the development of student writing. I am also engaged in developing needs-responsive, innovative, evidence-based provision that improves student understanding of, and engagement with, writing and assessment.

My research interests include explorations of the ways in which the development of critical reading skills impacts on and enhances thinking and writing competencies. I am also particularly interested in the matrix of dyslexia, writing and student confidence and ways in which traditional learning barriers can be both deconstructed and reconstructed to empower students and transform their learning experiences.

Publications

Conference papers

• Smeets, W., Powell, S.S., Westrup R. & Brasington J, (2010) Devising writing support strategies: A faculty based model, Presentation at: 14th International Writing in the Disciplines in Higher Education (WDHE) conference: The Royal College of Physicians, UK, 28 – 30 June 2010
   
• Smeets, W. & Powell, S.S (forthcoming Sept 2010), How to measure the impact of writing support? Presentation at: 5th International Inquiring Pedagogies Conference (iPED): "Conceptualising Impact: Exploring the effectiveness of practice through pedagogic research", Coventry University, UK, 15 - 16 September 2010

Journals

• Powell S. S. (2009) Clinical writing: what is best practice? British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 3 (6), 507- 511.
   
• Powell S. S. (2009) Study Skills: exam success, British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 3 (4), 332-336.
   
• Powell S. S. (2009) Successful academic writing: developing the right style, British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 2 (12), 507- 511.
   
• Powell S. S. (2009) Responding to writing: case scenarios, British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 5 (12).
   
• Powell S. S. (2008) Writing assignments: reading and critical thinking skills, British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 2 (10), 503-505.
   
• Powell S. S. (2008) Writing assignments: effective research skills. British Journal of Healthcare Assistants,2 (8), 407-410.
   
• Powell S. S. (2008) Writing assignments: how to deconstruct an essay title. British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 2 (7), 343-356.

Work in Preparation

• Powell S. S. (2011 forthcoming) Study Skills for Heath Care Students. Quay Books.