Welcome to guideWIRE

This collection of exercises is designed to guide the college writer through:

Writing
Inquiry
Research
Engagement

Back in the days before computers, much of our communication was transmitted over wires. Telegraph wires were a primary means of transmitting an individual’s ideas to others.  A message started with the writer and moved through various hubs, sometimes traveling varied routes, before reaching the intended audience. Sometimes a message would get lost, forcing the writer to begin again; sometimes the message would not be understood by the audience, requiring the writer to backtrack and re-work their communication.

Even though telegraphs are now only found in museums, the image of their twisting and turning wires can help writers through the process of getting a message to an audience. Stopping, restarting, backtracking, and revising are all integral parts of the academic writing process.