- Tutorial help with planning, writing, revising, and editing papers for any course (but not proofreading or correcting papers for students).
- Help with reading and understanding assignments (as time allows) and writing essay exams.
- Help with research strategies and writing research papers.
- Brush-up review of grammar, mechanics, and spelling.
- Workshops and small group sessions on special composition problems.
- Consultations on writing letters of application, resumes, and personal essays.
- Phone-in service (hotline) for help with minor problems [(574) 520-4495].
- Library of composition resources and research materials on writing for use in the Writing Center, including the most recent editions of the APA, ACS,
MLA, and CBE style books. Other print materials may be borrowed, and handouts on many subjects are available.
- Online computers with access to all campus-owned programs for writing and research. A laser printer and a copy machine are available.
- Software for invention, composing, revising, and editing for most academic and professional writing.
- Space accommodation for small classes.
- Orientation sessions for all W031 and
ESL classes.
- Some ESL vocabulary, sentence structure, and grammar software.
Additional Services
W031 orientation sessions: During the first two weeks of school all W031 and
ESL classes visit the
center for 20 minutes at either the beginning of the class or
at the end. Other classes are invited to visit if they wish.
Bookmarks: Around the time the center officially opens each semester, students in
English classes receive bookmarks listing
open hours, services, and the
center's phone number. Bookmarks are also available in the Schurz Library,
computer laboratories, and student lounges.
Composing software: Writing Coach, a very user-friendly writing program, is available on all the center computers. This software provides 62 on-screen
worksheets and outline templates that "coach" students through the steps and stages of writing by breaking them down into bite-sized pieces--from identifying
the reader's needs and interests, to brainstorming and discovering ideas, to composing and revising. It also provides warm-up exercises for overcoming writer's
block and developing creative thinking skills--and has worksheets for a variety of work, school, and personal writing (including one for a love letter!).
Video equipment: A video player and a small collection of writing-related videos, including
"Student Writing Groups: Demonstrating the Process," which
models a reader-response session, is available for individual or class use. Feel free to stop by and preview a video or schedule a class in the
center to watch.
Meetings with faculty: Because many of the Writing Center clients are enrolled in
English classes, the
center tutors are eager to meet with composition faculty to
talk about course goals, expectations, and problems. Several meetings will be scheduled during the semester to initiate an ongoing discussion.
Workshops: About the middle of the semester, Writing Center tutors will offer
workshops on a variety of very limited topics--anything from sentence fragments
to APA documentation to writing essay exams. Faculty may want to consider using them to allow students to atone for excessive absences (or cover their own
absence), and students will find them highly informative. The range and quality of the
workshops have been excellent in the past. Please take advantage of them.
Questions
If you have any questions, please
contact the Writing Center.
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