Basic Writing Center Information
What is the Writing
Center?
The Writing Center is a free service provided to
all CSU students who are invited to work on their writing assignments
with trained and knowledgeable Peer Writing Consultants in a relaxed and
comfortable setting.
Who can
use the Writing Center?
Any CSU student can use the Writing Center –
whether you are a beginning freshman writer, an advanced undergraduate,
or a graduate student. CSU Peer Writing Consultants have worked with
writers of all levels and abilities and from most disciplines.
What are the
Writing Center’s hours and location?
The Writing Center is located on main campus, in
Woodall Hall (near the clock tower) room 116.
During the 2007 Summer semester the
Writing Center is open:
Monday – Thursday
10:00 – 2:00
During the 2007 Fall semester the
Writing Center is open:
Monday –
Thursday
10:00 –
6:00
Friday
10:00 – 2:00
How can I contact the Writing Center?
Phone: 706-568-2483
E-mail:
writing_center@colstate.edu
Dr. Noreen
Lape
Writing
Center Director
Phone: 706-565-4135
E-mail:
lape_noreen@colstate.edu
Consultation/Consultant Information
Do I
have to make an appointment or can I just walk-in?
For information on appointments and walk-ins, go to
our
appointment page.
What is a Peer Writing Consultant and how can they help me?
Peer Writing Consultants are specially-selected
advanced writers who have taken English 3256, Peer Writing Consultation,
and who have on-the-job experience working with student writers.
Peer Writing Consultants will give you feedback or
assistance on all aspects of the writing process, including, but not
limited to:
- understanding the professor’s assignment
instructions
- generating ideas when you don’t know how to
start
- reviewing your draft and determine where
evidence is lacking
- organizing and structure your ideas
- finding your thesis and maintain your focus
- documenting sources correctly to avoid
plagiarism
- correcting your grammatical, usage, and
punctuation errors
- deciphering those tricky manuals – MLA, APA,
and Turabian
- helping to build your confidence in yourself
as a writer
What happens during a consultation?
In a typical 30 minute consultation your Consultant
will ask you to check-in to Accutrack; then you will sit down with your
Consultant and describe your assignment and what you would like to work
on during the session. You and your consultant will work on those
aspects and perhaps others. Before ending the session, you will discuss
how you will proceed with your assignment. Finally, you will check-out
on Accutrack (and hopefully make a follow-up appointment).
The Writing Center is designed as a resource for
students to help you improve your writing, not as a drop off or
proofreading service.
What should I bring to a consultation?
Bring your assignment (an actual copy is best). You
can also bring notes you have made, references you are using, and
anything else relating to the assignment. However, you need not bring
any writing at all. Consultants can help you generate ideas and help you
begin the writing process.
Can I work
with the same Consultant every time?
Yes, generally you can work with the same
Consultant consistently, as long as you request that person and s/he is
working and not already scheduled with another writer. On the white
board where you write your name for an appointment, there is usually a
work schedule of the Center’s tutors. To request a tutor, simply write
his or her name after your own on the appointment board.
What if I can’t make it to the Writing Center during its open hours?
For people in this situation, an
on-line consultation may be a very good alternative. Please allow
for at least a 48-hour turnaround. (If you submit a paper online on
Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., you may not get it back until Thursday.)
Is the computer lab in the Writing Center open to all students?
We typically reserve the computers in the lab for
consultations, but you can sign-in to use a computer if the lab is not
too busy. Any consultant can help you sign in with Accutrack on the
computer.
Where can I find on-line information and help for my writing?
Please visit our
Resources for Writers
webpage to get writing strategies, printable handouts, access to
a dictionary, and many other great writing resources.
How can
I become a Consultant?
If you are interested in working in the Writing
Center, please go to our
Become a Consultant page.
Information for Faculty
How can a Consultant help my students?
Peer Writing Consultants will give your students
feedback or assistance on all aspects of the writing process, including,
but not limited to:
- understanding your assignment instructions
- generating ideas when the student doesn’t know
how to start
- reviewing a draft and determine where evidence
is lacking
- organizing and structuring students’ ideas
- finding the paper’s thesis and maintaining its
focus
- documenting sources correctly to avoid
plagiarism
- correcting a paper’s grammatical, usage, and
punctuation errors
- deciphering those tricky manuals – MLA, APA,
and Turabian
- helping to build students’ confidence in
themselves as writers
Can a Consultant to come to my classroom to inform my students about the
Writing Center?
Yes, we will gladly send a Writing Center
representative to your classroom to explain the purposes, policies, and
benefits of the Writing Center. Contact Dr. Noreen Lape to schedule a
Consultant visit.
Should I require my students to visit the Writing Center?
We prefer that instructors do not assign mandatory
consultations. Students who are forced to come to the Writing Center are
sometimes reluctant or resistant to tutoring. However, we hope that
instructors will encourage their students to view the Center as a great
resource and to try it out.
What is the Writing Fellows Program?
Writing Fellows are students who are either
currently training or have already trained to work as a Writing Center
tutor. These students are recognized as strong writers and had to be
recommended by a faculty member to take the Writing Center tutor
training class, English 3256: Peer Writing Consultation. Writing Fellows
can come into your classroom and assist students with their writing both
one-on-one and in groups. For more information please see our
Writing Fellows page.
Page compiled
by Julie Milner |
