How to Use the Writing Center

 

Located in J-105, Hours: M – Th, 9:00 – 6:00, Friday 9:00 – 4:00

Phone: 609-652-4441

 

 

What the Writing Center can do for you:

 

§        Help you improve the overall quality of your written work

§        Help you organize your ideas

§        Help you interpret faculty comments

§        Help you identify weak areas, i.e. thesis, organization, paragraph unity, style

§        Review the rules governing standard written English as we help you strengthen your own copy editing skills

§        Average tutoring session lasts about 50 minutes

 

What the Writing Center should not do for you:

 

Tutoring vs. providing content

 

§        We may point out that your paper lacks a clear thesis, but we should not create a thesis

§        We may point out that you need more support for an argument, but we should not suggest what you should say

§        We may help interpret an assignment but not offer an interpretation of a assigned text

§        We may help you organize your ideas but not supply ideas.

 

Tutoring vs. copy editing

 

§        Tutoring is not editing; tutoring is explaining, empowering for next time.

§        Students learn more by making their own changes on their papers

§        Students learn more by doing their own keyboarding and computer work

§        Tutors should direct and explain; they should not make editing marks on a student’s paper

§        Tutors should look for patterns of error or stylistic problems and ask students to work independently to correct problems

§        As time passes, students should feel more empowered and independent as writers and editors, not more dependent on a tutor.