Tips from a junior: Using the Writing Center
The Writing Center is one of my favorite free resources on campus. I have been there numerous times for help on assignments ranging from a personal narrative essay to a sociology paper. Each time I leave the Writing Center, I come out more knowledgeable on my own writing capabilities, and each time I go back, I come out with fewer things that I need to edit. The Writing Center has helped me become a stronger writer without me even realizing it!
Never heard of the Writing Center? Well lucky for you, this is a crash course on everything you need to know and more!
How the Writing Center can help you
When you are there, you are able to discuss specific concerns that you may have with your assignments or you can have the writing assistant do an all-around look over of your assignment - your choice! Here are some of the benefits of visiting the Writing Center:
- Save time by learning more effective writing techniques
- Eliminate writer’s block and procrastination
- Improve your argumentative impact, organization, and clarity
- Strengthen your revision and self-editing skills
- Learn proper citation to avoid unintentional plagiarism
Where to go
The main Writing Center location is located in Norlin library room E-111. Norlin Writing Center sessions must be reserved by appointment. It is recommended that you make your reservations at least five days in advance. Appointments can be made in person or online. Once you've registered with the scheduling site, you can log on to view and make appointments.
There are also Writers Lounge drop-in hours in several different locations on campus ranging from Williams Village, to the Visual Art Complex. If you are unable to make an appointment in the main Writing Center, drop-in hours can be very useful if you need assistance with a writing assignment. You do not need to make an appointment, you can just walk into either of these locations. Click here to check out the Writers Lounge schedule.
Why should you go
Nobody is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes in their writing and has tiny grammatical errors from time to time. You may even find yourself having writer’s block. However, you can attend the Writing Center during anytime in your writing process, even if you don’t know how to start or where to begin with your assignment. The Writing Center is an outlet where we can go to touch up our flaws and make our writing assignments the best that they could possibly be! In fact, the Writing Center provides you with the opportunity to work one-on-one with professionally trained writing consultants.
Going into the Writing Center may seem intimidating. However, it is perfectly okay to ask for help - Writing Center assistants want to help you! They are very passionate about helping you and devote a lot of time and effort into carefully looking over your assignments, so that you can achieve maximum success!
I wish you the best of luck with your writing!