Brace yourselves, assignments are coming. September is over, which means it’s the season of writing.
So, if you are struggling with a project, regardless of the stage in your academic career, your area of study, or your familiarity with the English language, Writing Services can help you. This learning system provides a variety of “programs in the library that address different student needs,” asserts Kim Garwood, manager of Writing Services in McLaughlin Library.
Located on the first floor of the library, in the Learning Commons Area (next to the IT Help Desk), you will find consultants that are extensively trained in grammar, composition, and rhetoric. Upon entering the waiting area, you can sign up for a same-day appointment with either a writing peer helper or graduate student writing assistant (GSWA). These friendly volunteers are upper year undergraduates that are qualified to consult first-year students in 50-minute appointments, while GSWAs advise students at any level and in any field, for 25-minutes. Here are a couple of things you should know, so you’re prepared for a proper session. On the day of your appointment, bring a hard-copy of the assignment and the assignment outline. This allows a helper to easily review the documents with you.
Looking at the outline and your paper, the adviser can help you see whether you’ve addressed the requirements of the assignment. Before your appointment, try to note some confusing parts of the rubric and areas in your writing that you are not confident with; consultants can better tailor the appointment to you when they know what you want to accomplish.
Also, keep in mind that this is not an editing service. These peer helpers are not responsible for combing through your entire essay and correcting every misused word or comma splice. Your adviser will explain how to modify a few recurring errors, so you feel capable of identifying them and revising the rest on your own. You can also refer to the extensive series of FastFacts displayed outside Writing Services that empower students to help themselves in a variety of subjects, such as punctuation or citation style.
The focus is on issues of form not content. A consultant will concentrate on how the essay is structured; they examine whether the format adheres to the standards of your discipline, if the writing states your message clearly, and whether your paragraphs are well connected with transitions and topic sentences.
If you are still uneasy about your writing or you want to improve your skills, consider attending one of the many interactive workshops offered by Writing Services. Check out their website that lists many different clinics including: graduate dissertation boot camps, faculty writing retreats, English-as-an-Additional Language sessions, grammar and style tune-ups, and presentation strategy seminars. Make sure to check out Essay Madness, an event this November where undergrads can enjoy free food and advice from peers.
A former client of the program commented that Writing Services is “so important for us EAL students, to have someone so professional, kind and expert to help us improve our written skills… [The adviser] enhanced my confidence to write in English.” After an appointment, another student remarked, “I am better able to organize my thoughts and express myself.”
Even if you haven’t started your project, don’t hesitate to go in and brainstorm. These welcoming students and staff are the ideal resource for discussion, especially if you have difficulty translating your thoughts onto the page. From the beginning stages of developing an idea, to the final stages of review, you will not regret getting a second opinion on how to enhance your writing from an experienced and encouraging consultant.