Writing Center Faculty Resources

Assignments

During the course of the semester, the Writing Center staff sees students from every academic discipline with all types of writing assignments. Often, students seeking assistance in the Writing Center provide only partial information about an assignment, which makes it difficult for staff to assist them effectively. Because of this, the Writing Center offers professors the option of sending copies of class assignments to be put on file at the Writing Center. The Writing Center may receive a copy of an assignment with notes about specific directions related to the assignment. With this information, the consultants can look over the assignment ahead of time and ask questions if necessary, while being more effective to students seeking assistance.

Consultant Link

The Writing Center offers a consultant link program. With this program, a consultant from the Writing Center becomes part of a class for the semester. The consultant goes to the class, takes notes, and completes reading assignments. The professor determines the role that the consultant plays in the class. Some professors want someone to be there to gather information, while others want the consultant to participate in writing workshops with the students. The consultant is responsible for doing everything a student taking the class does, except for writing papers and taking exams. The consultant shares the information from the class with other Writing Center consultants so they will all learn more about individual assignments, thus making student visits more effective. A direct result of this program is that students become familiar with the consultants, making it easier for them to seek help at the Writing Center.

Consultant Reports

After students visit the Writing Center, a consultation report is filled out by the consultant. This report contains general information such as the student's name and the date, time, and duration of the consultation. The consultant indicates the general areas of writing that were addressed during the session along with comments that summarize the consultation. The form is then sent via e-mail to the professor in a timely manner. This allows the professor to be informed about additional efforts put into the assignment, as well as providing communication between the professor and the Writing Center. The bottom of the report may be completed and returned to the Writing Center if the professor wishes to respond to the consultant and/or comment on the session.

Orientation Visits

Orientation sessions are conducted by Writing Center consultants to offer information about the center and to discuss the services it provides to students. Classes may visit the facility for a tour or a consultant may visit the classroom. Orientation sessions last anywhere from five minutes to 30 minutes, depending upon the preferences and requirements of the professor. General information, such as the hours of operation, the location, and what to expect during a typical consultation are discussed. If more specific information is requested, the orientation can be customized to better suit the needs of a class.

Student Ownership

While Writing Center consultants assist students with their writing, they do not do the work for them. The Writing Center does not proofread or revise papers for students. For example, consultants help students learn to recognize and correct grammatical errors, but they do not point out every error in student papers. Conversely, the Writing Center does not guarantee or even speculate about the grade students will receive on a paper. Students are encouraged to consult with their professors when they have specific questions about an assignment or a grade they have received. The Writing Center does not enter into conversations about particular assignments or professors, but instead recommends direct communication between professor and student.

Workshops

The Writing Center offers workshops throughout each semester. The workshop topics cover a broad range from grammar and punctuation to writing a research paper. These workshops are free and are open to all CCU students. Information about workshops is provided on the web site and also by intra-office mail. A sign-in sheet is circulated at the workshop and then sent to the instructors, so that they are aware of students who attended. The Writing Center welcomes suggestions of ideas or specific topics for possible future workshops.

The Writing Center is a free service to you and your students. If you would like us to implement a service that we do not already offer, feel free to contact us.