English Department
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Writing Center |
Check the Writing Center homepage for more information about the services offered!
Housed in the basement of Fjelstad, the Writing Center serves as a learning resource center for all students at Concordia. As its name suggests, the Center provides a place for students to ask questions about and receive assistance with their college-level writing skills. Students who are interested in setting up appointments with us may call 299-4334 or stop by our office. The center is open from 3-5 and from 6:30-9:30 Monday through Thursday and from 6:00-10:00 on Sunday evenings.
The WC provides four types of services, all of which are aimed at meeting the needs of a diverse student population.
1. The one-on-one tutorial
Individualized tutorials are provided mainly by peer tutors. These tutors are selected and trained to assist students in improving reading and writing skills. We offer help at any stage of the writing process and focus our work specifically in the following areas:
critical reading and thinking
summarizing, analyzing, and evaluating a text
predicting the thesis, locating key ideas, and recognizing directional words
brainstorming, selecting, and limiting an essay topic
adapting one's paper to one's audience
organizing and developing ideas
improving coherence
enhancing sentence structure
sharpening word choice
brushing up grammar and mechanics
learning how to proofread
working with writing block
2. Computers and computer-assisted tutorials
The WC has a limited number of computers available for word processing, on-line research, and library access (WebPals).
3. Handouts
The WC offers a number of handouts on subjects such as reading comprehension, note-taking, word choice, punctuation, spelling, documentation styles, plagiarism, and so on. Please feel free to stop by and take a look at what we have to offer.
4. Reference Materials
Our reference library includes dictionaries, thesauri, grammar and writers' handbooks, and style manuals. We also have available a number of books on reading, writing, speech, and rhetoric. Students are welcome to use the books at the WC or check them out, as necessary.
Many know that Concordia’s Writing Center provides all students with the opportunity to work one-on-one with peer tutors. Remember that the Center also offers the chance to work as a tutor and that applications for tutor positions may be submitted at any time. Students who work as WC tutors obtain unbeatable real-world experience. You’ll have the chance to learn more about yourself as a writer as you see others’ writing and help your peers improve their reading comprehension and writing skills. You’ll help prepare yourself for graduate school in English, creative writing, and/or composition-rhetoric. You’ll garner experience that will be relevant to work in career fields such as teaching, consulting, and publishing. By working closely with students who come to the Center for help, peer tutors learn to listen, read, and respond with insight, clarity, and empathy.
English majors or minors interested in working as a Writing Center tutor should contact Michelle Stevier about job openings.
Check the Writing Center homepage for more information about the services offered!
English Department
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