Writing Center

Arrange an introduction to Writing Center services so that your students are aware of the support/discussion/instruction the Writing Center offers and how to use our services wisely.  We will visit your  classroom or you can bring your class to the Center for a short presentation (5-10 minutes) at a time that's good for you.

If your syllabus is online, link to http://www.denison.edu/academics/writingcenter/.

Mention the Writing Center in your syllabus with the following paragraph:

Writing Center: The Center is a free resource available to all Denison students.  Student writing consultants from many majors help writers one-on-one in all phases of the writing process, from deciphering the assignment, to discussing ideas, to developing an argument, to finalizing a draft.  Because proofreading is a last step in that process, writers should leave plenty of time for getting their ideas right before expecting proofreading help.  Consultants also can help writers with personal documents, like job and internship applications.  The Center is located on the fourth floor of Barney-Davis Hall; satellite locations are on the third floor of the Library (the Main level) and the first floor of Fellows near the Computer Lab.  Appointments between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, can be made in the Barney location by phoning 587-JOT1. The satellite locations are drop-in; check the website at http://www.denison.edu/academics/writingcenter/ for those hours.

Bring your class to the Writing Center for a short introduction or for the whole class period.  Students who have had a class period in the Writing Center are more likely to visit again.  If, for example, you arrange a class period for peer response to rough drafts or to plan a research project, we can arrange to have staff members available for that class session (in the Writing Center or in your classroom).

Mention the Writing Center to all of your students occasionally in your class.  Remind your students that all Denison students are welcome in the Writing Center and that all students can benefit from our free services.  By encouraging all of your students to visit the Writing Center, you will avoid isolating those who might be performing poorly or who feel especially vulnerable about their writing.

If you wish to encourage certain individuals to use the Writing Center, do so in a private conference or in written comments on their papers, rather than referring them to the Writing Center in front of classmates.  Even though all students can benefit from our services, some students are still embarrassed by a referral.

If you know of other students who have benefited from the Writing Center, let your classes know how previous students have improved their writing and how those students (and you) felt about their improvement and what they learned.  Emphasize that students often grasp other concepts in class because of their writing and their conversations in the Writing Center.

When your students visit the Writing Center, praise them for their extra efforts to improve their work, understand writing processes, and improve their grades.  Do not, however, expect miracles.  Any improvement-big or small-is worth praising. Several students might make regular appointments and work on one or two issues at a time, slowly improving over the semester.  Some beg for miracles the night before a paper is due and are less likely to show improvement.

Remind students that writing is important to their college studies, to their careers beyond college, and to the development of critical thinking.  We are here to provide individualized instruction to all student writers.  Avoid making the Writing Center a place of punishment by referring only your poorest writers or by refusing to grade revisions or drafts until students see a writing consultant.