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Writing Center

Second Language Writers

Writing is culturally specific.

This specificity obviously can be seen through elements of writing like content and evidence, but it also shows up in expression, the kinds of knowledge that are valued, structure, the role of the student as a writer, style, and the purposes for writing.

For instance, writing varies by culture in terms of:


What American professors expect:

We expect you to understand from the assignment the purpose of your writing.

  • Research - use secondary sources and use them properly, but only to support your own argument
  • Essay - shorter text with your own argument; don't always use other voices
  • Lab Report - explain scientific process and draw conclusions
  • Blackboard Discussion Board postings/journals - less formal, more frequent, short

We expect your paper to be thesis-driven.

  • Thesis: explain explicitly what your purpose is, often what your argument is.

We expect your structure to be linear.

  • Each section and/or paragraph should make a point. Points are evidently connected by using transitions.

We expect your style to be explicit.

  • Thesis before end of introduction, if not at end of first paragraph
  • Explain fully but concisely
  • Get to the point
  • Use a rational voice but not "school voice"

We expect you to use Standard English conventions of grammar and mechanics.

  • See The Bedford Handbook for more information.

We expect you to know how to use other people's ideas.

  • See "Academic Honesty"
  • The ideas and language used to express them are property, but we all are free to use them.
  • Use others' ideas to support or develop our own, to join a conversation.
  • We have to acknowledge who the owner is - of the idea, the phrase, the sentence - not just direct quotes!
  • Don't expect profound ideas; you should trust your own, based on your analysis of the evidence.


How the Writing Center can help you:

Always consult your instructors first. Those at Denison are committed to student learning and have regular office hours or will make appointments. Writing Center consultants are trained to work with second-language writers, but they are unlikely to be familiar with the specifics of your culture. They are very familiar with the specifics of American academic culture, however.

How we can help

  • Writing Center Consultants can help you help yourself to learn and use conventions of Standard English: grammar, mechanics, citation styles
  • Writing Center Consultants can help you make sense of an assignment
  • Writing Center Consultants can help you develop ideas/thesis/argument, even if the consultant hasn't herself taken the class.
  • Writing Center Consultants can help you organize and structure your ideas linearly
  • Writing Center Consultants can help you design more effective sentences
  • Writing Center Consultants can help you flesh out introductions, conclusions, transitions and body paragraphs
  • Writing Center Consultants can help you identify weakest elements of your writing so you can focus

What we don't do

  • Revise your paper for you
  • Proofread for grammar errors or misspellings until more crucial elements of writing are addressed
  • Tell you what to think

More information