The on-campus Writing Center provides tutoring services for students that need assistance on papers, reports, or essays. There are two tutors available in the Writing Center during the spring 2020 semester. A service provided through the Department of Humanities but located in the Miller Library, the goal of the Writing Center is to help students become more confident with writing and expressing their ideas.The tutors will help students identify where they have difficulties and provide tools to better their writing.
The Mustang Newspaper Staff met with Alisson Waterman, a tutor, to get more information about this student service.
Q: What are the services provided to students here in the Writing Center?
A: Editing papers is the big thing we do here. We help people with research papers for any class. We help students getting started with a paper. This can happen because a student does not understand the instructions or what the professor is asking them to do. We help students with citations, word choice, transition phrases, or anything that has to do with writing for any class. Career Services helps with cover letters and resumes; however, we can help with that too, when they are not available. We also have a printer for free printing.
Q: Who can use the Writing Center?
A: Anybody! Anyone who is a student at WNMU, on any campus. I have had students from Deming and Lordsburg come in, meaning you don’t have to attend the Silver City campus to use this service. If students cannot come into the Writing Center, we have an email (writing.center@wnmu.edu.) available for students to send in their essays, as a Word document for advice or guidance. We do ask that they send it at least 72 hours earlier than the time they want it back. We don’t take that long to edit it. We edit it within a couple of hours or the next day, at the most.
Q: Do students need to make an appointment?
A: Students do not need to make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome; however, appointments get top priority. We get a lot of people right around midterms and finals. Those are the occasions where you want to make an appointment so we could help you.
Q: What is a typical session at the Writing Center?
A: A typical session is that a student comes in with a paper that’s already written. It doesn’t matter if its printed or on the computer. I would sit down with them and go over what they have. Sometimes, I will do a quick read-through and then I will ask the student what they feel they needed the most help with. This helps students realize their weaknesses in writing. I use lots of books to help students with their writing.
Q: Why should students come to the Writing Center?
A: First of all, because they are paying for it through student fees. Tutoring is included in student fees and we are under that category. Students should come and take advantage of that! Writing is a process. Very few people can sit down and write a paper, turn it in, and get a good grade on it. I think it is such a good idea to have someone proofread your paper to help you do better. I have had the opportunity to go into classrooms and talk about the Writing Center. At the beginning of the semester, I will go into classrooms and hand out a flyer with our hours. I always ask how many people know that there is a Writing Center on campus and most people don’t know. It is good to get it out there that we are here!
The Writing Center is located on the first floor in the Miller Library. The Writing Center Spring hours are Monday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Sunday: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information or to make an appointment, call 575-538-6051 or email writing.center@wnmu.edu.
