Writing Resources Center
Using the WRC

The University Writing Resources Center provides one-to-one tutoring for students in all majors. Trained tutors assist you at all stages of the writing process, from understanding the assignment through revision of the final draft. You may drop in or phone for an appointment.

What Writing Assistants Do

• Aid in understanding and meeting writing assignments
• Help plan and get started on writing
• Talk about ideas and help develop them
• Assist in setting and meeting priorities for revision
• Teach students to control surface features of writing such as syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling

What You May Expect

• Help to improve as a writer
• Careful attention to written work
• Active listening and thoughtful responses to ideas
• Collaborative help with writing problems
• Knowledgeable assistance in finding resources needed to complete writing assignments
• Long-term writing instruction

What You May Not Expect

• Someone to “correct” your paper
• An “expert” in writing in your discipline
• Someone to proofread and edit work for you
• Someone to do your writing work for you
• A substitute for writing instruction from your professor
• A perfect, error-free paper
• Guaranteed high grades on your writing
• A quick fix

How to Use the Writing Resources Center

• Make an appointment—or several—as soon you get a writing assignment
• Plan to meet with a Writing Assistant several times, if possible, over the course of your entire writing process
• Don't wait until the last minute before your assignment is due. Although we may be able to offer limited assistance at that point, there is usually not time to make substantial improvements

How to Get the Most from Tutoring

• Participate actively in the tutoring session, not as a passive recipient
• Be willing to revise. Good writing usually requires thinking and re-thinking and multiple drafts to create a complete and successful text
• Understand writing as an open process that requires writers to use later invention and rethinking to revise their work
• Be patient. Remember that Writing Assistants are students like you, learning to teach writing

What to Bring to a Tutoring Session

• Bring your ideas and your questions
• You need not have a paper written when you come to the Center
• Bring your assignment instructions, related reading, notes, research—any material to assist in developing your writing