Information for Students  |  Information for Faculty | Frequently Asked Questions

 

Information for Students

When should I come to the Writing Center?

Whenever you think it might be useful! We’re happy to work with you at any stage of your writing, including the following: 

• Brainstorming 
• Formulating thesis or paragraph ideas
• Citations
• Proofreading
• Structure 
• Formatting
• Outlines
• Revised Drafts

Any piece of writing can always improve! If you think your project could benefit from multiple visits, plan ahead and come visit us early.

The Writing Center also welcomes people looking for a quiet place to work or de-stress! We have a few desktop stations and tables for student use. Priority for these stations will go to tutors and students with appointments, but if we're not busy, come on in!

What kinds of writing can I work on?

 We’re happy to work with you on any of your composition needs:

• Essays 
• Lab reports 
• Presentations
• Applications
• Resumes
• Speeches

If you’re writing it, we’ll be happy to review and offer feedback. Not sure we can help? Bring it in anyway! It doesn't hurt to ask, and if we can't help you, we'll see about finding someone who can.

What happens during a writing center appointment anyway?

Writing Center tutorials are essentially built around conversation. Your peer tutor will review your work with you, allowing you to ask plenty of questions and asking you questions about your goals for the assignment. You’ll work together to find ways to articulate your intended meaning as effectively as possible. Many clients find the hardest part of writing is moving the ideas into your head onto the page in a way that fits the specific guidelines and tone of the assignment. We can help with those aspects.

Writing Center tutors serve as a first trial audience for your work. They are another pair of eyes to identify what is and isn’t working with your composition. Their questions, comments, and suggestions are meant to help you analyze your own work critically for this and future writings. The Writing Center will not copy edit or write your paper for you: tutor sessions are meant to be collaborative to engage you in the process and eventually teach you the skills you need to write critically on your own.

The center cannot guarantee an A on your assignment either; we do our best to help make your writing clearer and suited to the guidelines, but we don't always know what your instructors are looking for.

Who are these writing tutors?

Like you, our tutors are Trine students who have been recommended to their positions because of their abilities as writers and communicators or who have shown keen interest in writing and the writing process. Writing Center tutors come from all majors and disciplines, so if you have a particular project or piece of writing you’re working on, you may even be able to find a tutor who shares your major, has taken the classes you’re currently enrolled in, or even previously completed a similar assignment or project. Check out the Staff tab to find a match!

How can I become a Writing Center tutor?

If you're interested in tutoring in the Writing Center, use the 'tutor jobs' tab at the left to complete an application.

Contact Dr. Janelle Pulczinski, Writing Center Director, with any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Writing Center located?

On the first floor of the LINK, just beyond the help desk. Look for the Writing Center signs near the entrance!

When can I receive help from a tutor?

We are open each semester for online, e-tutoring, and face-to-face appointments Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM.

We usually open the 2nd week of each semester and close the last week of classes and for any scheduled semester breaks.

What assignments can the Writing Center help me with?

Any writing assignment you need help with! Our tutors can advise you on essays, technical writing projects, lab reports, resumes, visual aids, applications, and speech planning, to name a few. We also help with time management and provide a de-stress space if you just need a quiet place to work.

How do I schedule an appointment with a tutor?

1) If this is your first visit or you haven't already done so, register for an account on www.trine.mywconline.com (the process takes about 3 minutes).

2) After you register, sign in to the site, which will take you to our scheduling calendar.

3) Click on any of the white boxes to schedule an appointment with the corresponding tutor at that time.

4) Follow the on-screen instructions, then press “create appointment” at the bottom of the page.

For additional assistance, feel free to visit the Writing Center in the LINK or email us at writingcenter@trine.edu.

What kind of appointment should I make?

Whichever kind of appointment best fits your needs! We have three different types of appointments:

1) Face-to-face tutoring allows the tutor to hold a conversation with you, providing more detailed assistance. You will meet in the Writing Center and can request written feedback from the tutor.

2) Online tutoring offers a virtual experience similar to face-to-face sessions if you are unavailable to meet in person; attach your assignment to these types of appointments.

3) E-tutoring is great for reviewing mostly complete documents. Your tutor will read your assignment and provide extensive feedback on your attached document.

Do I need an appointment to meet with a tutor?

No, walk-ins are welcome! Keep in mind, though, that we prioritize scheduled appointments and may not be available for walk-ins. You can schedule your appointment at any time (even 1 minute before you want to meet, if there are open time slots!).

Who should I make an appointment with?

Our tutors come from many backgrounds, and some specialize in different fields. Feel free to schedule an appointment with a tutor who specializes in your topic or a generalist who can assist with anything. See our staff page for more details on the tutors' areas of expertise.

How much of my paper needs to be done to make an appointment with a tutor?

The Writing Center helps with all stages of the writing process. Research, development, thesis statements, grammar, and organization are all topics we can help with! We don't, however, recommend coming in with nothing done on your paper if it's due within 24 hours of your appointment!

How long should I schedule an appointment for?

Appointments should be long enough for the tutor to read your entire submission and provide feedback. Typically, we can get through a short assignment within 30 minutes. If your submission is longer than 5 pages, reserve an hour window or longer for reviewing.

What should I bring to my appointment?

To best assist you, please provide tutors with the assignment guideline or rubric as well as professor comments if you have them. You may also want to come with specific topics for us to review (grammar, tone, or citation, for example). If you have a draft of your paper, attach it to your appointment (some appointments require a document to be uploaded).

Information for Faculty

Best Practices for Required Visits

Required visits help students better recognize the importance you place on writing; they also have the potential to improve overall paper quality.  We often find students who might never have considered using the Writing Center discover the benefits of our services, prompting them to return even when they aren’t required to do so. Please read carefully the suggested guidelines for required visits, found in the link below.

Best Practices for Required Visits (Faculty)

Faculty Workshopping

The Writing Center is also available for workshopping, either in the Center itself or in your classroom. We often visit classrooms to present general information on the Writing Center, to provide specific data on citing sources or writing tips, or to facilitate in-class workshopping.

If you are a faculty member interested in workshopping or for more information or specific questions regarding current events, please contact the Writing Center at writingcenter@trine.edu or Dr. Janelle Pulczinski at pulczinskij@trine.edu.