What services are available at the Writing Center ?
At the UVM Writing Center , anyone from the UVM community can meet with an undergraduate peer tutor at any point in the writing process. By talking with a good listener, you can develop and shape your ideas, get a fresh reading of your piece, brainstorm ways to revise your paper, or find answers to questions about documentation and grammar. Some of the areas in which tutors provide assistance include
The Writing Center is staffed by about thirty-five undergraduate peer tutors from across the disciplines. The tutors are carefully chosen through an interview and application process, after being recommended by a professor. They then take a year-long course (English 104 and 105) exploring how to work with writers in a writing center setting.
Some students come to the Writing Center because they're having a problem with a paper, but you don't need to have a problem to benefit from our services. Last year, students reported that they came to the Writing Center for a variety of reasons: to make the writing process less stressful and solitary; to create an excellent rather than merely good paper; because their teacher required or recommended it (and this was true for students in Honors and upper-level as well as in introductory courses); because they heard from a friend that it was useful.
Over 800 writers used the Writing Center last year. Students came to work on papers for over 140 courses, representing all of the colleges and schools. They also came to work on application essays, resumes, short stories, and various “unassigned” writing projects. Nearly 40% of the students who came to the Writing Center were juniors, seniors, or graduate students.
We have two locations: (1) in the Learning Cooperative, 244 Commons Living/ Learning, and (2) across from the reference desk on the first floor of Bailey Howe Library. When you call to make an appointment, you will be asked which location you prefer. You can also drop in at either location. We have special "drop in hours" at the Bailey Howe Outpost between 4 and 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
Monday- Thursday 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Friday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Sunday 6 p.m.- 9 p.m.
When you come to the Writing Center for the first time, you will be asked to fill out a very short information form. Then your tutor will ask what you'd like to accomplish in the session, and together you will set an agenda. You don't need to have anything written in order to come to the Writing Center , but it's helpful if you bring your assignment as well as any written drafts, outlines, or other materials with which you're working. We schedule appointments to last for an hour so that you'll have time to work on your paper with the tutor, but you may be finished earlier.
You can meet with a tutor who has experience with a certain type of writing–just ask when you make an appointment. Or read about the tutors by clicking on the "Meet the Tutors" link, and then ask for a specific tutor when you call for an appointment. You can find out when someone tutors by clicking on the "Current Semester Schedule" link.
To schedule an appointment, simply call 656-4075 or stop by the Learning Cooperative, 244 Commons L/L. Depending on the time of the semester, we often have appointments available on the day that you call or soon after. You can also drop in at either of our locations with a quick question or to see if a tutor is available.
No, the Writing Center is free for all UVM students and staff. You can use the Writing Center as often as you'd like. If you can't come to a scheduled appointment, please call and cancel as soon as possible so that anther student can use your slot.
Last modified September 15 2005 02:40 PM
