Writing Center Hours
Welcome to the Writing Center! The Writing Center will be open for Summer consulting from Tuesday, May 28, through Thursday, August 8, 2013.
Summer hours of operation are:
- Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you need an appointment outside of these hours, please contact Mary Arnold Schwartz, Coordinator, schwartm@ipfw.edu with an explanation of your needs.
Faculty members who wish to schedule an orientation should contact Mary Arnold Schwartz, schwartm@ipfw.edu.
The Writing Center closes when classes are dismissed for breaks and holidays. Please note that the Writing Center closes before Finals Week to allow student consultants the time to concentrate on their own final projects and exams.
We strongly recommend appointments be scheduled in advance through TutorTrac (links at right for TutorTrac and Appointments). Please feel free to request consulting outside our scheduled times; we will accommodate you if we can. Contact Mary Arnold Schwartz, Coordinator, schwartm@ipfw.edu.
Mission
The mission of the IPFW Writing Center is to help writers learn to use language more effectively, produce clear writing appropriate to their purposes and audiences, and develop positive attitudes about writing and about themselves as writers.
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Student Resources
Faculty & Staff Resources
- Class Orientations
- In-Class Workshops
- Professional Development Workshops
- One-to-One Writing Consultations
- Assignment Feedback
- Reference Librarians (call 260.481.5483 for appointments)
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- Which kinds of writing issues will the Writing Center help me resolve?
- Choosing a topic
- Understanding the assignment
- Learning research strategies
- Organizing and developing ideas
- Citing sources
- Improving clarity
- Strategies for improving grammar and punctuation
- Revising and incorporating peer and instructor comments
- Lots more!
- Do I need to have an appointment, or can I just walk in?
Appointments are recommended. Appointments are sometimes available on a walk-in basis, for example, when a consultant has no scheduled appointment or a writer cancels. You can schedule an appointment through the online scheduling system, TutorTrac, at least twelve hours before an appointment time you'd like. If you'd like an appointment for the current day, you can check for any available times by calling us at 260-481-5740, or stop by the Writing Center @ the Learning Commons, Helmke Library, 2nd floor.
- What should I bring?
Any information you have about the assignment including your assignment sheet and any other handouts from the class. Also bring due dates, syllabus, textbook, notes, research, and your writing—in other words, anything you have on paper. If you don’t have anything on paper, bring your questions. Either way, bring a rough agenda of items to cover during your appointment and any questions you have to help you get the most out of your writing consultation time.
- When should I come?
Come early in your writing projects (as early as the day you receive the assignment) and come often to allow ample time to develop, revise, and edit working drafts. Consider the time you spend working in the Writing Center part of the time it takes to produce a paper, not separate or additional time spent. If you’ve spent an hour staring at a blank screen or page, it’s time to stop and come in for an appointment. The Writing Center can help make your writing easier, more efficient, and save you time.
- How long are appointments?
You can schedule appointments for 25 or 50 minutes, but we recommend 50-minute appointments. If we finish our consultation before the end of your appointment time, we will encourage you to continue working on your writing while your ideas are still fresh.
- What happens when I come in for an appointment?
When you arrive for your appointment, you should initial next to your name on the sign-in sheet at the front desk so we know that you're here. We will also ask you to use your student username to log into the TutorTrac kiosk. If you're early, please help yourself to any refreshments, and feel free to relax in a seat or work at a computer. Your consultant will meet you in the waiting area.
During your consultation in one of the private carrels, you will talk with a consultant one-to-one about your writing. At the end of the consultation, you and your consultant will write a brief summary of what you worked on, and that summary can be printed off as proof of attendance for you to give to your instructor.
- What if I don't have a draft or I don't understand my assignment?
You don't have to have a draft to come in and talk with a consultant. We can help you brainstorm, organize your ideas or draft an outline if you're having trouble getting started. Often, a willing, curious, and nonjudgmental listener can be particularly helpful in the early stages of writing. Some students find it difficult to start their papers because they find college instructors’ expectations much different from those in high school—and we can help you understand those differences.
- How often can I have an appointment?
The Writing Center allows students to schedule appointments for writing assistance through TutorTrac for up to one-hour per day and up to three hours per week. TutorTrac, however, does not prohibit scheduling more than the allowed time, so we ask students to honor our guidelines. If you would like to inquire about a variance to this policy, please contact the coordinator, Mary Arnold Schwartz, at schwartm@ipfw.edu.
- What if I can't make my appointment?
You are expected to cancel appointments you cannot keep so other students have the opportunity to have an appointment. At least twelve hours prior to your appointment, you can delete your appointment on TutorTrac. To cancel after midnight on the day of your appointment and at least two hours before your appointment, call 260-481-5740 and leave a voicemail clearly giving your name and the date and time of the appointment you are canceling. (Consider programming the number into your cell phone.)
If you fail to cancel two appointments without notifying us at least two hours before the appointment or you totally miss two appointments, we may have to limit your visits to those available on a walk-in basis. Thank you for your cooperation!
- What if I'm going to be late to my appointment?
We will wait for you five minutes past your appointment start time before working with another student. In other words, if you are late, you may lose your appointment. If you believe you will arrive late but close to the 5-minute mark, we may be able to hold the appointment if you call the Writing Center (260-481-5740). Please do not schedule an appointment with a starting time you know you cannot keep, such as scheduling a 10:00 appointment when you’ll be in class until 10:15. (See: “What if I can’t make it to my appointment?”)
- My teacher requires that I come here. How do I get proof?
Your proof is the conference summary that you and the consultant write together at the end of your consultation or is the consultant’s e-mail response to an online consultation. (We do not give other forms of proof.) The consultant prints out the conference summary for you to give to your instructor. Be sure to ask for the printout, but if you forget, you can request another copy later.
- Does the Writing Center just work with English papers only, or can I work on anything I'm writing?
As long as you are enrolled in an IPFW class or are an IPFW employee, you are welcome to bring in any writing. We frequently work with lab reports, speeches, and senior projects. We also will help you construct personal statements for scholarship or graduate school applications. If you would like feedback on composing an assignment, syllabus, or an article for publication, you may wish to contact the Writing Center Coordinator before scheduling an appointment.
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The Writing Center has developed and adapted a series of references for scholarly writing. Please reference the links below to find documents that are relevant to your assignments. If there is a particular writing concern you would like addressed in a handout, please contact us with comments and recommendations. The following handouts should only be used as general guidelines.
Note: Some of the APA/MLA links are not available while they are being revised for new updates.
Most Popular
Academic Writing
Sources and Citation
Grammar and Usage
Links
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Are you an effective writer looking for a way to help others write better and to strengthen your writing skills?
Are you looking for work that will require and enhance your leadership and professional skills?
Are you willing to actively participate in continuous staff development to learn how to help students in all majors write more effectively?
If you answered “YES,” the Writing Center is looking for YOU! Apply now for a paid consulting position at the Writing Center!
Effective writing consultants want to:
- Help students write more effectively in various disciplines and genres
- Learn more through the study of writing center practice and theory
Who should apply?
Students—in any major who have successfully completed English W131 and W233 (or at least two equivalent writing-intensive college courses in terms of writing experience such as ENG-L202, POLS-Y205, SPAN-W300, or SOC-S260)
and
Full-time Faculty—who enjoy writing and working with writers and want to be of service to the campus community
How do I apply?
Read more about the consultant position. Complete an application and return it to Mary Arnold Schwartz, Coordinator of the Writing Center, LB-418. You may also submit your application to the lead consultants in the Writing Center @ the Learning Commons Helmke Library, 2nd floor. Applications are considered until July 10 (for fall start dates) and November 10 (for spring start dates). If you have any questions about the application process, please call or e-mail Mary at 260-481-6893 or schwartm@ipfw.edu.
To Those Writing Letters of Recommendation
Candidates for writing consultant positions are required to submit two letters of recommendation from IPFW faculty or staff members familiar with their writing and work habits. These letters should address, to the extent possible, the candidate's demonstrated a) writing competencies, b) competencies in providing appropriate peer response to writing and/or to working within a group, and c) work ethic. Letters of recommendation should be submitted to Mary Arnold Schwartz, Coordinator, via e-mail (preferred) at schwartm@ipfw.edu or hard copy.
Thank you for all your help in recommending outstanding writers with whom you would like your students to consult.
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2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
