1. What is the Writing Center?
American University's Writing Center -- in 228 Battelle-Tompkins– is sponsored by CAS and the Department of Literature for the benefit of the entire AU community.
- The Center offers free, individual coaching on writing issues at any stage of the writing process to both undergraduates and graduate students.
- Our approach is collaborative: students coaching students rather than "fixing" papers. In a 45-minute session, writing consultants won't try to cover every possible writing issue, but they can help students address their assignments, understand the conventions of academic writing, and learn how to revise and edit their own work. In other words, we approach our work as coaching, rather than "cleaning up."
- The Center's writing consultants are mostly graduate students in the Department of Literature, with a few selected undergraduate interns. They undergo a rigorous, 10-hour training program and continued professional development as part of their commitment to the Writing Center.
2. How can we help your students?
The center 's 45-minute coaching sessions start on the hour – from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.
Students should call 885- 2991 to set up an appointment or more information.
We encourage students to set up regular appointments to talk about their work.
Students may schedule up to two sessions a week. We like to meet with students throughout their writing process to discourage the last-minute "fix it" attitude—we don't just proofread or copyedit papers but work with students.
We can work with students on any writing project, but for a take-home exam, we require written (or phoned-in) permission from you, the instructor.
3. How can I make sure my students use the Center?
While we ask that you not "assign" a visit to the Center, (we aren't designed to handle large numbers at once and students tend to see a required visit as a chore, not an opportunity), we encourage you to add a note about the Writing Center on your syllabus and even offer a bit of extra credit, if you so choose. Feel free to borrow language from this memo as needed. We do have forms we can furnish to students when they visit, so you can request they get this "proof" when they come in.
