While classes are in full swing, writing consultants at the University Writing Center are working with students to help with their creative skills and confidence in writing.
“The University Writing Center has increased availability to all students, offering online consulting,” said Ann Blakeslee, Director of the UWC at Eastern Michigan University.
“Working with courses in discipline, online workshops and face to face workshops are also available if needed.”
Each student, whether undergraduate or graduate, can come and use the writing center. Many students feel the need to perfect their writing abilities, to perform well in their curriculum courses.
“I heard students have gotten A’s in courses for getting some support from the workshops in the writing center,” Blakeslee said.
“98 percent of the working consultants” do surveys on the students, which include non- struggling students.
Students with any difficulties, as well as students who are mastering their technique in writing of any kind, are encouraged to seek guidance at the UWC through the consultants.
“The feedback on the online consulting is overwhelmingly positive, it’s necessary to provide support for students who are working online” said Derek Mueller, Assistant Professor of English Language and Literature. “The students who use the service wonder why they haven’t taken advantage of the program sooner.”
The students are surprised they are excelling faster than before, leaving only positive
remarks for the consultants to be proud of.
“Right now, online consulting is in different formats, the workshops and email services are on a pilot program,” Mueller said.
In testing them they hope to expand their services beyond others.
By testing the formats that are used for students the University Writing Center can see how see how well the student adapt to the new changes, to advise additions in the upcoming semesters.
“We have more opportunities to steer the students in the right direction with one on one consultation to a workshop.” said Kelly Guthrie, a consultant at UWC. “We have been taking advantage of the new changes here at the UWC.”
Consultants have given insight to the students to do better and learn from their mistakes. By working with the student’s one on one it gives the student firsthand experience and they have a new skill that they never had before, or can concentrate in a more relaxing environment where there is more encouragement.
“One-on-one consultation helps offer opportunities to learn good habits to identify their issues with any classes they may have,” Guthrie said. “The students learn strategies across any writing they are currently doing.”
The habits UWC consultants face include procrastination of their writing assignments, because the feeling of being exhausted from not understanding what us being asked of them. Here at the writing center students can benefit from receiving the help that is needed and wanted.
“Consultants’ are working more hours and now are accepting more appointments,” said Amanda Slater, graduate of EMU and former editor-in-chief of iSpy. “Drop-ins are new in the writing center; we are adding more workshops more topics applying more to students assignments.”
Writing consultants are willing to lend an extra hand for the students who are in desperate need of help it’s here to evolve the student’s on to the next level of becoming a proper writer.
The Writing Center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. Students can make an appointment for the online workshops by registering at http://www.emich.edu/english/writing-center/, by filling in their email address into the “register” portion, and the Writing Center employee’s will sign them up for the workshops.
Drop-in appointments are also available during open hours, and special appointments for those who can’t make these hours can be set up by calling the UWC at 734-487-0694.
