Writing Center

 Writing Center

General Information
The Henderson State University Writing Center is located in McBrien 108. The Writing Center includes a computer lab equipped with twenty-five computers.  Each computer has the Microsoft Office Suite, including Word 2007. The HSU Writing Center's 2008/2009 hours:  

Professors may make appointments with Mrs. Martha-Dale Cooley (MB 109 Ext. 5283) to reserve the Writing Center for their classes to meet for writing assignments. Please schedule these appointments in advance to avoid double-booking. Teachers must accompany their students to the Writing Center and remain with them for the duration of the visit.  A Graduate Assistant or Writing Tutor will also be available.

The Writing Center is also open to students who need assistance with writing assignments or general writing skills. Graduate Assistants or Writing Tutors will be on duty during the Writing Center's open hours to assist students and answer writing questions.

Students may also make appointments with one of the Graduate Assistants or Writing Tutors for private consultations of twenty minutes each. Students who are having recurring problems with writing skills  or need help getting started on an essay or research paper may be interested in scheduling an appointment by calling the Writing Center Office (MB 110 Ext 5357). The Graduate Assistants or Writing Tutors will not proofread, write, or re-write students’ papers. They will, however, help students improve their own writing skills so that they will be able to proofread and edit their own papers more effectively.

For more information on the Graduate Assistants, Writing Tutors, and Director of the Writing Center, visit the Who We Are section of this page.

What We Do
The Henderson Writing Center provides computer access to teachers and students working on writing assignments. We also provide assistance to students with questions or concerns about writing assignments or specific writing skills. Students who are interested in scheduling an appointment with a Graduate Assistant or Writing Tutor for consultation may do so by phone (Ext 5357) or by stopping by the Writing Center in person (MB 108). If you call to schedule an appointment, please ask to speak with a Graduate Assistant or Writing Tutor in the Writing Center. For tips on what to expect during a writing center consultation, click here.

Who We Are

                Mrs. Martha-Dale Cooley  cooley@hsu.edu 
                         Writing Center Director, English Instructor
                         McBrien Room 109
                         HSU extension 5283  

       The Graduate Assistants

                 Mrs. Leigh Espey  
                        MLA Graduate Student 
                        Graduate Assistant - English, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy Department  
                        Instructor - Basic English, Freshman A
                        McBrien Room 110    
                        HSU extension 5357
                       
                 Mrs. Mary Leigh
                        MLA Graduate Student 
                        Graduate Assistant - English, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy Department  
                        Instructor - Basic English, Introduction to Philosophy
                        McBrien Room 110    
                        HSU extension 5357
                     
                 Mrs. Amanda Ritter-Maggio
                        MLA Graduate Student 
                        Graduate Assistant - English, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy Department  
                        Instructor - Basic English, Freshman A
                        McBrien Room 110    
                        HSU extension 5357                       

                  Ms. Dana Smith
                        MLA Graduate Student 
                        Graduate Assistant - English, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy Department  
                        Instructor - Basic English, Freshman A
                        McBrien Room 110    
                        HSU extension 5357
                        
                  Mrs. Kathryn White
                        MLA Graduate Student 
                        Graduate Assistant - English, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy Department  
                        Instructor - Basic English, Freshman A
                        McBrien Room 110    
                        HSU extension 5357
                                                  
                   Ms. Melanie Wilson
                        MLA Graduate Student 
                        Graduate Assistant - English, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy Department  
                        Instructor - Basic English, Freshman A
                        McBrien Room 110    
                        HSU extension 5357

       The Tutors

          Mrs. Brenda Marsh
          Ms. Tameika Tank
                 Mrs. Meg Yates-Grizzle

                        

Student Resources

Public Use Computers
(Students must sign in before entering the Writing Center.)

Quiet study area to work on writing assignments

Consultations with Graduate Assistants or Writing Tutors

Notes to Professors 
(If students request, GAs or Writing Tutors will send a note to their professors detailing the skills worked on during the consultation session. Professors appreciate being updated on their  students’ progress.) 

Check out Purdue University’s Writing Center website for worksheets and activities to practice your writing skills.

Check out University of Oklahoma Writing Center website for more resources for writers.

Links to research web pages, tips for writing papers, and directions for documenting sources can be found at the website for the University of Texas, Austin’s Writing Center.

Faculty Resources

The Writing Center is available for class work and instruction time.
(Please make reservations in advance with Mrs. Cooley.)

Notes from GAs or Writing Tutors detailing their consultations with students and the students’ progress.

Referral program
(If you have students who are making recurring writing mistakes and you think they would benefit from a consultation, please refer them to the Writing Center Office to set up an appointment.)

Check out Purdue University’s Writing Center website for handouts and activities to help your students improve their writing skills.

Check out University of Oklahoma Writing Center website for more writing skills resources to use in your classroom.

More scholarly and staff resources can be found at the website for the University of Texas, Austin’s Writing Center

ESL Resources

Graduate Assistant or Writing Tutor consultations

Check out the University of Texas, Austin's Writing Center web page for ESL handouts and practice activities in writing English.

Check out the Intensive English Program website from Texas Christian University  website for more information on ESL assistance.

The website at Purdue University also has some helpful handouts and practice activities for ESL students. 

Tips for Writing Success

Know what you want to say.  It is impossible to communicate an idea in writing if it is unclear in your own mind. It is not necessary to invent new theories for each subject approached in writing. The important thing  is that you explore your own thoughts and express them clearly to your audience. 

Gather your thoughts through various procedures such as brainstorming, free-writing, and outlining.  Everyone is different, so no one technique will be universally useful. Find the method that is right for you.

Know what your weaknesses are so you are better able to address them in your writing. 

Know your audience. Oftentimes, this determines how you approach a subject.  A letter to a friend is an entirely different matter from a formal essay for a class.

Be prepared to make revisions. No first draft is ever perfect. 

Reading the well-written works of others often inspires us to be better writers ourselves. 

Write about the things that interest you. The best writing comes from genuine enthusiasm for the subject. 

Approach writing as if it were personal development, rather than simply an assignment. The skills you learn with each assignment will accompany you into future assignments. 

What To Expect

The HSU Writing Center is available to Henderson students who need assistance with specific writing skills or have questions about how to write a paper.  The Graduate Assistants and Writing Tutors in the Writing Center will help students with these concerns but will not proofread, write, or re-write students' papers.  We want you to become a better writer. Statistics prove that students who take advantage of Writing Centers at their colleges become better writers and make better grades on their papers.

When you arrive at the consultation, you will be working with one of the Graduate Assistants or Writing Tutors.  Please bring a copy of your assignment sheet, two copies of your paper (typed, free of editing marks),  and your own supplies (paper and pencil).  It will also be helpful if you bring with you a list of any questions you have concerning your writing.  Paying attention to the mistakes you have previously made on your assignments will help prevent you from making the same mistakes in the future. The Graduate Assistant or Writing Tutor will work with you one-on-one and answer any questions you may have.
             
This web site is maintained by Mrs. Martha Dale Cooley. Please e-mail us with any comments or suggestions! Last updated February 2, 2009.