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About the Writing Center
The Writing Center provides both in-person and online assistance to all La Sierra students who wish to improve their writing in general or who desire assistance with specific writing assignments.
Services Provided
Writing Coaches are available for 25-minute conferences (55-minute conference available for research papers only). Unscheduled ‘drop-in’ conferences may be possible, if a writing coach is available.
Coaches can assist students with:
- Beginning the writing process through brainstorming
- Making a point by developing a thesis
- Creating a structure through outlining
- Supporting a thesis with paragraphing
- Developing a first draft
- Revising for content, organization and style
- Incorporating research into writing
- Documentation in MLA or APA style
NOTE: Writing Coaches will NEITHER write papers NOR revise/edit them for students. Rather, they will assist students in doing those processes themselves more effectively.
In a Writing Lab conference students will discuss writing assignments with an upper-division or graduate student skilled in writing.
Special Assistance for Pre-Foundational English Students
We have two bilingual tutors that can help Spanish speakers. If you need assistance in another language, we will try to accommodate according to our staff's abilities. Please email the Writing Center at writingcenter@lasierra.edu for questions about bi-lingual or pre-foundational needs.
FAQs
The primary feature of the Center is one-on-one tutoring with a Writing Coach. In addition, twenty computers are available for working on writing assignments.
Writing guidebooks and research documents books (MLA, APA, Chicago, Turabian) are available for reference.
All La Sierra University students interested in improving their writing in general, or improving specific writing assignments.
The Center has a specific interest in assisting students taking writing courses at La Sierra.
Upper division and graduate majors with a passion for communicating about writing (most are English and Graduate English majors).
Two primary methods:
- Any student can make an appointment online, or walk in, or "self-refer."
- Any student can be referred to the Center by a La Sierra University instructor or staff member.
The Provost's Office sponsors the Writing Center, with logistical support, personnel and supervision from the Department of English and Center for Student Academic Success. The Center also coordinates with the Learning Support and Testing Center.
As a retention strategy to:
- offer assistance to under-prepared students.
- assure students of University interest in their development.
- promote improved writing skills as integral to academic and personel achievement.
- to provide that extra "pair of eyes" on papers whether it is for a student who may struggle with writing or for an "A" student who wants solid feedback.