Welcome to the Writing Center

Welcome to the Writing Center with Amy Kubista, MALS Writing Specialist Walden Writing Center

Agenda • Overview of the Writing Center • Writing Center’s Role in Student Writing • Center Services & Courses • Tutor Services • Dissertation Editor Services • Questions

What We Do Writing Center Mission: The Walden University Writing Center is dedicated to helping students become better writers. Recognizing the importance of the written word in effecting social change, we work to provide scholar-practitioners with the tools to transform themselves and society by becoming more effective communicators. We contribute to Walden’s thriving academic community by working one on one with students online and at the university’s academic residencies. We offer Walden students advice on organization, grammar, format, and APA style, and we answer students’ questions concerning the writing process and its outcomes so that they can best contribute to ongoing scholarly dialogues within each of the university’s schools and the broader academic community.

Services Available for All Walden Students • Writing Courses • Residencies (presentations and advising) • Webinars • Website (template, videos, handouts) • Discussion Board via eCampus • Blog • Twitter (WUWritingCenter) • Grammarly • Turnitin • One-On-One Reservations

Student Success Courses • Student Success courses may be taken by students enrolled in any graduate program. All courses (with one exception) are offered in quarter and semester formats. • These courses are designed to help students acquire knowledge and skills to supplement required degree program courses and to help students successfully complete their academic program. • To learn more, go to: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/Writing-Courses.htm

Student Success Courses • Graduate Writing • Critical Thinking and Logic • A Practical Course in APA Style • Graduate Writing for Non-Native English Students • Communications and Teamwork in a Global Society • Writing a Literature Review

Grammarly • An automated grammar and revision tool • Appropriate for a draft in need of grammar review, submitted before the use of one-on-one Walden tutoring • Accessible through the Writing Center website

Purpose of Grammarly • Does not “fix” paper but provides instructional paragraphs that correspond to errors noted in the writing • Requires critical thinking by the student; much like MS Word grammar check, not all suggestions will be appropriate • Supplements rather than replaces the live tutors, who can focus on other issues

Turnitin.com • Tag line: “Prevent Plagiarism. Engage Students.” • Generates “Originality Report” • While instructor’s TII accounts may submit your paper to larger TII database, the writing center’s TII drop box does not.

One-on-One Services • Master’s-level professionals • Twelve Graduate Writing Tutors • Ten Dissertation Editors • Provide individualized feedback • Different backgrounds • Different approaches

One-on-One Services • Paper reviews provided by reservation through the WIRE • Register • Make reservation • Upload paper for asynchronous review • Receive review within 48 hours of reservation

STEP 1 Create an Account

Use your Walden email account Fill out all fields in the form.

STEP 2 Make a Reservation

Enter the email address and password you used in the registration form Select the appropriate schedule from the drop-down menu

Notification List • Underneath each day’s schedule • Emailed notification of openings • Must sign into to the WIRE and secure the reservation • No limit to amount of days you’re on the notification list for

You must complete each field in the form and click “Save Reservation” to successfully make a reservation

STEP 3 Upload a Paper

OK, now what? Tutor will e-mail paper back to you within 48 hours.

Your paper will look something like this.

Policies For full policies, go to: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/285.htm • No-Shows • 5 per year • Papers submitted by 6:00 a.m. CDT day of your reservation • One paper per student per week for tutors • Plagiarism • Tutors v. Editors for Hire • Our job is to teach

Writing Tutors • Goal: Writing skill development • Feedback on graduate-level course papers, KAMs, theses, the dissertation prospectus, and doctoral study drafts that occur before the 8090 or 8990 course • Advice on APA, grammar/mechanics, clarity, word choice, academic voice, organization, and paragraph development Graduate Writing Tutors will not edit your paper

Dissertation Editors • The Walden dissertation editors work with students during the drafting stage of their dissertation or doctoral study manuscript on these issues: • finer points of APA style • manuscript format • organizing and presenting material in a way that is clear, concise, and scholarly

Dissertation Editors • Limited spots available; focus is different from that of the writing tutors • Students at this stage should have command over basic elements of academic writing, including grammar and organization. • Opportunities for improving these skills are available through the graduate writing courses, creating or joining a peer-review group, participating in the online discussion board on eCampus, attending webinars offered by the Writing Center, or hiring a freelance editor.

Dissertation Editors • Editors will review one chapter per reservation and one revision of that chapter, and students are advised to submit a draft that is as complete as possible. • We encourage students working on very early drafts to consult with their committee chair to ensure that all content elements are in place before working with an editor. • Once content is in place, editors can then work to help students refine the draft and make sure the draft complies with formatting and writing guidelines.

Resources • Writing Center http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/ • Library http://library.waldenu.edu/ • Residency Information http://residencies.waldenu.edu/

Questions • Thanks for joining us this evening; please let us know if you have any questions! • All of the information in tonight’s presentation can be found in our Student User Guide at: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/285.htm

Welcome to the Writing Center