LIFE ON CAMPUS

How to Write the Worst Paper Ever, courtesy of the DBU Writing Center –

Information on Research methods/documentation: MLA, Turabian footnotes, APA in-text parenthetical citations, Chicago Manual of Style and CSE (Scientific Style and Format) are included in an informative Duke website

The Purdue OWL site provides information on the following:

• The Writing Process
• Grammar and Punctuation handouts, exercises
• Technical Writing
• Job Search Writing
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Evaluating sources
• ESL
• Grammar
• Quoting and paraphrasing
• Writing in the Social Sciences
• Writing in Engineering
• Searching the Web
• Teaching Writing
• Creative Writing

Gallaudet has a helpful site with information on business memos.

1. Writing Center consultants do not edit or proofread student essays. Consultants work with students to help the students become better editors themselves.
2. Students must bring in their own essays, not someone else’s.
3. Students must work with the consultants rather than dropping off essays for later pickup.
4. Students should be aware that forms will be filled out detailing information on every visit, and that professors will be kept informed of the student’s progress during each visit.
5. Students should try to give enough time for revision after visiting the Writing Center (at least 24 hours before assignment is due).

Other considerations

1. Sessions usually consume the complete 30-minute time slot. Additional appointments may be necessary.
2. Students are asked to take a participatory role during an appointment; refusal may be grounds for dismissal.
3. Failure to keep a scheduled appointment may result in denial of future visits. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Writing Center ahead of time if he or she is unable to attend a meeting.

Dr. Paula Brown, Writing Center Coordinator

Degrees: Bachelors in English, Auburn University, 1985
Masters in English, Auburn University, 1989
PhD in English, University of Tennessee, 1994

Dr. Brown was Assistant Director of the Writing Center at the University of Tennessee before she moved to the mountains of North Carolina and became the Lees McRae Writing Center Director. While she was working up there, she was invited to participate in Writing Across the Curriculum Summer Workshops at Charleston University in West Virginia as well as Cornell University’s Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines in Ithaca, New York. After moving to Louisiana, Dr. Brown worked at ULM briefly before coming to Tech. Interests: dogs, cats, gardening, fish-keeping, hiking, bicycling, drawing, translating German, and reading (not necessarily in that order).

Five favorite authors: Jane Austen, John Ruskin, Terry Pratchett, Susanna Clarke, and Fyodor Dostoyevski. Dr. Brown is also a J.K. Rowling and Selma Lagerlof fan. She advises anyone interested in children’s literature to read Harold Bloom’s rather vicious attack on Harry Potter in the Wall Street Journal, if only to learn how the enemy thinks. (http://wrt-brooke.syr.edu/courses/205.03/bloom.html). She adds that Alan Jacobs’ defense of Rowling in First Things (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essay-harry-potters-magic.html) is also worth a peek.

Dr. Brown works with a writing assistant staff of graduate students and upper division undergraduate students who have demonstrated excellent writing skills in their English classes and are highly recommended to Dr. Brown by English faculty who have evaluated their abilities.

Computers

The Writing Center at Tech has four computers equipped with Word and internet access. A computer lab is also conveniently located down the hall from the WC that has a printer as well.

Study and consultation rooms

Two rooms (325 Wyly Tower) are available for quiet study and consultation about writing. These rooms are an ideal work space. Students are encouraged to either work quietly or ask for assistance from the facilitators when necessary.

Reference books

A number of textbooks, grammar handbooks, dictionaries and writing books are provided for student perusal.