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Frequently Asked Questions
In the Writing Center

 

  1. Which kinds of writing issues will the Writing Center help me resolve?
    • Choosing a topic
    • Understanding the assignment
    • Learning research strategies
    • Organizing and developing ideas
    • Citing sources
    • Improving clarity
    • Strategies for improving grammar and punctuation
    • Revising and incorporating peer and instructor comments
    • Lots more!

  2. Do I need to have an appointment, or can I just walk in?

    Appointments are recommended. Appointments are sometimes available on a walk-in basis, for example, when a consultant has no scheduled appointment or a writer cancels. You can schedule an appointment through the online scheduling system, TutorTrac, before midnight the day before you'd like an appointment. If you'd like an appointment for the current day, you can check for any available times by calling us at 260-481-5740, or stop by the Writing Center in Kettler G19.

  3. What should I bring?

    Any information you have about the assignment including your assignment sheet and any other handouts from the class. Also bring due dates, syllabus, textbook, notes, research, and your writing—in other words, anything you have on paper. If you don’t have anything on paper, bring your questions. Either way, bring a rough agenda of items to cover during your appointment and any questions you have to help you get the most out of your writing consultation time.

  4. When should I come?

    Come early in your writing projects (as early as the day you receive the assignment) and come often to allow ample time to develop, revise, and edit working drafts. Consider the time you spend working in the Writing Center part of the time it takes to produce a paper, not separate or additional time spent. If you’ve spent an hour staring at a blank screen or page, it’s time to stop and come in for an appointment. The Writing Center can help make your writing easier, more efficient, and save you time.

  5. How long are appointments?

    You can schedule appointments for 25 or 50 minutes, but we recommend 50-minute appointments. If we finish our consultation before the end of your appointment time, we will encourage you to continue working on your writing while your ideas are still fresh.

  6. What happens when I come in for an appointment?

    When you arrive for your appointment, you should initial next to your name on the sign-in sheet at the front desk so we know that you're here. We will also ask you to use your student username to log into the TutorTrac kiosk. If you're early, please help yourself to any refreshments, and feel free to relax in a seat or work at a computer. Your consultant will meet you in the waiting area.

    During your consultation in one of the private carrels, you will talk with a consultant one-to-one about your writing. At the end of the consultation, you and your consultant will write a brief summary of what you worked on, and that summary can be printed off as proof of attendance for you to give to your instructor.

  7. What if I don't have a draft or I don't understand my assignment?

    You don't have to have a draft to come in and talk with a consultant. We can help you brainstorm, organize your ideas or draft an outline if you're having trouble getting started. Often, a willing, curious, and nonjudgmental listener can be particularly helpful in the early stages of writing. Some students find it difficult to start their papers because they find college instructors’ expectations much different from those in high school—and we can help you understand those differences.

  8. How often can I have an appointment?

    You are allowed to sign up for 3 hours of writing assistance per week with no more than 1 hour per day. In order to get the most out of this time, you should consider scheduling appointments throughout the semester, and come prepared. (See: “What should I bring?” and “When should I come?”)

  9. What if I can't make my appointment?

    You are expected to cancel appointments you cannot keep so other students have the opportunity to have an appointment. Before midnight the day prior to your appointment, you can delete your appointment on TutorTrac. To cancel after midnight on the day of your appointment and at least two hours before your appointment, call 260-481-5740 and leave a voicemail clearly giving your name and the date and time of the appointment you are canceling. (Consider programming the number into your cell phone.)

    If you fail to cancel two appointments without notifying us at least two hours before the appointment or you totally miss two appointments, we may have to limit your visits to those available on a walk-in basis. Thank you for your cooperation!

  10. What if I'm going to be late to my appointment?

    We will wait for you five minutes past your appointment start time before working with another student. In other words, if you are late, you lose your appointment. Please do not schedule an appointment with a starting time you know you cannot keep, such as scheduling a 10:00 appointment when you’ll be in class until 10:15. (See: “What if I can’t make it to my appointment?”)

  11. My teacher requires that I come here. How do I get proof?

    Your proof is the conference summary that you and the consultant write together at the end of your consultation or is the consultant’s e-mail response to an online consultation. (We do not give other forms of proof.) The consultant prints out the conference summary for you to give to your instructor. Be sure to ask for the printout, but if you forget, you can request another copy later.

  12. Does the Writing Center just work with English papers only, or can I work on anything I'm writing?

    As long as you are enrolled in an IPFW class or are an IPFW employee, you are welcome to bring in any writing. We frequently work with lab reports, speeches, and senior projects. We also will help you construct personal statements for scholarship or graduate school applications. If you would like feedback on composing an assignment, syllabus, or an article for publication, you may wish to contact the Writing Center Coordinator before scheduling an appointment.

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