Thursday, March 1, 2007
When I first heard about the KU Writing Center, I imagined it as an exclusive hangout for writers. I thought it would have sort of a mystical, Bohemian atmosphere where creative individuals could search for truth and change the world one work at a time.
However, when I found out it was actually a center for students to go to get advice and help with papers, I thought, “Oh well, I don’t need to go there. I write English good.”
Although I may be a strong English student, that doesn’t mean the writing center can’t be helpful to me. It is open to all students who should all take advantage of this free service.
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The tutors are not there to do the work for you. They are not grammar Nazis who will take a pen and shoot down all your imperfect punctuation marks leaving your paper to earn an ‘A’. They will, however, show you techniques you can use to help your ideas flow better.
The center helps students focus on the writing process from all aspects ranging from brainstorming, to revising to banging your head on the wall in frustration. You can go in with just your assignment sheet and blank brain and the writing center can help you.
I should probably define what I mean by help. I’m currently enrolled in the class you take to become a writing consultant, and I was surprised at what the role of a writing tutor really entails. We’ve discovered the tutors’ main focus to help produce better writers, not better writing.
The tutors are not there to do the work for you. They are not grammar Nazis who will take a pen and shoot down all your imperfect punctuation marks leaving your paper to earn an ‘A’. They will, however, show you techniques you can use to help your ideas flow better. They can teach you how to fix your mistakes and ask you a lot of questions which might get you thinking in a new way, or just thinking in general.
The center not only teaches how to write, but it can be a good place to have someone take a fresh look at your paper and get critical feedback. Although a writing consultant probably doesn’t understand quantum physics (who does?) they can still read your lab report and tell you if it makes sense. In fact, having someone who doesn’t know what you’re writing about can help because if they come out of your paper completely understanding what’s going on, then you’ve written a great paper. If he or she doesn’t understand, you now know you need to make your points clearer.
The main writing center is on the fourth floor of Wescoe; yet there are many places on campus called Writer’s Roosts. To find the center nearest you, go to www.writing.ku.edu.
Remember, going to the writing center doesn’t mean you are accepting defeat and admitting you’re a bad writer. Collaboration is a key element to writing. You’re being a smart writer by using your resources. It’s the “write” thing to do.
Hartz is a sophomore in creative writing.
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