The Writing Center’s professional tutors are eager to help students in any course, regardless of their level of experience, expertise or confidence as writers.
The Writing Center is located in L-012.
Writing Center tutors work by appointment with students individually or in small groups (tutors facilitate these group sessions of 2-3 students). To schedule appointments, students can come to L-012 or call (778-5632).
The Writing Center’s Schedule
The Writing Center follows SUNY Broome’s class schedule (we close during breaks and when the campus is closed due to weather or other emergencies).
During the Summer 2017 our Hours of Operation are:
Tuesday, June 6 through Thursday, August 10
Tuesdays 11:00am-1:00pm
Wednesdays 11:00am-2:00pm
Thursdays 11:00-1:00pm
Writing Center Summer 2017 Schedule
How We Work
Because we write to communicate, every writer needs a reader!
At the most basic level we write to express our ideas, to share them with others. As Nigel Hamilton so aptly noted, “If the reader doesn’t understand what you’re saying, you’re talking to yourself.”
Writers publish to communicate. So the writer’s biggest fear is being unclear.
This is where the Writing Center comes in. A writing tutor is a live audience member, one who gives instant feedback on the clarity and presentation and development of ideas.
Tutors ask questions. They play Devil’s Advocate. Their comments model the questions students should ask of their own writing in the future. Together they develop strategies writers might use to address those questions.
Professional writers seek feedback and revise. Student writers should do the same.
All writers learn as they write: they learn about their topic, they learn about themselves, and they learn about their relationship with their audience. Writing tutors illuminate these processes and help writers bring their words more fully to life. From beginning students struggling to express themselves to advanced writers seeking confirmation of the power of their words, all will find that the Writing Center tutors provide a supportive audience in helping them achieve their goals.
Online Students
Limited online tutorial feedback is offered for students who are enrolled exclusively in online courses or for students who cannot come to the Writing Center during our business hours.
In tutorial sessions, tutors talk with students about their writing; we ask questions that help writers see their texts through the audience’s eyes and encourage them to explore options for drafting and revising their texts. Students often seek help with thesis statements, organization, development, citation of sources, development of proofreading strategies, and other concerns.
Questions?
During the Fall or Spring Semesters, if you have any questions, contact:
Michael Grubb
grubbmr@sunybroome.edu
607-778-5363 (or Broome extension 5363)
MLA: A New MLA Style (8th Edition) has been released!
In April 2016, the Modern Language Assoc. released a new way for citing sources in MLA-style papers.
For the present time, this means that you should NOT assume that automated online citation generators are accurate! Make sure that any source you consult indicates that it is up-to-date with the 8th edition changes. If you have more questions, check out the resources below.
Some helpful MLA resources:
SUNY Broome Library’s MLA Guide
The MLA Style Center’s Works Cited Quick Guide
The MLA’s Works Cited entry practice template (pdf file)
The Purdue University’s OWL MLA Formatting Section
A copy of the MLA Handbook’s 8th Edition can be found in the Writing Center, as well as updated handouts.
APA?
Using APA? Confused?
Some of the best resources for APA:
The Basics of APA Style tutorial (Flash)
Purdue’s OWL
Purdue Owl’s APA Workshop
SUNY Broome’s APA handout (PDF Download)
A copy of the APA 6th Edition can be found in the Writing Center, as well as updated handouts.
