The Writing Center’s Mission Statement

The Writing Center serves as a place where students can work to become better writers, as well as to improve specific pieces of written work.  We work with students of all levels of preparation and confidence who may be working at any stage of the writing process, from prewriting to revision.

The Writing Center’s Location and Schedule

The Writing Center is located in L-012.

Due to the social distancing practices of the COVID-19 response, we are suspending all in-person Writing Center sessions.  All students who can use the e-mail-based Online Writing Assistance option are encouraged to do so.  We regret any inconvenience.

Spring 2020

The Writing Center’s Online Writing Assistance will be active until Tuesday, May 19.

How We Work

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.

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 (+1 (607) 778-5632).

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.

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
+1 (607) 778-5363 (or Broome extension 5363)

MLA

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)
• 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)

A copy of the APA 7th Edition can be found in the Writing Center, as well as updated handouts.