Writing Center Basics

By Daniel Millerand Adam Rosseau

(© DBU University Writing Center)

What is the Writing Center?

The Dallas Baptist University Writing Center provides…O Opportunities to improve academic writing

skills.O Free, individual consultations.O Qualified and trained writing consultants.

Where is the Writing Center?

Room 001, basement of Collins Bldg.O Upon entering the first floor of the Collins,

head to one of the back corners.O Take the stairs (or the elevator) to the

basement.O The UWC is located right next to the

elevator and the break room.

When is the Writing Center open?

O Fall: Monday-Thursday 9:00 – 9:00, Friday 9:00 – 5:00O Spring: Monday-Thursday 9:00 – 8:00, Friday 9:00 –

5:00O CLOSED: Monday/Wednesday 10:00 – 11:00 for

chapel Monday-Friday 12:00 – 1:00 for lunch

O Full-Service Saturdays: usually 2nd Saturday of the month, 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. Please check the official DBU schedule for all full service Saturday dates.

O Please contact the UWC for hours during breaks, summer terms, and winter terms.

The UWC can help you…

O Generate ideas for your essays.O Organize your paper.O Format your paper.O Identify and correct grammatical errors.O Improve your writing style.O Interpret an instructor’s comments on a

graded paper.O Avoid specific problems you may often

have trouble with.

The UWC cannot…O Help you less than two hours before your

paper is due.O Write for you.O Tell you what to write.O Mark on your paper.O Proofread, revise, or correct your paper for

you.

The UWC cannot…O Take responsibility for finding all your

mistakes.O Estimate the grade you may earn.O Help you with essay exams or tests.O Discuss instructors or other students with

you.O Take responsibility for the grade you receive

—all comments made by the UWC should be considered advice, not authority.

The Consultation Session

O Face-to-face consultations are the most beneficial, but we provide telephone, email, and Wimba video consultations as well.

O A UWC consultation session is limited to one hour, but they usually last about thirty minutes.

O A consultant will consider no more than two double-spaced pages for grammar and up to five pages for appropriate content and structure—if applicable—within the time constraint.

Appointments…O Are strongly encouraged!O Must be made a day in advance.O Are given top priority.O Walk-ins will be accommodated only if there

are available tutors and time permits.

Please note: if you are more than fifteen minutes late for an appointment, you will

forfeit the appointment time and must reschedule.

Bring…O Your student IDO A printed copy of the paper.O Your ideas, questions, and research

materials if you have not yet started writing.

O Assignment sheet, syllabus, instructor’s comments, or any other material that gives specific information about the assignment.

Contact Information

Telephone:214-333-5474

Email:writingcenter@dbu.edu

Website:www.dbu.edu/uwc