The Writing Skills Center:
Across the nation, more and more community colleges are building Writing Skills Centers to aid students. A center such as this allows students to work one-on-one with a professional tutor to enhance their writing skills. This is a valuable resource to have on campuses, as sometimes students need a different perspective or more time to understand a topic or skill. The Writing Skills Center is a perfect place for them to sharpen their skills, which then translates into their writing assignments.
The Benefits
It is my belief that any level of student can benefit from a session with a tutor. I have been a professional tutor for over a year and have worked with the highest level of students, to the lowest of levels. At the community college level, many students are not prepared for the learning that takes place in the classroom. Often times, students have not performed the type of thinking that is required to be successful in their course-work, mainly critical thinking or “thinking outside the box.” Other times, students just fall behind or are a little slower in grasping a process, skill, or term.
Students should have full confidence that The Writing Skills Center can help them. As a tutor, my job is to help the student, and I give them my full attention. The Writing Skills Center is a welcoming place and a place where all students should feel comfortable sharing their difficulties. Tutors will listen and map out a plan for success.
I have seen students who could not even begin to tell you how to write a paragraph, write strong, error free paragraphs by the end of the semester, because of their time spent in The Writing Skills Center. Everyone can benefit from extra help. Whether one needs help with grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, organization, or any process or skill in writing, there should be no reason for students to hesitate in engaging in a tutoring session.
A Common Misconception
Students learn quickly that The Writing Skills Center is not a place where their papers will be proof-read. Tutors will not read through a paper and correct mistakes; this is not a beneficial process. Rather, the goal of a tutoring session is for the student to leave with a better understanding of a skill and process, not a better paper. This can be frustrating for some students, but tutors try to ask questions so that they can target problem areas in the student’s writing. When tutors are able to key in on a student’s weaknesses, then they are able to engage the student in conversations and activities that will hopefully enhance their understanding of that particular problem area.
The Tutors and the Future of Writing Skills Centers
Credit has to be given to the tutors who make the centers operate. Most tutors are faculty members, mainly professors, who take extra time out of their schedules to work with students. Often, these tutors are working for free. It goes to show that many faculty members genuinely care for the students.
I believe that Writing Skills Centers will continue to emerge in community colleges across the nation. In my experience, I have seen first-hand how vital a resource such as a Writing Skills Center can be in helping students succeed. With great staff, and support from the college, these centers should always be available for students. As for the student, stop in and see what the Writing Skills Center can do for you.
David Marsh - I am an English Professor at Robeson Community College, which is located in North Carolina. I hope to share with people some ideas and ...
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