Every Tuesday in OnCampus the Deputy Provost shares two articles with a read time of 10 minutes.

The Writing Workshop opened Monday, Feb. 7. It is a wonderful resource for all  students engaged in expanding skills in written communication.

The Workshop is staffed by peer tutors, all of whom have taken at least one course to train them and familiarize them with writing theory and pedagogy. Tutors help students identify areas of difficulty and work with them on a range of issues including fluency, organization, development, analysis and argument. Tutors also help students copyedit their work as needed. Tutors do NOT write papers for students, nor do they simply act as proofreaders. All work on development and copy reading takes place within the context of the student’s own writing.

How to sign up: The online address for student sign-up page site is library.drake.edu/writing. This site is also linked to the English website. The website itself will give students directions on how to proceed. Typically, an appointment is for one half hour. Students can sign up for more than one session if they choose. They may also request that a tutor keep a regular time slot available for them if they would like to come in each week. If students are having difficulty signing up, have them call The Writing Workshop at 271-4712. They can also email me with any concerns (jody.swilky@drake.edu).

Location: For Spring 2022 we will be offering tutoring in-person. The Writing Workshop is located in Cowles Library, Room 47, on the lower level. We are open:

• Monday through Friday during the day

• Monday through Thursday during the evening

• Saturday afternoon

• Sunday afternoon and evening

Communication with professors: If you refer your student to the workshop, please let us know via email (jody.swilky@drake.edu). Have them bring the assignment they are responding to, as well as any writing they have done to complete the assignment. As part of the first visit, tutors ask students if they have been referred. If a student is referred, the tutor will send an email letting you know that your student has attended, and will briefly describe what work was done. If a student attends on his or her own, we do not inform professors unless the student specifically asks us to.

Workshop services: In addition to tutoring students, workshop tutors are available to speak briefly to classes about the workshop. If you would like a tutor to come to your class, please call or email me. Please also feel free to call or email me with questions about writing, about working with students for whom English is not a first language, or with questions about any student who is having particular difficulty with writing.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost