Academic
Commitment to Writing
Writing Across the Curriculum/ Office of Campus Writing
Writing is so central to learning and communicating information, knowledge, and understanding to others that it is a part of the curriculum in all undergraduate schools at IUPUI. In addition to the core writing program situated in the Department of English and the University Writing Center locations in Cavanaugh Hall and University Library, IUPUI has an Office of Campus Writing located in the Office of Professional Development in the University Library. It provides support for courses that require a significant writing component; assesses the overall quality and quantity of writing done by students at IUPUI; and correlates the expectations of faculty, the accomplishments of students, and the needs of employers in the community with respect to written communication. The Office of Campus Writing offers workshops throughout the year for faculty who wish to integrate writing more effectively into their courses. For more information, call (317) 278-1846.
The University Writing Centers
“Because writers need readers.”
Room: Cavanaugh 427 Phone: (317) 274-2049
Tutoring sessions by appointment
| Monday thru Friday | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
University Library Room #2125 Phone: (317) 278-8642
| Monday thru Wednesday | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Thursday | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
Online consulting is available. Please see http://liberalarts.iupui.edu/uwc/ for more details.
What is University Writing Centers?
The University Writing Center (UWC) is a service available to all IUPUI students, both graduate and undergraduate. Students can work one-on-one with experienced readers and writers to improve their writing process and receive constructive feedback on their assignments. UWC tutors act as a "practice audience" to help writers see how their work is perceived by a real reader.
Students often visit the UWCs for the first time while enrolled in freshman composition courses (W130, W131, W2231, W270, and EAP W001 and W131, for example). However, the UWC welcomes students who write in any discipline (political science, psychology, engineering, physical education, etc.) or for any purpose (course papers, resumes, scholarship applications, graduate school statements, etc.).
Students may schedule 1 45-minute session per day, up to three sessions per week.
What is the UWC’s Attitude toward Students?
It’s very positive. Tutors don’t label writers “good” or “bad.” UWC tutors have learned that writing proficiency is based on experience. Like most skills, successful writing requires practice. With practice, most students can learn the skills they need to write effectively in college. With experience, writing usually becomes easier for them.
UWC tutors believe writing is a process. Few writers draft effective college papers in one sitting. Most go through stages as they write–they study assignment sheets, gather ideas, do some pre-writing or talk out their ideas with someone, experiment with what they have to say in early drafts–revise, revise, revise–then edit and proofread their work. Tutors are trained to talk with students at any stage in this process.
What Kind of Writers Go to the UWC?
The UWC helps all kinds of writers. UWC tutors work with inexperienced writers, offering support to those students as they practice the skills they need to become effective college writers. They also work with experienced writers (even faculty and staff writers), acting as practice audiences for experienced writers who have learned the value of trying out their ideas on readers as they draft and prepare projects for course work or publication.
How Do the UWC Go about Helping Writers?
Tutors focus on individual writers and their concerns. They work with students to help them understand assignments and brainstorm ideas, to discover and narrow topics, to support ideas with appropriate evidence, to see ways to revise drafts, and to plan, organize, and document long or short research papers.
For many writers, the hardest part of writing is getting ideas out of their heads and onto paper. UWC tutors ask questions and invite writers to talk about their writing projects. This conversation helps students clarify ideas and present them on paper. Tutors do not, however, do writers’ work for them. They work hard at helping writers learn strategies for helping themselves.
What Other Services Do the UWC Offer?
Tutors visit classes to talk about the University Writing Center's services and work with faculty to present workshops about writing-related issues. Interested faculty may contact Jennifer Price Mahoney at jpmahone@iupui.edu for additional information.
The UWCs’ Web site offers information about the center's services and has an array of handouts that can be downloaded from http://liberalarts.iupui.edu/uwc/
Guidelines for Students and Other Writers who Visit the University Writing Centers
Schedule a session in Cavanaugh 427 or at University Library Room 2125. Both UWC locations get busy during peak times of the day (10a.m.-3p.m.) and during the weeks before midterms and final exams when everyone has course papers and portfolios due. To make sure you can schedule a session at a time that is convenient for you, call (317) 274-2049 and reserve a session in advance. You can also schedule your own sessions by visiting http://uwconline.iupui.edu.
- Plan ahead. Visit one of the locations several days before your writing project is due so that you have time to continue working on your writing project. Don’t wait until the last minute!
- Come prepared. Tutors help best when you help them understand your writing project. Bring assignments sheets, class notes, instructor comments, scholarship application printouts, etc.
- Bring a draft in progress. Tutors can help you see ways to revise your draft. No draft yet? Tutors can talk with you to help you understand assignments or to help you get started.
- Bring realistic expectations. The UWC is not one-stop fix-it shops, and tutors won’t do your work for you. Most writers continue working on writing projects after they leave the UWC. Some writers schedule more than one session per writing project.
- Come in while response from tutors can help! UWC tutors specialize in helping students see ways to clarify ideas and improve drafts. Tutors can offer only limited help on the day papers are due.
- Come ready to work with tutors. Don’t expect tutors to give you all the answers. The most valuable tutoring sessions happen when students and tutors work together to improve a piece of writing.