Writing Sessions
What is a Writing Session?
Writing Sessions consist of either one half-hour or two half-hour consultations with a WA. For instance, if you have a 3 page paper, one half-hour session is usually sufficient, whereas if you have a 7-page paper, two half-hour sessions would work. These sessions are effective in helping students with the planning, drafting and revising stages of their writing. Writing Sessions help students to learn more about their writing process.
- The Writing Session between an Immaculata student and a Writing Assistant (WA) is collaborative in that we aim to help the student gain greater knowledge of his/her writing process.
- A Writing Session is about describing an effective process, not prescribing the product. We help students to make an informed effort to produce more effective texts.
- A Writing Session is a way for student writers to express their concerns, ask questions, and/or make comments about their writing.
- Students participating in Writing Sessions is a good thing-it shows that these writers are interested in learning writing skills that will enhance their writing.
- Your decision to come for a Writing Session is not about whether you are a "good" writer or a "bad" writer. We want to help you to learn more about how you write and how to make your writing stronger. In other words, even a writer who is already writing strongly and effectively could benefit from the different perspective of another writer, i.e. a Writing Assistant.
- We are not a proofreading or editing service. As students of higher learning you should be acquainted with a writing handbook, such as the APA or MLA manual or the Bedford Guide for Writers. These handbooks contain rules for proper grammar and the documentation style for your particular disciplines (English, Psychology, etc.).We will be more than happy to guide you with any questions you have about grammar and /or documentation style; however, we will not go over every period, comma, parenthesis and/or quotation mark with you. Most likely, you will have to write many papers in order to obtain your degree; therefore, you should become familiar with your strengths and weaknesses in grammar and the particular documentation styles by utilizing your writer's handbook.
How does a student sign up for a Writing Session?
Sign up on our sign-up sheet on the bulletin board outside the door of 103 Loyola Hall or call x3494 during Writing Center hours and ask a WA to sign up for you. Two sign up sheets are available on the bulletin board at all times-one for the present week and one for the following week.
You may also just walk-in, and if a WA is not in a Writing Session, you may sign up for a session then.
If you sign up for a session and cannot make it, either cross out your name or call during Writing Center hours to cancel.
Things to bring with you when you visit our center for writing assistance:
- Your writing assignment
- Any work you may have already started on your writing, for example notes, outline, and/or rough draft
- Your computer disk
- Your ideas and any questions you may have regarding your writing project (try to have these written down)
- Any feedback on your writing you have already received from your teacher
We look forward to working with you.