The Writing Center
Whether you are writing an essay, a research report, a poem or a lab report, the Writing Center is the place to discuss your writing needs with a Writing Tutor.
Wherever you are in the writing process—planning, drafting, revising or editing—the Writing Center staff will assist you in developing the skills you need to become an effective and independent writer.
Hours, Locations and Appointments
View Hours, Locations and Appointment Info
The Writing Center offers walk-in hours or scheduled appointments.
*Please note: If you need to make an appointment outside the semester schedule or you are not currently enrolled at Owens, please email the Learning Commons.
What Kind of Help Is Available at the Writing Center?
At the Writing Center, you can get help with any of the following:
- Argument essays
- Audience and perspective
- Avoiding plagiarism (PPT)
- Developing thesis statements
- Grammar, punctuation and improving your draft
- Resumes (PDF)
- Summaries
- Synthesis essays
Can I Get Help With Writing in Any Subject?
Yes. The Writing Center assists students with any writing assignment in any subject. For example, we work with students on writing projects for the following subjects:
- Biology
- Business
- Composition
- Criminal justice
- Developmental writing
- ESL
- History
- Nursing
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Speech
Writing Tutors can also give you advice about your resume or scholarship essay.
Will Someone Revise, Edit or Proofread My Paper?
No. Allowing a tutor to revise, edit or proofread your work means you give up authorship of your writing and constitute plagiarism. However, we will offer you individual assistance and teach you the skills you need to engage in effective communication.
What Does It Cost To Use the Writing Center?
Nothing! The resources of the Writing Center are available free of charge to all currently enrolled Owens students.
Do I Need an Appointment?
Yes and no. We offer walk-in hours—no appointment necessary, as well as specific appointment hours.
Appointments must be requested at least 12 hours in advance. Students will receive an automated response in their Owens email.
Philosophy
Here are a few key beliefs of the Writing Center:
- Addressing the individual needs of writers is the Writing Center’s strength.
- The writing process, rather than the written product, is the key to successful writing.
- Text ownership is crucial to the development of writers.
- Strategies for improvement, rather than correcting, revising, editing or proofreading for writers, empower writers for the long term.
- Writers are best served in one-to-one conferences tailored to meet individual needs.
- Writers learn best when they are allowed to make informed decisions about their writing.
- Students are the primary focus.
- Although writing tutors can coach students, instructors are the ultimate authority regarding the merits of their students’ writing.
Writing tutors serve as readers and can assist writers in any discipline. In non-evaluative, non-directive sessions, writing conferences begin with higher-order issues (thesis, support, voice, tone, assignment guidelines and organization) before moving on to lower-order issues (sentence structure, usage, grammar, punctuation and spelling).
Since writing is recursive in nature, improving one’s writing and critical thinking skills takes place over time. As such, multiple visits to The Writing Center are necessary for writers to improve their written communication skills. Writers should come early and often during the writing process!