Instructors can schedule Brief Writing Center Presentations, during which writing mentors will highlight writing support and services available to students through the Writing Center. Typically, these presentations take place during the first few weeks of the semester but can be scheduled at any time. This presentation takes approximately 10 minutes. They must be requested at a minimum of one week in advance.
Virtual Brief Presentation
Writing Topic Presentations
We also offer Writing Topic Presentations on specific writing topics, including:
MLA 8
APA 7
Organizing an Essay
Writing an Argument
A different topic upon special request
These presentations take approximately 30-45 minutes. They must be requested at minimum two weeks in advance. If you are requesting that the Writing Center present on a topic we do not yet have materials on, we ask that you be available to meet in person to discuss the nature of the content and needs of your students. Requests for presentations on topics we do not yet have may need to be postponed until the next semester to ensure quality of instruction and materials.
In-Class Mentoring
The Writing Center also offers In-ClassMentoring to help writers in your classroom at any stage of the writing process. With In-Class Mentoring, a mentor will come to your classroom to work with students individually, offering specific writing support based on your students’ needs.
Mentors can help with a variety of topics, such as:
Generating ideas/prewriting
Creating drafts
Revising
MLA, APA, or Chicago Style
Using and integrating sources
Other writing needs based on your class and assignment
They must be requested at minimum two weeks in advance
Fellows
Another option for in class assistance is the Writing Fellows Program which embeds peer writing mentors in writing-intensive courses, offering writing support to your students. In order to better assist writers, Writing Fellows receive materials, support, and training to learn about your discipline’s genre conventions and expectations.
For questions and scheduling, contact Jasmine Castillo, Writing Center Coordinator, via e-mail at castiljs@lewisu.edu or by calling (815) 836-5664.
Writing Center Syllabus Blurb
The Writing Center, located on the first floor of the library, is an academic service that provides writing support. Mentors, who come from a variety of majors, are trained to collaborate with students, ask helpful questions, and offer useful writing strategies.
Visit the Writing Center for writing support at any stage of the writing process. All mentors can help with any writing activity, including:
Generating ideas
Developing content
Forming coherent paragraphs
Improving language choices
Refining sentence flow
Developing revision skills
Utilizing citation and formatting styles
Students don’t have to wait for an instructor to invite them to visit the Center. All writers benefit from sharing their work with an audience and receiving feedback.
Writing Center peer mentors will help you improve your writing by focusing the session on global issues such as development and organization and local issues like punctuation and word usage. The mentor will not correct or edit your work for you; instead, they will offer strategies you may use to write more effectively. Currently, the Writing Center offers:
Online Response Appointments (feedback through email)
Real Time Phone Appointments (feedback over the phone)
Video Appointments (using Teams)
Fact-to-Face Appointments (on the first floor of the Library)
After each session, the mentor will email you and your instructor a summary of the work you accomplished during the session.
Scheduling and Preparing for Your Writing Center Appointment
Be sure to upload your draft, assignment sheet, and rubric and to include your instructor’s name and email address when scheduling your appointment
To access our Online Writing Lab or for more information about our services, hours of operation, and location, visit lewisu.edu/writingcenter/writinglab.htm
