The Writing Center at Western Oregon University provides free services to help students with all stages of the writing process for any class, from brainstorming ideas to final editing to ensure assignments meet the professor's requirements, with tutors available for individual and group sessions during daytime and evening hours by appointment or on a walk-in basis. The Writing Center aims to promote student success by assisting with understanding assignments, developing outlines, checking that papers meet the specified directions, exploring revision options, and addressing error patterns in students' writing.

1. What We Can Do for You Western Oregon University Writing Center

2. A Few Fast Facts WOU is a writing-intensive campus, which means two things for you: (1) you will be writing from your freshman year until graduation, and (2) you will be writing in nearly all of your classes, regardless of the discipline. The WOU Writing Center has one goal: we exist to serve you, by promoting your chances for success on all of your college writing assignments. The WOU Writing Center is a FREEservice to students.

3. We’re More Than Meets the Eye MYTH: perfect grammar ensures perfect grades on written assignments. REALITY: the #1 reason students do not earn good grades on written assignments is because they did not follow a professor’s assignment directions. The majority of first-time users of the Writing Center are astounded by the services provided. They often begin tutoring sessions believing that a tutor will edit the paper but soon learn that they have not met part, or even all, of the assignment requirements. The tutor will then assist the student in meeting the assignment.

4. Our Services WOU students are invited to utilize Writing Center services at a variety of stages in your writing processes: understanding assignment directions brainstorming ideas creating outlines, maps, or skeletons checking to see that your project specifically meets the directions specified by your instructor exploring practical routes for revision and development adhering to format and style guides (e.g., AAA, APA, APSA, CBE, Chicago, and MLA) and becoming familiar with Easybib editing: while tutors avoid "fixing" your writing, they do help you become conscious of, and proactive about, particular error patterns that emerge in your written work. The Writing Center also offers supplemental instruction (WCSI) to help you develop the writing skills that professors expect.

5. Here’s What Works As soon as you receive an assignment in a class, make a plan to visit the Writing Center several times and in stages: Session One: 30 minutes to brainstorm with a tutor by creating a map or outline for the paper Session Two: 30-60 minutes to have the tutor read for discrepancies and mismatches between the assignment directions and the essay you have written Session Three: 30-60 minutes to refine and fine tune the work for submission to your professor

6. Give Us A Try Go to www.wou.edu/writingcenter to make an appointment--we look forward to working with you. Writing Center: APSC 301 Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.Friday, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Night Hours: HL 116 Sunday-Thursday, 7:00-10:00 p.m.walk-in sessions only: first come, first served