Student FAQ
Who comes to the Writing Center?
Concordia students come to the Writing Center because they know it’s a good idea to talk about their writing and get some feedback. Writers bring in all kinds of writing assignments from courses across the curriculum—social science, business, education, communication, English and many more. It’s a myth that writing centers are for bad writers; the CWC is a place for all writers!
When should I visit?
As soon as possible! Don’t come in the day before an assignment is due; give yourself plenty of time to think, write and revise.
Do I need an appointment?
You can drop by the Writing Center without an appointment, however, we recommend you make one to ensure that a consultant is available to work with you.
How do I make an appointment?
You can schedule an appointment by coming by the Writing Center in Theta Lounge, or by calling (949) 214-3444 from off campus, or x3444 if you’re on campus.
What should I expect at my first appointment?
Appointments are usually half an hour. Bring your questions and a draft if you have one. Your writing consultant will want to read the specific assignment so be sure to bring that with you as well. The consultant will then ask you what you’d like help with. After reading the paper together, the two of you will begin discussing it. The writing consultant will respond as a critical reader to what you’ve written, pointing out sections that work well and places with problems. You’ll learn strategies to improve those areas that need strengthening.
Writing consultants focus on the big concerns first. For example, they’ll check to make sure you’re following the assignment guidelines, that your thesis is clear and that your paper is developed logically. After that, they can help you with concerns about style, grammar, word choice, etc.
How do I prepare for a session?
To prepare for a session, please bring in the assignment, a paper or an idea for a paper, and allow ample time after your appointment to rethink and revise your work before it is due. Have clear directions from your professor on what kind of paper you are writing and what documentation style, if any, is required. If these instructions are unclear to you, ask your professor. At times, you may need help getting started. That's fine. Just remember to bring in your assignment sheet, extra paper for writing notes and ideas, and a clear sense of what you want to work on. It will be important for you to tell the consultant what you’d like to focus on during your session.
Do we proofread papers?
We don’t proofread a paper for you. That would help us become great editors, but it wouldn’t make you a better writer. We’ll work with you so that you will become a better proofreader of your own work.
Will visiting the Concordia Writing Center help me earn an A on my paper?
The purpose of the CWC is to help make you a better writer, not write a better paper. Because writing improvement takes time, we cannot promise that you will receive an A on your assignment, but we can promise that with practice you will become a better writer.
What else does the Writing Center have?
In addition to our friendly consulting staff, the CWC has dictionaries, thesauruses, writing handbooks, business writing books, style and grammar sheets, and “cheat sheets” on MLA and APA documentation style. We also have a comfy couch, a fireplace, and candy.