Contact info
delagrange.2@osu.edu
Office O-240
Hours 11-12:30 TR
419.755.4235 (O)
419.368.8371 (H)
Updated 10.10.2004

Links
Weblog
Class schedule
Class policies

Resources
Links here

Texts


Ryan, Leigh. The Bedford Guide for Writing Tutors. 3d ed. Boston: Bedford, 2002. (BG)


Murphy, Christina and Steve Sherwood. The St. Martin's Sourcebook for Writing Tutors. 2d ed. New York: St. Martin's, 2003. (StM)


Kolln, Martha. Rhetorical Grammar: Grammatical Choices, Rhetorical Effects. 4th ed. New York: Longman, 2003. (RG)

You should also own a good dictionary and a good grammar and usage handbook (e.g. Faigley's Brief Penguin Handbook, Lunsford and Connor's The New St. Martin's Handbook or Hacker's A Writer's Reference).

Several floppy disks or a USB flash memory drive.

English 467: Writing & Learning
Writing Center Web Sites
Autumn 2004, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Susan Delagrange | e-mail me
 
Michigan Tech
  http://www.hu.mtu.edu/wc/
      There are 8 different sections to this website. From the hours opened to the staff and "coaches" available to help, everything is layed out and visible to the student and or those needing access to the webpage. Each section is easy, clear and precise in helping the student get to where they need to go. There's a section with writing tips and how to formulate papers, even a section dedicated to those with "learning differences."
The pictures on the home page and through out the site are relaxing (waterfalls and rivers), and encouraging to those seeking help.
  Reviewed by Rebecca Rogers
 
University of Rhode Island Writing Center
  http://www.uri.edu/artsci/writing/Writing_Center_Pages/
      This website was a very welcoming site. The motto was “All writers, all levels, all disciplines, all stages of writing.” This allows students to recognize that everyone can ask for help, even upper level students. Pictures of students and tutors decorated the page. This was a welcoming aspect because if you recognize a tutor in person from seeing them on the site, you may initially feel more comfortable.
Prior to feeling welcomed, it was not the easiest task to find the writing center page. After searching different headings on the home page, I finally realized the only way to the writing center was typing it in under “search.” The actual location of the writing center was easy to see, “Fourth Floor in Roosevelt Hall,” but the room number was not included.  This might shy students away if they are not familiar with the building and fear it may be difficult to find.
Headings and topics included:  

Hours & Operation
Reference library
Writing Center Resources
English as a Second Language
Tips for Students and Staff
URI Libraries

The category of “English as a Second Language” held a lot of information and was very clear and understandable, which seemed appropriate.
Overall this site was clear, precise and enjoyable to look at.

  Reviewed by Mary Thorburn
 
Georgia State University Center for Writing and Research
  http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwcwr/
      The web site that I looked at was the Center for Writing and Research at Georgia State University. There were five easily marked main icons which consisted of Services, Recourses, Research, Opportunities, and Links. There was also Regent Exam Information, Private Tutors, and a place to meet the staff. The site also included contact information, the dates and times that it is available to students, and its location on campus. The overall feel of the site is inviting with all the different blocks of color that contain the information. It also contains friendly pictures of tutors with students. One positive aspect of the site is how easy it is to maneuver through. The main icons are easy to find. When I tried the resource link, for example, I got many links to helpful resources. I also liked the mission statement that appears clearly at the bottom and the "tip of the day" on the main page of the resource link. I thought this website was extremely organized and inviting.
  Reviewed by Lyndsay Williams
 
University of Arkansas Writing Lab
  http://www.ualr.edu/~owl/
      This site will enable you to access resources which include the MLA,APA, and WPE preparation. There are links for proofreading tips, grammar help, having fun with writing, and even additional resources if necessary. The adjunct links, Campus Links and Computer Help, are awesome to use. These will take you into the world of exploration. There are many helpful tips and information about computers. The Arkansas Writing Lab offers to help anyone by email. They only ask for a 24 hour notice.
  Reviewed by Sherry Frost
 
Stanford University
   
      In general the design of Stanford's Writing Center web-site was ominous. It seemed more business-like, than focused on writing. There were no pictures of student's working on projects on the site. There was just nothing there to promote a positive outlook for their writing center.
The site did offer schedules and contact information. It also provided a map and room numbers for students not familiar with the university.
The one thing I did like about what the site offered on the informative side was some background on theory. It offered the information on what rhetorical theories their writing center was based upon. I thought this was unique, but interesting as well.
Overall for a university as well known as Stanford, and one that leads the country in academics, I expected much more than their site offered.
  Reviewed by Todd Jones
 
DePaul University Writing Center
  http://condor.depaul.edu/~writing/
      The DePaul University Writing Center website is a fairly a basic site, with a pull down menu and buttons for other menus that make the site easy to navigate. However, the content of the site is far from basic. The DePaul site has many options to help find what you need. The ability to send a paper in for review by a tutor is especially helpful. There are several other helpful aspects to the site, including worksheets for grammar, links to various style manuals, and a place to schedule a person-to-person appointment at the actual center. The site even includes special help for English as a Second Language students.
  Reviewed by Erin Bistline
 
Colorado College Writing Center
  http://www.coloradocollege.edu/writigcenter/
      The site explains what the writing center is and the function it serves for the students at Colorado University. The services provided are listed as links, such as courses, staff, list of resources, and make an appointment. The staff link goes to a list of the staff with their pictures, positions, favorite part of the writing process, and favorite word. The pictures were often amusing, like the director, Krista Caufman, is shown with her cute, furry, little white dog.
The most helpful element of the web site is the list of resources link which takes the writer to various information, like how to do a close reading, write creatively, think critically, and use correct grammar. Further down on the page, past the links, are the words, "We're Hiring/ Apply Here." Next comes the address, telephone number, and times when the writing center is open. Scroll all the way down and there is a section of text where the fourth word is 'free'. Free is a very effective word when speaking (or writing) to an audience of college students.
While the site does not offer on line tutoring, it still seems to be a valuable resource for Colorado Collegians. The students can go to the site, look up a writing question, schedule a tutoring session, or find out what time the center is open.
  Reviewed by Sarah Stevens
 
University of Minnesota OWC
  http://www.owc.umn.edu/
      While many educational institutes offer a writing center facility for their students, there are but, a handful that offer facilities that are accommodating to any student anywhere.  The University of Minnesota, in St. Paul, Minnesota, has devised an entirely online collaboration of resources that any writer can access and use regardless of where they, (the writer), attends school. 
When visiting this website a writer can browse through categories of information that include the following:  Business, Technical & Scientific Writing, Special Topics including writing literature reviews and preparing presentations, Documenting Sources, Grammar and Mechanics, and The Writing Process.  While these are categories that can be accessed, explored, and used by anyone, the site also includes categories directed solely at their own student body.
There is a place for writers to submit and retrieve items they have written for constructive criticism from tutors which can be done completely online but is directed toward students attending the University of Minnesota.  The site also provides information to Minnesota students on how to contact and meet with tutors in person.  It includes information such as where to find them and at what time they can be of service to anyone in need of help.
The best thing about the OWC is that it can be accessed twenty-four hours a day.  This is very convenient for the late night writer that does not have access to a writing handbook but desperately needs to finish a paper for a next morning turn in.   Many writers hit a wall when it comes to documenting sources and have no way to get it right in the wee hours of the morning without having a handbook close at hand.  This site annihilates the late night, two hour search for a book that has been shoved under a bed somewhere.  Just type in the URL and click the link for a thirty second search that provides useful answers. It couldn’t be simpler. 
This site is has a very simple design and is very easy to use.  When a writer reaches the site a home page titled, “Welcome to the Online Writing Center” will appear.  In a column on the left side is a list of “online resources” of which a viewer need only pick a category to be whisked away to a page that offers links to various pages containing helpful information.  This site is so easy to use any individual with the ability to read and comprehend will have no trouble using it.
  Reviewed by Rachel Hilson
 
Purdue University Online Writing Lab
  http://owl.english.purdue.edu/index.html
      Purdue University's Online Writing Lab, nicknamed OWL, was the first Internet writing center. Since its creation in 1993, OWL has become one of the most useful online writing labs. Some of their services include e-mail tutoring, answers to frequently asked questions, free weekly e-mail newsletters about writing, a tutorial on searching the Internet, and a helpful search engine collection. The best features of this site are the computer-friendly handouts designed to solve many writing concerns.  OWL covers everything from English as a second language to assistance with grammar, punctuation, and spelling. If there are questions that OWL does not answer, they also offer information about other online writing labs. The look of the homepage opens with a stylish emblem and the navigation is easy to follow, so when writing assistance is necessary, <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/index.html>http://owl.english.purdue.edu/index.html> is the best place to visit.
  Reviewed by Monica Miller
 
Boise State Writing Center
  http://www.boisestate.edu/wcenter
      The Boise State Writing Center is a good place to get resource information about the writing styles like MLA format and others. This website is inviting when opened, with all of the links setting right there. Granted it is more geared toward the university students use. It gives basic information about the writing center in the school, but doesn't give a hands on help like you would expect to get in a tutoring environment. The downside to this web page is there isn't some who could be there to help you. You have to do it yourself. The related links are helpfull on the web page. They help you with formats of writing.
  Reviewed by Stephanie Schlitz
 
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Writing Center
  http://www.unlv.edu/Writing_Center/
      What is black and white, and read (red) in some places?? No, it's not the Mansfield News Journal it's the website for UNLV's Writing Center. A website that I'm sure could help a number of writers from that prestigious media outlet. Seriously (folks), the school colors (red and black) adorn not only the writing center page, but also any link you jump to within the university's website. The welcome page to the Writing Center informs the visitor of hours of operation, location by building number and also photo picture so you can search by landmark. The left side of the page lists typical links to common information related to the site. For example, Who We Are, Appointments, and FAQ, are links that cover all the necessary bases that put both the seeker at ease and the university off the hook.   The item I felt was the most helpful was the FAQ section. It gave "backbone" or perhaps credentials to the validity and purpose of the writing center. I especially enjoyed the part about loosing "appointment making privileges" [quotes mine], when a student does not properly cancel an appointment to see a tutor.   Contrary to OSU-M and perhaps OSU main campus, the Writing Center employs mainly those professionals with a Master's degree and above, and only a few high quality undergrads with exceptional writing skills.   This is not a complaint, just an observation.   Finally, I would recommend the site as being very helpful in the field of writing, as long as they're willing to look through the site themselves.
  Reviewed by James Eagle
 
University of Findlay Writing Center
  http://www.findlay.edu/offices/asc/writingcenter/index.html
      The UF's Writing Center Site is outlined in the colors red and black, which could be the school's colors. On the first page is the mission statement, which reads, " The mission of the Academic Support Center is to provide opportunities through classes, tutoring, mentoring, advising and specialized programs for students to be academically successful at UF and to collaborate with faculty, staff and administrators in addressing the learning needs, academic performance and retention of students." On the left-hand side are the links to various places: Services offered, where the office is located, hours of operation, links to meet the staff (which I would find extremely helful as I like to know who I am working with), MLA Style Links, What tutors do/not do, and Peer tutor qualifications. You may also get the telephone number to the writing center online so that you can make an appointment. I like that the student has so much information before s/he steps into the writing center. At the top of the page is a series of links that go elsewhere in the university, such as Admissions, Academics, Athletics, Search, Events, and the Library. At the very bottom of the page is UF's street address a telephone number. This page looks like it has been professionally done since (in my opinion) amateurs seem to put flashing links and words everywhere and this looks formal and one thing does not dominate the page.
  Reviewed by Jennifer Ball