Help with Writing
The Writing Skills Center works on the premise that writers develop over the entire human lifespan, and all writers from student novices to practiced professionals can benefit from conversation with and advice from other writers. The Center serves as a resource for anyone in the college community who is interested in becoming a more competent and confident writer.
Locate/contact the Writing Skills Center
The Center is staffed by experienced professional tutors; most also teach English courses. Through years of honing their abilities in classrooms and writing centers, and through ongoing professional development, our tutors have become highly adept at working with writers at all points in their growth, and at every stage of the writing process. We offer three distinct kinds of services for students-one-to-one tutoring (a.k.a. "The Classic"), eTutoring, and NightWriter.
One-to-One
One-to-One is the time-tested, tried-and-true approach in which one student meets with one tutor, usually for one hour per week during the entire semester. Students may visit the Center to sign up for regular appointments (instructor referral needed) or to secure time for short-term assistance with specific projects (no referral needed). A limited number of drop-in sessions are also available. Students can check on the Center door or at the front desk for the most up-to-date drop-in schedule.
eTutoring
eTutoring pairs interested students with tutors experienced in online tutoring. Tutor and student usually meet once face-to-face to discuss each others needs and expectations. Tutoring proceeds asynchronously via email according to the schedule the pair develops. Students with busy and/or erratic schedules often choose eTutoring, and students are sometimes more willing to engage in eTutoring than in one-to-one.
NightWriter
NightWriter combines technology with evening hours to provide nighttime, just-in-time help with writing. Students email or submit via live chat their questions, and sometimes their writing-in-progress, to write@sunyocc.edu.
Live chat questions can be submitted by logging into ANGEL and clicking on the NightWriter link under the Community Groups section 9-midnight, Sunday thru Thursday.
Email questions can be submitted by sending them to write@sunyocc.edu Email received between 9:00 p.m. and midnight, Sunday through Thursday, receives near-immediate response. Questions emailed during hours when NightWriter is closed will be responded to by the tutor on call when NightWriter next opens.
What others are saying:
“As a first-time college student at the age of 47, it's been many years since I had to write a paper and I was very out of practice. Not only was the response from NightWriter prompt, it was detailed and specific in noting my errors.
I would highly recommend this service. My English professor had high expectations and NightWriter helped me figure out what I needed to do to meet those expectations.”
- Sheryl Wood, Humanities AA
What I found helpful with NightWriter was the ability to have my papers looked at by someone who could give me ideas and proof-read my papers with errors I couldn't catch.
- James Waugh, Professional Communications
