Hannah Arendt wrote, "For excellence, the presence of others is always required." Recent studies in Composition demonstrate that the same is true for writing. We learn in the presence of others by using writing as a social act. We learn by using writing to explore ideas and eventually, to commit words to paper that we are willing to stand behind. The purpose of the Center is to foster a community that will be conducive to the long term development of writing ability. We hope that we serve as a hub for writing activities on campus, a place where writers of all levels, students and teachers, can discuss their work with other interested writers.
The Writing Center staff and the writers who attend tutorials primarily explore issues of argument, organization, and synthesis. We try to promote a critical--rather than a formulaic--understanding of the different genres, discourses, and voices available to us in academic writing. These are not skills that are acquired at a given age and then simply put to use, but continuously evolving concepts that develop as experience with life and the academic community grows and deepens. We will assist students who need help in meeting last minute deadlines, but our primary commitments are long term. We want to 1) build better writers through individual conferencing on students' drafts and papers, and 2) provide a bridge between the writing instruction students receive in their first year and the writing projects they will encounter as they confront new and challenging material during the rest of their time at Saint Joseph's. Our staff is primarily composed of undergraduate peer tutors trained in "Writing Fellows: Peer Tutoring, Theory and Practice" (English 2681).
The main services the Writing Center provides are: 1) individual tutorials for students; 2) presentations for classes on the writing center or on specific issues regarding academic or creative writing assignments; 3) workshops for teachers regarding assessment, assignments, collaboration or peer review; 4) Writing Fellows who have been trained as liaisons between the Writing Center and individual classrooms. Teachers may also contact the Center for individual appointments. The Writing Center is eager to provide support and encouragement for anyone interested in discussing ways of improving and supporting student writing.
Dr. Ann Green
Dr. April Lindner is an assistant professor of English and the director of the Writing Center. She can be e-mailed at alindner@sju.edu.Dr. Ann Green is an associate professor of English and the founding director of the Writing Center.