Writing Center introduces online services

Tuesday, November 4, 2008, By News Staff

SU News Services
(315) 443-3784

Need writing help but can’t stop by Syracuse University’s Writing Center? Try the Writing Center’s new online consulting services. The services include e-mail and one- on-one consultations via instant messaging. Students can also schedule and cancel appointments online using a program called WCOnline.

Administered by the Writing Program in The College of Arts and Sciences, the Writing Center (located in Room 101 of H.B. Crouse Hall) is a University-wide service designed to help students, faculty and staff become better writers.

“Smart, successful students from across the University use the services offered by the Writing Center,” says Jason Luther, Writing Center administrator. “Our expanded services will enable more students to become part of that tradition. These online services now make us available 24/7 to SU students who are working in a nearby classroom on the Quad, in their residence hall, or as far away as Shanghai.”

Among the new online services:

  • eWC: Students e-mail questions or a draft of their paper via a request form that requires them to provide details about the assignment and a brief explanation of major concerns. A Writing Center consultant then responds with observations and suggestions within 48-60 hours. Students can also choose the feedback format that best meets their needs-a Microsoft Word file, an e-mail response or audio feedback via an MP3 file.
  • Instant messaging: Students chat one-to-one with a writing consultant using AOL Instant Messenger, iChat, Google Talk or Jabber. Appointments can be made by choosing the “Instant Message” schedule when logging on to WCOnline.

Writing Center consultants work one-on-one with SU students of various academic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Writing Center consultants understand the challenges writers face throughout the writing process. Whether it’s planning for a paper, reorganizing main ideas, incorporating sources or polishing a final draft, consultants can help students identify and design strategies for meeting their desired goals.

For more information about the Writing Center’s new online services, visit http://wc.syr.edu or call the Writing Center at 443-5289.