FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
"Saving the World, One Paper at a Time"
- Q: When are you open?
- A: During the fall and spring terms the writing center is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:00 pm. Summer hours are contingent upon funding.
- Q: Where are you?
- A: The Writing Center is located in the Academic building in room 102.
- Q: What can I get from visiting the writing center?
- A: The writing center is an extension of the classroom. It is a place where you can get help with any stage of any writing process, from interpreting an assignment and planning a paper through composing a paper to editing and revising a paper. Our tutors will also offer individualized instruction on grammar, mechanics, and style.
- Q: Do I need to make an appointment to see a tutor?
- A: No, you do not. You may simply walk in the writing center door and work with a tutor. However, you may also schedule an appointment to reserve a time for your tutoring session by putting your name in a time slot on the schedule just inside the center door (this is recommended during peak essay writing times during the semester).
- Q: Where can I learn about the regents test?
- A: You can learn all about what the regents test is, how to prepare for it, and when to take it, here at this link.
- Q: Where can I get ideas for how to write introductions and conclusions, organize body paragraphs, and develop my papers?
- A: Visit the Online Writing Labs (OWLs) from major American universities linked here. Simply type in a keyword related to the topic of your query and the OWL will direct you to the appropriate online tutorial.
- Q: Where can I get some guidelines for fixing my grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and style on the world wide web?
- A: Visit the Online Writing Labs (OWLs) from major American universities linked here. Simply type in a keyword related to the topic of your query and the OWL will direct you to the appropriate online tutorial.
- Q: Where can I learn how to document sources using MLA or APA style?
- A: Visit the Online Writing Labs (OWLs) from major American universities linked here. Simply click on the link in the upper left hand of the OWL homepage that corresponds to the style guide you need to access.
- Q: What is plagiarism?
- A: Plagiarism is intellectual theft. It involves copying other people's words and ideas and passing them off as if you wrote them and thought them up yourself.
- Q: How do I avoid plagiarism?
- A: You are allowed to use other people's ideas and even words in your papers. There are three ways to do so: through summary, through paraphrase, and through direct quotation.
You can get tips on how to summarize, paraphrase, and quote from these linked Online Writing Labs.
Whenever you summarize, paraphrase, or quote, however, you must give credit to the authors whose words and ideas you are using. You do this by citing your sources; you can get tips on how to cite your sources from these linked Online Writing Labs.
