Proposal for Final Project

For the final project, those of us who wanted to do a project rather than an advice sheet discussed potential ideas.  Some had already figured out what they were doing.  A small group of us who were not quite certain about what we wanted to do for the project discussed ways in which the Writing Center could improve and increase its involvement and availability on campus.  We came up with a number of ideas of how the Writing Center could make itself more aware to students that it is a way to improve all writers, not just those in First Year courses.  One idea we had was to expand the availability of the Writing Center by offering stations in various parts of campus, such as Modlin and Gottwald to attract those students who may be deterred by the long walk at night to the Writing Center in Weinstein.  Also, we discussed holding open hours for students, similar to what the Career Development Center does Monday through Wednesday from 2 to 4pm.  Through this, students can ask about their thesis statements or outline organization or a quick grammar question.  Students will get a taste for what a consultation is like and be more motivated to schedule a full consultation time slot.  As a liberal arts school, there are a wide variety of subjects that students are involved, which all require some sort of writing task.  However, students in the sciences or in Robins School of Business may think the Writing Center would not help them.  This is not true because any kind of writing may be brought to the Writing Center.  The other day Professor Dolson and I talked about how writing is moving away from the third person voice towards the first person, even in formal writing.  As a business major, it is very useful to learn how to present my ideas formally in the first person, something that I am not accustomed to after years of being told that all academic writing must be in the third person.  The Writing Center should advertise that it is available to help with lab reports, speeches, and finance papers.  This would allow more students to realize that the Writing Center truly is a place for the wide spectrum of whatever is writing.  Additionally, the Writing Center does not have to be contained for academic writing.  Students should be open to the idea of bring cover letters for prospective job offers, study abroad applications, and internship reports to the Writing Center as well.  The Writing Center has a great deal of potential in what it can offer students, but it is a matter of putting these ideas into action to make the Writing Center a valuable resource that reaches all students.