WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Oct. 24, 2017 — West Liberty University’s Writing Center opened its doors on Oct. 9 and is now taking appointments from students looking for help on their next academic writing assignment. The center is there to help students brainstorm ideas, outline a paper, compose a thesis and more.
“A dedicated writing center at West Liberty University was needed for some time. Before this we had no specialized training for writing tutors and limited assistance,” explained Dr. Jeremy Larance, Chair of the Humanities Department.
“This is the first time that we’ve had a full-time faculty member in charge of a dedicated space for writing instruction that is complimented by upper-level writing courses that both train our tutors and prepare our students for more advanced writing. In the next year or so, I expect the Writing Center will only get busier, and our writing programs will all benefit from that growth.”
Assistant Professor of Composition Dr. Amanda Berardi Tennant is the director of the Writing Center, located on the lower level of the Paul N. Elbin Library building.
This fall Tennant teaches Writing Center Tutoring Practicum, a class that will prepare students to be effective tutors in the center. The class consists of learning about pedagogic strategies and implementing knowledge from the class sessions in one-on-one tutoring sessions.
Tennant joined WLU this fall. She received her master’s and doctoral degrees in rhetoric from Carnegie Mellon University and her bachelor’s in English from West Virginia University. She also served as the assistant director of second language writing at Carnegie Mellon. She is originally from Fairmont, W.Va.
“Dr. Tennant gives us space to learn how to be the best tutors we can be, then we can impart what we have learned onto other students,” said Zoe Stoffel, a senior from Moundsville, W.Va. majoring in writing and rhetoric. She is one of eight students currently tutoring at the Writing Center.
Students who need help with academic writing can choose among eight available 30-minute slots, Monday through Friday with a tutor of their choice. Registration is easy to complete online at westliberty.mywconline.com and all tutoring is free. Walk-ins are welcome if a tutor is available.
Besides helping students improve their writing skills, the center helps tutors learn better ways to teach and communicate with students.
“I want to be a teacher at some point, and while tutoring isn’t the same as teaching entire classes, having one-on-one time with students still allows me to help others learn how to become better writers, which is something I’m passionate about,” Stoffel added.
“I love it because even in a 30-minute session I can see students’ gears turning, and I can tell that something has clicked for them. When I can tell that I’ve helped someone learn even just one concept that will help them be a better writer, that’s so rewarding,” Stoffel said.
Students also can bring professional documents to the center, like resumés and cover letters.
Funding for the center was provided by the WLU Foundation.