Writing Resources
Writing Services
Writing Tutors can provide feedback and assistance with:
- Brainstorming
- Pre-writing
- Organization
- Thesis statements
- Resume and cover letter
- Grammar and punctuation
- MLA, APA and CMS formatting
- Writing and speaking for an audience
- PowerPoint
- Oral presentation
- Interview practice
WCONLINE
The Tutoring Center also offers online tutoring that allows clients to schedule one-hour sessions through WCONLINE, a web-based program with real-time chat and whiteboard space for revision available at com.mywconline.com.
Need help creating your WCONLINE account? Download our PDF on creating your WCONLINE account here: Create a WCONLINE account
Additional Services
Additional services include workshops on formatting styles, writing strategies, group projects, speeches and resume writing. Workshops and classroom presentations are also available on other topics upon request.
Appointments and walk-ins are welcome.
Tips for Writers
APA Style Sheet
This style sheet highlights major elements of APA that COM students are likely to use in their assignments.
Chicago (CMS) Style Sheet
This style sheet highlights major elements of Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) that COM students are likely to use in their assignments.
Introducing Sources
Need help incorporating your sources and/or making certain rhetorical moves in your paper? These templates might help!
MLA Style Sheet
This style sheet highlights major elements of MLA that COM students are likely to use in their assignments.
Writing a Resume
This tip sheet has been compiled by the staff of the Speaking, Reading, and Writing Center and is based on Peter Vogt’s “Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes” on monster.com.
Writing Checklist
This checklist was compiled by the staff of the Speaking, Reading, and Writing Center. It is intended as a tool for brainstorming, organizing, composing and editing academic writing.
Understanding your SafeAssign Session
Our goal at the Tutoring Center is to empower you as a writer. In our efforts to serve students, we are currently offering SafeAssign assistance, by appointment only, to those who request it.
What is SafeAssign?
SafeAssign is a pay-to-use online service designed to prevent plagiarism by comparing submitted documents to existing academic papers, websites and articles in its extensive database in order to find matching text.
Benefits of using SafeAssign
Results can flag errors and incorrectly cited sources, which means students can make corrections and avoid plagiarism.
Drawbacks
It's not foolproof - the program makes mistakes. The program also generates a percentage number that may not accurately represent plagiarized material; therefore, students should follow instructor guidelines.
The Tutoring Center SafeAssign guidelines
- All documents are submitted as a draft, so they are not added to the SafeAssign database.
- The Tutoring Center does not keep records of SafeAssign reports or documents.
- Tutors will only share printed reports or any kind of information about documents with writers requesting assistance.
SafeAssign appointments
- All individual and group SafeAssign appointments must be made with director Beth Richards or professional tutor Diana North. Appointments made through WCONLINE must list group member names in the comments section.
- All members must attend sessions on group papers, in person. There are no exceptions.
- Each session requires a full hour to include the SafeAssign report generated at the end of the scheduled appointment.
- Students who have previously submitted their documents to SafeAssign through Blackboard should bring their reports to the session if possible.