Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Allen Writing Center located?

The Writing Center is in the southeast corner of the Student Success Center on Allen Community College's campus in Iola. At the Burlingame Campus, the Writing Center is in Room 112, and all students can receive help with their writing tasks through the online writing lab (OWL).

Who can use the Writing Center?
Anyone who needs help with any writing project will find a visit beneficial. The Writing Center can assist students with English essays, biology reports, history research papers or any other course assignment. It also can aid with development of resumes and writing letters of applications for scholarships or to universities.

What kind of help can be found at the Writing Center?
We can help students in any stage of their writing, whether its developing an idea, organizing thoughts, outlining, thesis statements, drafting, sentence and paragraph developments, grammar and mechanics or polishing a paper. There are no grades assessed and consultations are conducted in a relaxed, one-on-one atmosphere.

Do I have to make an appointment?
No, an appointment is not necessary but can be made if that’s more convenient for the student. Regular office hours are maintained in the Writing Center, and drop-in visits are welcome during those times. To make an appointment, stop by the Writing Center and consult with its director, Bruce Symes, or e-mail him at symes@allencc.edu

Spring 2013

When should I come to the Writing Center?
Visits are encouraged at any and all stages of a writing task, whether a students needs help developing a topic for an assignment, wants a consultation about a first draft, would like help polishing an essay, or wants to discuss a grade received on a project. However, students should not expect to visit the Writing Center a couple of hours before an assignment is due and benefit greatly from the session. Time is needed to revise or rewrite papers based on what is discussed during the consultation, and more than one visit might be necessary.

What if I can’t visit the Writing Center on the Iola campus? How can I get help if I attend Allen at Burlingame or another outreach site?
The Allen Writing Center offers an online writing lab (OWL) for consultations with students about their writing projects over the Internet. Click here to access the Allen OWL.

What does the Writing Center not do for writers?
The Writing Center will not give homework or assign grades. We also will not provide a proofreading service for papers. We will, however, identify patterns of problems in grammar, punctuation and other mechanical problems and help students learn how to avoid the same issues in the future. The Writing Center’s main goal is to improve student writing on a long-term basis. It’s not a matter of fixing your papers; it’s a matter of helping you learn how to improve as a writer.

What do I have to bring to the Writing Center?
An open mind and the desire to improve! Also, for a successful tutoring session, it is necessary that students bring the assignment. It is critical that the tutor knows that you are following your instructor’s guidelines. Also, don’t feel that you need to bring in a written papers. The tutors at the Writing Centers can help sort out notes or outlines to get students started on a successful essay or report.

My tutoring session went really well. May I schedule regular, weekly appointments?
Yes. Even if you don’t want to schedule regular appointments, we highly encourage multiple meetings. Especially if you can work with the same tutor multiple times, you are more likely to learn and improve as a writer if you visit us more than once. Think of it like a visit to the dentist: Getting your teeth cleaned is helpful, but it doesn’t mean much if you don’t floss for the next six months.

How can I become a Writing Center tutor?
For information about becoming a Writing Center tutor, visit the Writing Center director, Bruce Symes, in the Student Success Center. The telephone number is (620) 365-5116, ext. 303, and his e-mail address is symes@allencc.edu.symes@allencc.edu

Bruce Symes, Writing Center Director
(620) 365-5116, ext. 303
symes@allencc.edu