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The Andrew Bodenrader Center for Academic Writing and Composition

Welcome to the Writing Center!

The Writing Center’s mission is to provide Manhattanville students with support at any stage of the writing process. We strive to build the confidence of student writers through encouraging, collaborative one-to-one sessions with peer tutors, graduate Writing Center Fellows, and Academic Writing faculty. Overall, we help students develop as writers and learn writing skills and strategies that will help them succeed at the college level and beyond. In addition, we are committed to providing valuable work and teaching experience to our peer tutors and graduate fellows, as well as promoting and supporting student research in writing studies.

The Writing Center offers in-person sessions as well as asynchronous and synchronous online tutoring appointments to all undergraduate and graduate students. 

We encourage you to schedule an appointment.  You may also drop in in person (Library 122) or online (in MS Teams) but please note that you may have to wait for a tutor to become available.

Spring 2023 Hours

  • Monday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Tuesday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wednesday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Thursday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and 6 p.m - 9 p.m.
  • Friday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

 

Tutoring Schedule What to Expect How to become a Writing Tutor

Tutoring Appointments

Please note: Tutors do not copy edit papers; they will provide in-text feedback and links to resources by using comment boxes in the margins. Assignments longer than 15 pages require the permission of the Director.
females peer tutoring

In-Person Tutoring

Please select this option if you would like to meet with a peer or professional writing tutor in-person in the Writing Center. Masks are required, and all documents will be shared virtually (if you do not have a laptop, we can provide one).

Make an Appointment

 

Two male students at library computer

Synchronous eTutoring (Online Videochat)

Please select this option if you would like to meet with a peer or professional writing tutor for a videoconference. All meetings in this category will take place in MS Teams, an online collaborative platform, and will require the use of a webcam, microphone, and screen sharing.

Make an Appointment

 

Female student at laptop

Asynchronous eTutoring (Email Feedback)

Please select this option if you would like a peer or professional writing tutor to review your writing and provide written feedback via email. You will need to select a time for your email review, but you will not need to be present virtually at the time of your appointment.

Make an Appointment

 

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Drop-In Tutoring

We will also offer in-person and virtual drop-in tutoring, but please note that these sessions are limited to 20-minutes during high traffic times. To avoid wait times, we strongly suggest that you make an appointment. 

Make an Appointment

 

Asian female student in class

EAL

Tutoring for speakers of English as an Additional Language

Make an Appointment

 

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Group Workshops and Events

What to Expect at The Writing Center

 
Male and female student working at computer in library
In order to best assist you with your writing, we ask that you:

 

  • Try to proofread your work before uploading it to the appointment form
  • Be prepared for synchronous virtual sessions ahead of time (be sure you have a strong WiFi connection, webcam, and headphones, and have downloaded MS teams; instructions on how to do so are below)
  • Come to synchronous sessions prepared with questions (or submit these questions along with your paper for asynchronous sessions)
  • Please note that writing tutors will work with you on one assignment per session. After completing the session, please spend an equal amount of time working on the piece before making another appointment.
  • Be mindful of the comments you have received, and please make these revisions before scheduling another eTutoring appointment

 

We look forward to working with you!

How to Become a Peer Writing Tutor

 

 

Three female students studying together

 

Required Courses and Training

To become a writing tutor in Manhattanville's Writing Center, the completion of ENC 3006 is required. If you are interested in taking the course, please contact Prof. Brower (carleigh.brower@mville.edu).

 

ENC.3006A: The Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing 

This year-long course is intended for students interested in the theory and practice of tutoring writing. This course is a prerequisite for anyone who wishes to apply for a paid position as a peer tutor in the Writing Center.  

 

Fall Semester: Introduction to the Theory & Practice of Tutoring Writing (3 credits)

During the first semester, students will be introduced to the field of composition theory, with particular focus on approaches to working one-to-one with student writers. By sharing and critiquing their own writing with peers and engaging in role playing/mock tutoring sessions, students will learn the ways in which varied theoretical perspectives can be translated into practice.

 

Spring Semester: Writing Center Internship (1 credit)

During the second semester, students will gain hands-on experience by first shadowing peer tutors and reflecting on these observations, then tutoring one-to-one in the Writing Center. Alternately, students might spend the semester engaged in a Writing Center project such as the creation of a Peer Tutoring Handbook/Online Tutoring Resources, the development of an Online Writing Lab, assessments of Writing Center effectiveness, or a proposal for the National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing (NCPTW). Students will be required to keep a log of their tutoring observations and sessions and attend monthly staff meetings to reflect upon their tutoring experiences and the relationship between theory and practice. Students will also be required to research and read a variety of theoretical texts, culminating in a final research project.  

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 
While we strongly recommend that you make an appointment to avoid wait times, you have the option to drop-in to the Writing Center in Library 122 without an appointment, or you may post a question or start a video call in our online Drop-In Channel in Teams. 
Both in-person and online (chat or video call) drop-in sessions are typically only 20-minutes long, which gives enough time for the students questions or concerns to be handled efficiently and easily. For online drop-in sessions, you can send comments back and forth with a tutor in the Drop-In Channel; however, sharing documents within the chat section are prohibited, so you must request a video or audio call to initiate screen share. Moreover, if you do not wish to have anyone view the comments in the Drop-In Channel, you must delete the comments on your own.
If you are on-campus and wish to visit Writing Center, you can drop-in without an appointment. Please note that you may need to wait until a tutor is available, and that during high-traffic times, sessions are limited to 20-minutes. Our online drop-in feature is for any student who might only have a simple question or concern--that is when you can reach out to the tutor on call or in the chat feature! You can do that by clicking here to access the "Drop-in Tutoring" hours channel in MS Teams. Ask a question in the chat and have a conversation in the chat section, or start an audio/ video call with a tutor that is available. Right now, hours are limited and the service is only available at certain times, so be mindful before posting a question. 

Asynchronous tutoring is when a student receives written feedback through email. This is for someone who feels uncomfortable joining an audio/video call, has a technology barrier, is unavailable to meet synchronously, or simply prefers written feedback to oral feedback. It does however, require you to have access to your email and requires you to check your email to be sure you have received your comments and feedback. You might not want to choose this option if you have already received written feedback from your instructor or another tutor, or have real- time questions you would want to ask the tutor during your session.

Synchronous tutoring is when a student has a virtual meeting through MS teams. This is for someone who would feel more comfortable addressing questions and concerns they may have during a real-time audio/video chat with a tutor. Tutors will use screen share to go over your writing project with you. Although we do not require you to turn on your camera during a session, it is still important that you have functioning internet service, a computer with audio and video capabilities and headphones.

Synchronous sessions are typically 45-minutes long, which gives the students and tutors enough time to discuss assignment guidelines, build rapport, and discuss the writing project through an interactive session (screen share and audio/video chat). It also leaves time for any technical mishaps that can take place in a virtual setting.
The Writing Center does not function as a paper editing service, but rather as a place for writers to improve themselves with the help of our staff. That being said, we will give feedback on what is written and students in ANY session will receive an opportunity to learn and improve their own writing skills and abilities.
We will work with you on the writing skills you want to improve on and give feedback on what you have written. You should apply the skills you learn at the Writing Center in order to write more effectively. There are many factors that may go into making a paper better; what we are focused on is making a better writer so that all your future papers may be improved.
Any immediate updates on the writing center can be found on the homepage of the Writing Center Digication Website. We also have the Writing Center Schedule under the Schedule tab on the website that can show any plans/ changes the writing center may have. You can also find any updates on our Instagram @abcmville.
You can contact us at writingcenter@mville.edu for any questions or concerns you have and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

 

 

 

Upcoming Workshops and Events at the Writing Center

 

Mission

The Writing Center’s mission is to provide Manhattanville students with support at any stage of the writing process. We strive to build the confidence of student writers through encouraging, collaborative one-to-one sessions with peer tutors, graduate Writing Center Fellows, and Academic Writing faculty. Overall, we help students develop as writers and learn writing skills and strategies that will help them succeed at the college level and beyond. In addition, we are committed to providing valuable work and teaching experience to our peer tutors and graduate fellows, as well as promoting and supporting student research in writing studies.

 

Manhattanville College has named the Center for Academic Writing and Composition in honor of Professor Andrew Bodenrader, who is remembered for his passion for teaching, intellectual curiosity, love of language and literature, adventurous spirit, and steadfast dedication to students and colleagues alike. Everyone who was fortunate enough to cross his path encountered an empathetic, dynamic, and brilliant educator.   Andrew Bodenrader's legacy lives on in the Writing Center that he established, which has developed from a resource into a community.  If you would like to make a donation to the Center in Professor Bodenrader's memory, please click here.

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