About the Writing Center

The Writing Center, located in N372 LC, is a service available to any student, faculty member or professional of the Counseling, Rehabilitation and Student Development Department who desires assistance with academic or professional writing.

Marjorie Carlson Davis staffs the Writing Center. She has an MA in English from the University of Iowa and has taught college writing for over 15 years. She is also a freelance writer.

Writing Center Hours (Fall 2007 )

Monday: 11:00-4:30
Tuesday: 9:00-12:30
Wednesday: 12:00-4:00 pm

and by appointment or email consultation (email marjorie-davis@uiowa.edu for appointments)

Office phone: 335-6044

What does the Writing Center Offer?

The writing consultant will:

• help you improve your writing, whatever your level.
• help you develop confidence in graduate-level writing.
• assist you in the writing process for one assignment or for an ongoing writing project.
• help you learn to edit your own writing.
• guide you through the research process from evaluating sources to formatting according to APA style (5th edition).
• assist with presentation preparation.

The writing consultant will not:

• edit or proofread your paper. You should proofread and edit your paper before your appointment.
• cover an entire long paper revision during one meeting. Plan to schedule
• more than one appointment.
• make significant content-related suggestions. Address content questions to your professors.
• read your paper during our appointment. Papers should be emailed or dropped off 2 days before appointments.

How do I make an appointment and what are the Writing Center procedures?

• Make appointments by emailing the Writing Consultant (marjorie-davis@uiowa.edu.) Appointments are made on a first-emailed, first served basis.
• One to two days before your appointment, please drop off a paper in the writing consultant’s mailbox in N388 or email a copy of your paper to (marjorie-davis@uiowa.edu). If you do drop off a paper, please email me, so that I know to pick it up. Include a note which highlights two or three specific aspects you’d like me to consider when reading and commenting on the paper.
• If you have a long assignment or several issues to cover, plan to schedule more than one appointment.
• Writing is a difficult and time-consuming process. Start your assignments early, so that we’ll have time to work through all of your writing concerns.

Remember even the most accomplished writers benefit from receiving feedback on their drafts.

I look forward to working with you!

Writing, Research & APA Style Resources:

The American Psychological Association

http://www.apastyle/org
Click on left side of screen for information about using APA style.

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu
This is an excellent resource, which provides tips on writer’s block, ESL help, grammar worksheets, research guidelines and APA style.

Links to Online Writing Resources:

http://webster.commnet.edu/writing/writing.htm

http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc
Offers information about finding and documenting sources as well as a sample APA paper. This site also offers grammar and other writing assistance.

Claremont Graduate University Writing Center:

http://www.cgu.edu/pages/726.asp
Offers information geared to graduate-level writing.

Vanguard University of Southern California APA Publication Manual Crib Sheet:

http://www.vanguard.edu/faculty/ddegelman/index.aspx?doc_id=796

University of Iowa Resources:

The University of Iowa Writing Center
http://www.uiowa.edu/~writingc/
110 EPB (319) 335-0188

UI Thesis and Dissertation Preparation:
http://www.grad.uiowa.edu/Students/ThesisResources

Books:

American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Booth, Wayne, Williams, J., & Colomb, G. (2003). The Craft of Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Hacker, Diane. (2003). A Writer’s Reference. (5th ed.). New York: Bedford/St.Martin’s.