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Writing Center

9 Myths About the Writing Center

There are many misconceptions about the Writing Center. This article debunks the nine most common misconceptions about the Writing Center’s purpose, clientele, and consultants. 

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Writing at Wheaton Writing Center

Musicians are Writers: Why Conservatory Students Should Visit the Writing Center

Wheaton College has built a reputation for attracting excellent students in all areas of study, and music is no exception. Every fall, Wheaton welcomes 40-50 freshman music majors into the Conservatory of Music to learn from dozens of esteemed faculty members.

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Professional Development

Reflection: Empowering Writers on Campus and Beyond

As a writing consultant, I strive to empower those who come to the Writing Center. Rather than “fixing” their writing for them, I support the client as they create, research, and edit.

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Professional Development

Tips for Requesting Recommendation Letters from Wheaton Faculty

Are you applying for a scholarship, internship, job, or graduate school? You’ll likely need letters of recommendation from faculty. As someone who has written recommendation letters for students and requested recommendation letters for my own applications, I’ve seen both sides of this process—and it can be stressful! Requesting letters of recommendation can be intimidating, and it’s often tricky to determine what to include in a request.

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Professional Development

A Conversation with Writing Center Alumna Maggie Rothrock

Maggie Rothrock ‘20, former Writing Center consultant and ’19-’20 student manager, graciously sat down for a (virtual) chat with me, from one student manager to another. She discusses a host of things, including what her post-grad life has been like, her time at the Writing Center, and why writing is valuable.

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Writing Process

My Writing Process: Lessons from a Recovering Procrastinator

When I first started college, I referred to myself as a “professional procrastinator,” especially when it came to writing. Instead of starting an assignment, I’d put my creativity to use by finding all the things I could do instead and coming up with good reasons to do them. I’d call my mom because she missed me. I’d hang out with friends, investing in intentional community. I’d go to bed early in the name of self-care.

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Research Writing at Wheaton

Library Research at Wheaton in the COVID-19 Era

Although the world is in the grip of a pandemic, college students are still writing research-intensive papers. For Wheaton College, this means altering library systems and practices to keep our neighbors and ourselves safe while we research.

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Writing Center

Tips for a Successful Online Consultation

I was going to open with a phrase about the “new normal in these unprecedented times,” but let’s face it, you’ve come to accept that everything is changing. Especially relevant to a college community, COVID-19 has forced the world to rework the way it handles in-person commitments. 

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Writing Process

A Near-Comprehensive Guide to Brainstorming

It’s been a month since you were assigned that term paper, and if we’re being honest with each other, you haven’t given it a moment’s thought since you stuck the assignment guidelines sheet in the back of a notebook and promptly forgot about it. The paper is due next week, and you still have no idea where to begin.

Categories
Writing Process

Before You Write: Planning for the Semester

The beginning of the academic year is always busy. Although most students don’t have major assignments due yet, settling into a new routine takes time.

This early in the semester, we usually don’t have enough information to start working on midterm and final papers. But it’s a good idea to begin thinking about how to approach upcoming writing assignments. Here are some simple strategies for the start of the semester to help you manage your workload later on.