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Student FAQs or Faculty FAQs.
What Is the Writing Center? The AUC Writing Center is part of the Rhetoric and Composition Program in the Department of English and Comparative Literature, School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the American University in Cairo. The Center was established in the 1990s to help undergraduate and graduate students improve their academic writing skills. Through individual tutoring, workshops and other resources and services for faculty and students, the Center helps students refine their writing techniques and learn new strategies of critical thinking and thoughtful writing.
As tutors, our primary responsibility is to enable students to become better writers. Specifically, our goals are to help students:
- Enjoy and appreciate writing and all forms of communication.
- Learn and participate in the writing process.
- Answer questions and build understand of specific issues relevant to writing.
- Gain confidence as writers.
At the Writing Center, tutoring is part of the entire learning process. Tutors serve as advocates of writing and as resources for fellow writers. Tutoring sessions provide greater insight into what makes a successful writer.
Who Can Benefit from Writing Center Services? Students and faculty can benefit from a variety of services! Tutoring is available free of charge for all graduate and undergraduate AUC students except those registered in ELI 98 or 99, or in English 100. Faculty may use the many Faculty Resources.
What Happens at the Writing Center? When you first arrive at the Writing Center, you will sign in. Then, you will spend about 30 minutes discussing your work with a tutor. Tutors help you with any assignment, presentation, or project that includes writing, such as essays, PowerPoint presentations, and theses. Some typical topics for discussion are:
- Understanding an assignment
- Brainstorming
- Organizing and outlining essays
- Locating and evaluating sources
- Using and integrating sources, including documenting sources with APA or MLA style
- Revising drafts and proofreading
- Improving grammar and sentence structure
The Writing Center was established to offer you help when you need it. You can visit us to discuss and brainstorm ideas, to develop an outline or to look at any written work you have done, be it in final form or at any point in the process. You do not need to have a complete draft and you can visit the Writing Center as many times as you wish!
At the Writing Center, tutoring is part of the entire learning process. The focus is on all aspects of the writing process - from brainstorming and drafting to revising and editing. The tutors serve as advocates of writing and as resources for fellow writers. Tutoring sessions provide greater insight into what makes a successful writer.
What Should I Bring with Me? Bring a description of the assignment and any guidelines, readings, notes, or writing you may have. The better prepared you are, the better assistance a tutor can provide you!
When Is the Writing Center Open? Do I Need an Appointment? Come to the Center anytime from 10 am to 3 pm, Sunday through Thursday! Only the last week of classes is by appointment only.
Graduate students may also come to the research and writing open lab between 5 pm and 8 pm every Wednesday in the library. Both a librarian and tutor will be available to help with projects for graduate classes.
Can I Receive Tutoring Online? Yes! You may submit an essay through the Online Writing Lab, and a tutor will review your essay and provide some suggestions for improvement. You will receive the tutor's feedback by e-mail within 72 hours in most cases. Online tutoring does have some drawbacks though: you won't be able to talk about the suggestions with the tutor and you may have to wait a few days to get feedback. Visiting the Writing Center in person is still your best option to work closely with a tutor and receive immediate assistance.
Can the Writing Center Proofread My Work for Me? No. The Writing Center is not a proofreading or copyediting service, so you cannot drop off papers for a tutor to correct for you. Our tutors will, however, help you proofread and develop the skill and independence to proofread your own work successfully.
What Workshops Are Available? Several Writing Workshops are offered for both graduate and undergraduate students each term.
Upon request by faculty, tailored workshops for students are offered to focus on a specific writing topic or course assignment. To request a workshop, submit a request at least two weeks, preferably more, before the desired workshop date. Let us know how many students will likely attend the workshop, the nature of the assignment, and the assistance desired.
Who Is Responsible for this Website? The Writing Center Coordinator updates and maintains this site. Special thanks go to Jasmine Maklad, Writing Center Coordinator 2003-5, for envisioning this site and its resources. Thanks also to everybody who participated in the project to develop an Online Writing Lab for the American University in Cairo Writing Center. Special thanks to Falak Farra, Lammert Holdijk, Dr. Russanne Huzayne, the TEFL 540 class of Summer 2003 and Summer 2004, Yara El Masri, all Rhetoric and Composition Program faculty who contributed materials to this site, and AUC students who contributed their work as samples for their peers.