Free Tutoring

Puzzled about pronouns? Concerned about clauses? Agitated about agreement?

The English Department offers two specialized departments to assist you with your writing skills.

The University Writing Center UWC is open to students from all programs. This office, located on the third floor of the General Classroom Building, has a staff of professional teachers and graduate assistants who can help you make that pyschology paper its absolute best!

Composition Central (CC) is dedicated to providing supplemental instruction and intensive tutoring to entering freshmen enrolled in composition courses, UNST 110, ENGL 101, and ENGL 226.  It is also committed to providing instructional support to composition faculty. CC is the engine of the composition program.  It is a one-stop, central station of support for composition students and faculty.

 “The American college is obliged to supplement the American school.  Whatever elementary instruction the schools fail to give, the college must supply.”  Harvard University President, Charles W. Eliot 2006

The different stations of CC are listed below:

 Station #1—The Tutorial Station Tutorials 

The Writing Center will provide one-on-one tutorial services for students who struggle with their writing in first year composition courses and students who want additional assistance in improving their writing.  This one-on-one interaction with the student allows the tutor to exchange ideas with the student, get immediate feedback from him/her, and establish a rapport where students will return to the Center for additional support.

Station #2—The Seminar Station Seminars

There will be a seminar series conducted in the Writing Center and in individual composition teacher’s classes during each semester. The Writing Center will conduct academically empowering seminars that will target specific writing skills. We will also invite other experts on writing to come in and conduct seminars for our students and teachers. The focus of seminars will be determined by the needs of composition students and recommendations from faculty.

Station #3—The Liaison Station Referral System for “At-Risk” Writers

This Station will serve as the primary link between the needs of the composition teachers, the writing needs of their students, and the Writing Center’s ability to address them in a timely and effective manner.  It will be a systematic referral to the Writing Center of composition students who are at risk; a specific plan of tutorial action will be developed to help each student. The assessment of this component will enable the Writing Center to continue to shape its services so that they directly address the needs of composition students.

Station #4—Counseling Station

Writing is intricately tied to ego, and students often struggle with the frustration of learning to write well and having low self-esteem throughout the process. There will be a Counseling Station made available to students who are struggling with their writing, feeling inadequate because of the writing problems they may have, and need to talk about issues they have with the manner they are receiving instruction. The counselor will be helpful, encouraging, positive, and eager to let students know that they indeed have the ability to master the skill of writing well. She will encourage students to talk to their instructors about their concerns. They will also be reminded that they are valued at this University and will receive the support they need and deserve at Composition Central.  (Limited hours will be provided.)

Station #5—Instructional Support Station and Teacher Mentoring

Facing challenging teaching loads and insufficient training, support, and resources, composition teachers are often locked in a daily struggle to effectively educate students. Many find themselves under constant stress, do not have the time or assistance needed to grow professionally and just leave. Among those who stay, it can take years to develop the skills they need to be most effective in the classroom. These factors have a negative impact on student learning, particularly in poor and low-performing schools. Implementing a teacher mentoring and training component will create stronger, more effective teachers and better trained students.

This mentoring and training component is not meant to be an intrusive process, but one where the teacher feels as if she or he is being mentored and supported. It will help insure that all composition teachers, seasoned and new, maintain a standard of excellence in teaching, realize their full potential, and promote greater student learning.

1. This teacher mentoring component will also add a measure of accountability for teachers to achieve their goals.  Some mentoring support aids are listed below:
2.  Training seminars or “rap sessions” will be held each semester and cover many elements of composition  and pedagogy, such as innovative ways to teach grammar; review of grammatical and mechanical rules; strategies for grading; methods for teaching students to write analytically or critically; and methods for handling disruptive behaviors in the classroom. 
3.  Books and articles that are helpful for teachers will be compiled.
4.  Websites that are helpful to new teachers will be identified and the information disseminated and made available to teachers.
5.  Observations—Some teachers may want to take advantage of the opportunity to  observe experienced teachers in the Department. 
6.  Feedback—Input and feedback will be sought from composition teachers.  Improvements will be made to the teacher mentoring component based on the results.

This mentoring program is vital to the success of Composition Central.  Teachers should be prepared and supported; they must be stakeholders in their students’ efforts to achieve learning objectives.

University Writing Center

The University Writing Center in GCB 309 is a space where writers and readers meet. Tutors facilitate discussions with the writer instead of dictating “changes” to the writer. Thus, we stress a collaborative model that acknowledges the student’s individual linguistic and cultural backgrounds while emphasizing appropriate dictions and styles for particular modes of writing.  While we offer assistance with grammar and mechanics, we support writers at all stages of the writing process—planning, drafting, revising, and editing.  

The University Writing Center is directed by Robert Randolph, Jr. The UWC is located in the General Classroom Building, Room 309, and is open Mondays-Thursdays 9-4pm and Fridays 9-11am. You can follow the center on Twitter: @ncat_uwc. To make an appointment, go to the UWC site. If you are not already registered, go to "Click here to register" and follow the instructions. You must use a campus email address to register. Using the login information, access the site and select an available time adjacent to the tutor. Fill in the pop-up form as completely as possible. Save your reservation. A confirmation will be sent to the email address you provided.

Upcoming events 

In an effort to foster a “culture of writing and reading” at the university, we will offer several programs to advance discussions about writing in the 21st century. Everyone is encouraged to participate: students, faculty, staff, and the community. The popular "Tuesdays at 2" series is continuing. All seminars are held at 2 p.m. in A-309, GCB. For more information, please stop by the UWC, call 336-334-7764, or email rerandol@ncat.edu.