Got the Grammar Blues? Writing Center to the Rescue!

             Do you remember the classic hit, “I Got the Grammar Blues?” It sounded great up until Comma Jack hit that sour note on his trombone. 

            If your writing is a bit hit-or-miss these days, don’t despair. The Writing Center’s team of coaches is standing by to help.

 

            In fact, the Writing Center will continue to operate entirely online through the Fall 2020 semester. 

 

            “We miss seeing you on campus, but we've worked hard all summer to make sure we are ready to provide excellent support from a distance,” said Jenna Caviezel, the center’s director and an associate professor of English. 

 

            Tutors are available for two types of appointments:

            *Live Online appointments allow students to have real-time video conferences or text chats with a tutor. This is ideal for those who miss the face-to-face, on-campus tutoring experience!

            * eTutoring appointments allow students to upload their writing assignments and receive written tutor feedback. There is no need to be logged in at the same time as the tutor, which can be ideal for students with very busy schedules or internet accessibility issues.

            Students and faculty can also take advantage of the information and handout bank available on the Writing Center’s Lib Guide: https://mscc.libguides.com/c.php?g=1004878

Home - Writing Center - Motlow Library at Motlow State Community College - Home - Home What is the Writing Center? The Writing Center is a free service available to the entire Motlow community. We support a dedicated team of tutors who are attentive and knowledgeable so they can provide exceptional guidance with any project at any stage of the writing process including brainstorming for an English essay, revising a lab report, or polishing a cover letter for a job application. mscc.libguides.com

 

 

            Here's what some students who’ve used the Writing Center had to say last year (on the center’s anonymous survey form):

            “The Writing Center has been my biggest support system during this Fall semester,” raved one student.

            “The Writing Center has been a lifesaver for me,” exclaimed another.

            “I would recommend EVERYONE use this resource,” praised a third.

 

            So, if you have the grammar blues (or any kind of writing woes), you know who to call. Rest assured that talented Writing Center coaches are ready, willing or able (or able, willing and ready).

 

            Happy editing!

Welcome to the Writing Center!

By Abby Mire

Special to The Motlow Buzz

(Editor’s note: Abby is a student volunteer and tutor for The Writing Center on the Motlow Smyrna campus.)

        What is the Writing Center? 

        The Writing Center is a great tool for students to use. We offer one on one sessions so that you can get the help and attention you need.

        What do we do?

        We offer tutoring for essays, letters of recommendations, stories and even the occasional love letter. While we don’t edit papers, we gladly will give instruction on MLA format, citations and punctuation.

        What types of tutoring do we offer?

        We have three types of tutoring. We offer face-to-face, etutoring, and live online. Face to face is a type of tutoring for students who want person to person interaction. Etutoring is a type for those who can’t get off of work but really need to have their assignment looked at. Live online allows you to be anywhere, as long as you have a computer.

Student volunteer/tutor Abby Mire is standing by to help students write and edit. (Photo provided by Abby Mire)

        Do I have to have an appointment?

        While we do love people walking in, we do prefer that you have an appointment. You can make an appointment at https://mscc.mywconline.com/. Our site is dedicated to the appointments of the Writing Center. Click the link and click register for an account. Make sure you use your Motlow email.

        Is there any penalty for canceling an appointment?

        Absolutely not, there is no penalty for canceling appointment. Overall, we enjoy having people come into the writing center. In fact, the Writing Center has become so popular, the amount of appointments we had doubled from last year. We look forward to seeing new faces, so please come on by!

        (The Writing Center is located on the first floor of the MaryLou Apple Building.)

Writing Center Helps Students Become Better Writers

By Abby Mire
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

                SMYRNA -- The Writing Center here at Motlow Smyrna  is a great place to come and get help in becoming a better writer.

                Dedicated tutors help students better understand the writing process and better themselves as writers. We don’t just take papers; we take stories and resumes! We also take the occasional love letter. So for those of you who want help in figuring out a story, or if you want to surprise special someone, come on down to our location in Smyrna in the Student Success Center in the Mary Lou Apple Building!

 English student Mariah Haley stands by to tutor fellow students in the Writing Center 

(Photo by Charles Whiting)

                All of our tutors want to help you and hope that you come and visit us. We do take walk-ins, but we prefer appointments (as we sometimes get very busy). We also understand that sometimes people get busy, so there is no penalty for canceling.

                We have online tutoring! If you are busy and you can’t meet face to face; we have options available. Our e-tutoring is a great resource to use if you can’t meet with our face-to-face or live online options. Live online is another amazing option for those who have the ability to go online with a webcam but are too busy for face-to-face.

                We also have a waitlist! If you have forgotten about an assignment, and you need an appointment now but we don’t have any available, you can join our waitlist. Our waitlist allows students to be notified in case of a cancellation or a no-show, so they can grab that appointment themselves. We love having people with different papers, stories and other works. One thing that makes our job great is when people come in and are ready to work hard! So please come and join us at the Motlow Writing Center.

                To set up an appointment, visit www.mscc.edu/writingcenter.

(Editor’s note: Abby Mire serves as a writing tutor for the Writing Center.)

Motlow Smyrna Spotlight: Lisa Hardie

Interview by Ramona Shelton

Motlow Buzz Faculty Managing Editor

      For this issue of The Buzz, we spotlight Lisa Hardie, the PTK secretary, a peer tutor for the Writing Center, and an Honors student.

Lisa Hardie

 

Question: Tell us a bit about you.

Answer: "My name is Lisa Hardie. I was homeschooled. I love writing. I wanted to be an author and still want to be an author. Right now I am a Psychology major, and when I transfer to MTSU, I will add minors in Neuroscience and Writing."
 

Question: Why did you choose Motlow? What is your major/what do you want to be when you grow up?

Answer: "Tennessee Promise played a bit part in it. I am planning to transfer to MTSU. I’m glad I decided to come here because of the Honors college, the Writing Center, and all the other opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Even though I “chose” it because of the Tennessee Promise, I wouldn’t have had those opportunities if I hadn’t come here."

Question: "What is your favorite thing about Motlow Smyrna?

Answer: "I love how small it is. You really get to know people and become friends with them. I’ve had great interactions with teachers. The small classes let us have more interactions. It’s like a small community."

Question: What is PTK? Can anyone join?

Answer: "PTK is Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society here at Motlow. A lot of people think it’s a sorority, but it is not a sorority. Anybody can come to the meetings as guests, but you have to be invited to join. You have to have a certain GPA and meet other qualifications. Please come to the meetings if you want to connect with us, and if you think your GPA is high enough, check with me and I’ll connect you with our campus advisor. If you get invited, maybe you can become an officer. All our officers are graduating this year, so this is the time to shoot for that if you get in. Keep in mind that you don’t have to be an invited member to participate in our meetings and events. Anyone can get involved. It’s a great way to connect with people."

Question: We see you at the Writing Center all the time. What do you do there?

Answer: "I tutor, so if someone comes in with a paper or any sort of writing, I can sit down and go over it with them. I am really passionate about writing. People have a tendency to think they aren’t good at writing, and all they really need is someone to boost them. I love being able to give them the confidence they need. Keep this in mind, there is no shame in getting help. I am a peer tutor, and I still gave my scholarship application to another peer tutor look over. And this applies to everybody. Professor Caviezel, the Writing Center Coordinator, told us not long ago that our academic dean, Elizabeth Fitch, got her to look over something she had written. It never hurts to have an extra set of eyes look over stuff!"

Question: Give us your number one writing tip.

Answer: "Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Leave yourself plenty of time to work on the assignment. Do not procrastinate. We have the Procrastination Monster in the Writing Center. Don’t let the Procrastination Monster get you!"

Question: What is your favorite part of being in the Honors program?

Answer: "Honors classes have a tendency to be even smaller than the rest of our classes, so it allows us to get closer to not just the students but also the teachers. We get to do things like have trips, and I’ve made some really good friends."

Question: What piece of advice would you give to a first-time, incoming freshman (i.e. What do you wish you had known on your first day here?)

Answer: "When you come in, it can be overwhelming and you might feel alone. Don’t rush to find friends because they may not be the ones you’ll have forever. Take the time to get your bearings and find out how things work. But get involved once you do get settled into your classes. Do what will help you in the future, so find a club or a group that interests you and will help you figure out what matters to you. Even if you don’t know what you want to do when you graduate, you can help figure it out by getting involved in clubs. If you don’t see something right off that interests you, don’t worry because the right one will find you. The Writing Center found me. If you are interested in writing and tutoring, come see us in the Writing Center. We are looking for peer tutors for the fall."

We Heard It Through The Grapevine That...

     * Radio station WGNS-AM/FM aired a story about the Tennessee State Building Commission's approval of Motlow Smyrna's future 81,000-square-foot building. Hear Rep. Mike Sparks' report at http://www.wgnsradio.com/motlow-state-in-smyrna-growing-with-nearly-28-million-building-cms-43944 .

     * Speaking of the new building, a groundbreaking ceremony is planned for the Smyrna campus at 11 a.m. March 23. Plan to attend? RSVP at motlowfoundation@mscc.edu .

     * Students, faculty and staff can visit the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga for half price through Feb. 28. The discount applies to everyone in your paying party. To learn more or buy tickets, call (800) 262-0695.

     * Any Motlow employee can submit events to Motlow's new master calendar at https://calendar.mscc.edu .

     * The deadline for TAF purchases for 2018-19 is March 16, 2018. To learn more, contact your department/budgetary head or Cindy Logan at clogan@mscc.edu .

     * A statewide marketing campaign for Tennessee Reconnect is underway. The state (TBR and THEC) will be advertising with billboards, social media, commercials, and print ads. Motlow will begin its own marketing campaign in the coming weeks. Inquiries about Reconnect can be steered to abarton@mscc.edu or www.mscc.edu/reconnect .

     * The Writing Center will host an ePortfolio in the Student Success Center from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 19 (Monday). Students will enjoy free pizza and drinks and tutorial assistance with no appointment necessary. Participants may bring ePortfolio assignments for FYE, English 0810, or any other class. Tutors will be ready to help.

     * The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) program led by Director Drew Hooker and Paramedic Coordinator Justus Smith recently received national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

     * The Motlow State Community College Art Department is sponsoring a one-of-a-kind exhibition of art by Middle Tennessee native Carolyn Ford. Students, faculty and staff can view the exhibition in the Eoff Hall Gallery on the Moore County campus through March 22.

     * Actor, director and producer Phil Darius Wallace will present the program “From the Heart of a King, a Salute to Martin Luther King Jr.” to celebrate Black History Month. His performance will occur at 11:15 a.m. Feb. 27 inside Eoff Hall in the Powers Auditorium on the Moore County campus.

(Got news? Submit your information to Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu or Ramona Shelton at rshelton@mscc.edu. The next submission deadline is Feb. 28.)

International Write-In to Help Students Write Final Papers

                  SMYRNA -- Motlow's Writing Center will host its first-ever International Write-In on all four campuses from Dec. 5-7 to provide tutorial help to students who are writing their final papers.

                  "We will be joining about 100 schools from around the world by hosting the event," said Assistant Professor of English Jenna Caviezel. "It's essentially a final paper-writing party. All you have to do is show up and write."

                  Caviezel added that the Write-In will occur at Student Success on the Smyrna campus from 5-9 p.m. on Dec. 5 (Tuesday). Participants will work on their drafts, ask questions, and receive help from Writing Center tutors and a few volunteer English instructors. Students can post their work to social media using the hashtag #intlwritein17 to join an international community of writers. Complimentary pizza and snacks will be provided.

                  "We’d also love to have faculty, administrators and staff swing by, snag a slice, post to social media, or even stay a while and work on something of their own," Caviezel added. "Students are always so surprised that even professors have to work hard at writing and revising. Imagine how impressed they would be to see deans using the writing process!"

                  The Write-In will occur on other campuses at the following locations, dates and times: Fayetteville Library, 5-9 p.m. Dec. 5; McMinnville Library Lab, 4-8 p.m. Dec. 6; and Moore County Clayton Glass Library, 4-8 p.m. Dec. 7.

Writing Center Offers Answer to Midterm Blues

         Need help with a writing assignment but the Writing Center is booked solid?

         “Don’t despair!” says Writing Center Coordinator Jenna Caviezel.

         Even though the Writing Center can get very busy at certain times of the semester, especially around midterms, there are three things students can try:

         * Add yourself to the wait-list. If another student cancels his or her appointment, you may be able to snag that spot.

         * If no face-to-face tutors are available in Smyrna, you can sign up for an e-tutoring appointment with a tutor on another campus.

         * You can also try the new Live Online Tutoring, which is available in the evenings and can be accessed anywhere you have a good Internet connection.

 

         You can find more information about both e-tutoring and Live Online Tutoring at www.mscc.edu/writingcenter. And as always, try to avoid The Procrastination Monster. The farther in advance you can make your appointment, the better!

Writing Center Opens To Students

By Anthony Czelusniak

Motlow Buzz Reporter

                SMYRNA, Tenn. – The Writing Center opened in the Student Success Center off the STAH lobby in early September, allowing students to get help with any writing project.

                The Writing Center, which encourages appointments, is open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-6 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.

“This is the first time we have offered weekend hours, giving busy students a chance to get help,” said Assistant Professor of English Jenna Caviezel, who oversees the Writing Center on all four Motlow campuses.

Assistant Professor of English Jenna Caviezel encourages students to visit The Writing Center.

                If an on-campus meeting is not possible, students can now call on the Writing Center’s tutors for live online tutoring. The sessions take place using a microphone and a webcam and can be done from home. A non-live online option called etutoring, where the student sends in the assignment online and receives a commented version back, is also available.

Inside the Writing Center, students can meet with a tutor who has been handpicked by Caviezel from a list of applicants. The center’s tutors are typically sophomores who have already taken the courses their fellow students might be struggling with. Students may bring in any type of assignment to tutors for feedback. Whether it is a paper for a class, a PowerPoint presentation, or a short story by an aspiring author, all works are accepted in the Writing Center.

“We’re here to help with any project at any stage of the writing process,” Caviezel added.

  Each session lasts 50 minutes, and students are advised to bring all the drafts they have worked on, as well as the rubric or assignment prompt if applicable. After each session, students are sent a link to an anonymous survey about their experiences at the Writing Center. These surveys are used to improve the Writing Center, most notably helping tutors adjust to the ever-changing availability of students.

Caviezel says she and her staff are very pleased with the response they are getting from Motlow students. “We had over 1,000 appointments last year, and 98 percent of students who completed the survey stated they would recommend the Writing Center.”

For instructions on how to make an appointment and to receive more detailed information about the Writing Center, visit http://www.mscc.edu/writingcenter/ or email your questions to writingcenter@mscc.edu.