------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Mission and Description of the Writing Center
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     The Writing Center is an integral part of the Department of
English at Washburn University. It serves as a resource for students and
instructors in the English Composition Program, including English 100,
Developmental Writing; English 101, Freshman Composition; English 102,
Honors; English 207, Report Writing; English 208, Business & Technical
Writing; English 300, Junior Composition; and for students and
instructors in courses throughout the University where writing is
expected. Instructors may use the Center to provide additional
instructional help, through tutoring or through consulting texts, for
their students. The Writing Center is also a source for texts, workbooks,
and handouts related to writing. Community members are also invited to
use the Writing Center. We are located at Morgan 257.

     The Writing Center provides free tutorial services to Washburn
students and the Topeka community to help them develop their
writing abilities. Writing consultants help individuals with the develop-
ment of ideas, organization of papers, sentence structure and grammar,
punctuation and spelling, and clarity and style. We are not a proofreading
nor an editing service. We offer opportunities to learn how to be a better
writer--to use the conventions, the rules, and the process of writing better,
more effectively.

     Writing consultants are usually English or English Education majors
but may be art, business or other majors. Some already have their
degree. Most are paid; some are volunteers. All are interested in writ-
ing and helping others develop their writing abilities. Financial support
for the Center comes from the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences
and from the Department of English.

     At the Center we work with people from different age groups and
cultural backgrounds on their essays, term papers, memos, letters, and
reports. Generally we avoid critiquing pieces of fiction (poems,
short stories, plays, novels, etc.), except for purely grammatical
concerns or questions. The Headwaters group on campus serves fiction
writers' needs, and fiction writers should contact Prof. Tom Averill
or the department secretary for more detailed information about Headwaters.

     The Writing Center at MO 257 has several sections: a student lounge/
reception area, computer workstations, and a tutoring area separated by
dividers. The tutoring area is large enough for two writing consul-
tants to tutor at the same time. Because we do not have a receptionist
nor a telephone, the schedule board is posted outside the reception
area so students may sign up on their own.  The Writing Center Coordina-
tor's office is in 250 Morgan.