The Undergraduate Writing Center

Undergraduate students working on writing assignments.
any paper, any draft, any class

The Undergraduate Writing Center provides support to students as they clarify, develop, and articulate their ideas in writing.

The format of consultations is conversation and peer-collaboration. The consultant brings knowledge of writing and revising to the conversation, and the writer brings knowledge about the assignment, the course content, and their ideas and goals relative to their project.

Our writing consultants are undergraduates from all disciplines who are trained to work with all writers on all kinds of papers. From lab reports to literature reviews, writing consultants support WSU writers and utilize resources to guide the revision process.

This term, we are offering walk-in consultations and appointments at several locations. We are also offering written feedback on drafts. Our services are free for WSU students. Stop by during our open hours in any location to work with an available consultant, submit a request for written feedback at your convenience, or make an appointment with us to guarantee the time that works for you.

Writers benefit most when they visit the Writing Center early in their writing process rather than waiting until the last minute. We hope to see you soon.

Contact Us

writing.center@wsu.edu
Smith CUE 303

Fall Hours

CUE 303: walk-ins
Mondays – Thursdays 10am – 4pm
Fridays 11am – 3pm

CUE 303: appointments
Mondays – Thursdays 11am – 4pm
Fridays 11am – 3pm

Terrell Library: walk-ins
Mondays – Thursdays 5pm – 7pm

Online Consultations: appointments
Tuesdays & Thursdays 9am – 10am

African American Student Center: walk-ins
Mondays & Wednesdays 2 – 3pm

Feedback on drafts: daily
weekday responses within ~48 hours


The Undergraduate Writing Center:

  • Is staffed by undergraduates from all backgrounds and disciplines who are trained to collaborate with writers from all backgrounds and disciplines.
  • Promotes student agency and supports students as they navigate the challenges of reading, writing, and thinking in college.
  • Values difference and the multiplicity of student discourse, and aims to mediate the expectations of the discourses present at the university.
  • Strives for engaged and experiential learning, and therefore is not a proofreading service.
  • Uses conversation as the venue for assisting students in their endeavors.

Writers might work with us to:

  • Review assignments and brainstorm possibilities for responding.
  • Conceptualize an idea and think through possibilities for its construction and delivery.
  • Develop and revise drafts to fulfill assignments and achieve goals.
  • Evaluate and respond to expectations of the assignment, professor, and university.
  • Make informed communication decisions based on audience, purpose, and genre and discipline conventions.
  • Find and use resources related to writing and editing.

How to meet with a writing consultant:

  • Walk in for a conversation in CUE 303 or Terrell Library. Appointments are not necessary.
  • If you prefer to keep a schedule, make an appointment to work with a consultant in CUE 303.
  • If you aren’t in Pullman, set up an online conversation by making an appointment.
  • Submit a draft of your writing to our consultants and receive written feedback and comments on your draft.
  • Visit with a consultant in the African American Student Center on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2 – 3.

Want to know more? Check out our FAQ page for common questions about the Writing Center.


Commitment to Anti-Racism, Equity, and Social Justice

In the Writing Center, administrators and consultants are committed to anti-racist and inclusive pedagogy. We study the intersections of writing centers and social justice to deepen our understanding of the strategies we employ and the effects of those strategies. We use theories and frameworks such as critical literacy, contrastive rhetoric, critical race theory, and rhetorical listening as we attempt to enact a pedagogy of belonging.

Read our Statement of Antiractist and Inclusive Commitment.

Interested in being a writing consultant?

The Writing Center is staffed by WSU students from all disciplines who enjoy talking about writing, collaborating with peers, and supporting the development of their fellow students as writers and engaged learners. Students interested in working for the Writing Center should expect to learn about issues of privilege and power as they relate to academic writing and should be eager to counteract these systems through intentional tutoring methods. Students from disciplines other than English are encouraged to apply.

If you’re interested in becoming a writing consultant, contact the director, Brooklyn Walter: brooklyn.walter@wsu.edu


Information for Faculty

Syllabus or assignment blurb:
The WSU Writing Center offers feedback, resources, and support for students as they develop, clarify, and articulate their ideas in writing. Peer writing consultants can work with students at any stage of an assignment from understanding the instructions to developing and revising drafts to proofreading before submission. Whether the focus is on organization, evidence use, depth of analysis, or clarity of sentences, all writers benefit from a conversation about their writing.

Encouraging your students to visit us:
Some faculty give extra credit for visiting the Writing Center. Some faculty use reflection assignments to learn about the student’s experience or about their revision plans. If your class is larger than 50 students and you are going to give extra credit or include the Writing Center as part of the assignment, please reach out to Brooklyn.Walter@wsu.edu to discuss options and to ensure the Writing Center is ready for your students to visit.

Verifying student visits:
The Writing Center offers date- and time-stamped business cards after consultations. Students are asked to complete a brief exit survey to verify their visit, as well.

Class visits:
We are happy to swing by your class to talk about the Writing Center and to invite your students to come work with us. Typically these visits last between five and fifteen minutes and are more of an ‘overview’ than a lesson or a workshop. We can certainly tailor our spiel to your class or a certain project. Email us at writing.center@wsu.edu to discuss.

Support for instruction and assignments:
We are eager to collaborate with faculty on assignment design, in-class workshops, reflective post-consultation assignments, or any other initiative or intervention. Please reach out to us at writing.center@wsu.edu.


On Other Campuses

Students can find writing support on the Tri Cities, Vancouver, and Spokane campuses.

Global Campus students and any student unable to visit an on-campus Writing Center are encouraged to use eTutoring. Go to eTutoringOnline.org, select Washington State University from the list of participating schools, and follow the first time log-in instructions to gain access.

We also recommend:
The North Carolina at Chapel Hill Writing Center offers a robust “tips and tools” page for writers.
The Purdue Online Writing Lab (the OWL) provides comprehensive resources for composing, revising, end editing your own essays, and for help with citation.