IUPUI
University Writing Center

Undergraduate Students

Whether you are a first-semester freshman taking W131 or a senior preparing a capstone project, the University Writing Center, is available to help you with your writing projects. Undergraduate students in our core Writing Program classes (W130, W131, W132 and W231) have the opportunity to work with consultants who have a great deal of experience with assignments in these courses. Likewise, undergraduates in other subjects, from chemistry to education to engineering, can benefit from having a fresh pair of eyes look at their papers.  In addition to academic papers for specific courses, undergraduates can bring in applications for scholarships, creative writing for possible publication or even resumes for summer job opportunities.

Undergraduate consulting sessions are 30 minutes long. During that time, consultants can make sure you are following the assignment guidelines, help you strengthen your thesis or add more supporting details. We can help you improve paragraph coherence or sentence clarity. We strive to address your concerns as well as any concerns your instructor may have for your work.

To make the most of your visit to the University Writing Center:

* Plan ahead:  Schedule a consulting session several days before your writing project is due so you have time to continue work on your assignment(s). During peak times such midterm and finals when everyone has course papers and portfolios due, the UWC gets busy!  To make sure you can schedule a session at a time that’s convenient for you, call 274-2049 or 278-8171 and reserve a session in advance.

* Come prepared:  Consultants help best when you help them understand your writing project.  Bring assignment sheets, class notes, and/or instructor comments with you!

* Bring a draft-in-progress:  Consultants will help you see ways to revise your draft.  No draft yet?  Consultants can talk with you about understanding your assignment and about strategies for getting started.

* Bring realistic expectations:  The UWC is not a one-stop fix-it shop, and consultants don’t do the work for you.  Most students continue working on papers after they leave the UWC.  Some students schedule more than one consulting session per assignment.

* Come in while a response from a consultant can help:  UWC consultants specialize in helping students see ways to revise their drafts.  Consultants can offer only limited help on the day papers are due.

* Come ready to work with consultants:  Consultants do not have you all the answers.  The most valuable sessions happen when students and consultants work together to improve a piece of writing.