Dispelling Myths in the Writing Center: Summer Orientations

As the 2023-2024 academic year dawns, the University Writing Center (UWC) has already been preparing. At ten new-student orientations this summer, Dr. Rebecca Johnson and Steven Amador worked to debunk common writing center myths and provide valuable insight into the services provided by the WC to the students.  

The first myth addressed in the new student orientations is the perception that the UWC is remedial. The UWC caters to students of all skill levels. The writing center is a collaborative space for writers to refine their skills at the undergraduate, master’s, and even doctoral level.  

Another prevalent and pernicious myth addressed by the orientations is the belief that writing centers are for checking grammar. The UWC is not merely for grammar checking and style guide conformity; rather, the writing center fosters engaging higher order concerns in the writing, such as structure, evidence, and clarity. By nurturing students critical thinking skills about writing, students can create and express their ideas more effectively. 

The UWC welcomes writers at any stage of writing. A common myth is that a student thinks they need a draft before coming to the center. The UWC embraces all recursive steps of the writing process, whether it be brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, or other. The orientations do a great job at undermining these pernicious myths.  

During the orientation sessions, Dr. Johnson and Steven discuss signing-up for appointments with the UWC’s management platform. To accommodate the diverse student needs on campus, Dr. Johnson and Steven explain the three types of appointments offered by the UWC. In-person appointments give human interaction to those who prefer direct engagement. Online asynchronous appointments allow students to submit work and review the feedback at their convenience. Finally, online synchronous appointments allow real-time discussion in an immersive online environment. 

These orientations led by Dr. Johnson and Steven Amador play a huge role in eliminating these misconceptions around WC work, particularly at ECU. Our culture of inclusivity and empowerment encourages students to be the best writers they can be.