Writing lab

Free advice is available to students writing papers for a variety of West Los Angeles classes, such as English, health, psychology, and art appreciation. We also help students with writing essays for scholarship and transfer applications. The lab does not proofread or edit papers, but it does provide guidance on organization and development of a paper as well as general overview of grammar. The Writing Lab, staffed by Susan Fong and a coterie of writing tutors, is located on the first floor of the Heldman Learning Resource Center.

Preparation

Plan ahead to avoid a last-minute visit before the assignment is due. Bring either an assignment sheet from the instructor or instructions from your textbook. Bring a rough draft: notes, outline, introduction, and/or first draft. Proofread or edit your own errors.

Services

Each visit or writing conference is for 20 minutes and is limited to WLAC class assignments. Each writing assignment is limited to three (3) writing conferences with a tutor. One (1) is for prewriting, and two (2) are for revisions. Prewriting includes organization and developing details. Revisions include re-organization, general review of sentence structure, and discussion of essay development. Only one (1) writing assignment is allowed per conference with one (1) visit per day. You may have a 20-minute grammar conference of one (1) specific grammar area at a time, such as sentence fragments, prepositional phrases, or commas.

Student identification numbers will be checked to verify enrollment in WLAC classes and WLAC assignments. Please be prepared to provide either an identification number or a WLAC student printout.

Resources

Would you like more assistance? Consider enrolling in a short-term Learning Skills course.

The Learning Skills courses allow you to focus on specific areas, such as grammar, punctuation, spelling, and organization of details. You can work with a flexible schedule by utilizing computer software. Please come to the 1st floor of the HLRC, or call Curt Riesberf at (310) 287-4486 for more information.

In the Library, located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the HLRC, you will find research resources in both print and electronic formats. At the Library Instructional Research Lab, you are able to access the online book catalog, several research databases, and the Internet. LIRL computers also have Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications.

Tutors

Many of the tutors are or have been students at West Los Angeles College. Some of the tutors may also be graduate or upperclassmen students from other universities and colleges.

NOTE:

The campus Writing Lab is now on an abbreviated schedule (opening at 8:00 am and no Saturday service) until September 14. There will be no Saturday service until September 26.

The campus Writing Lab officially opens on September 21, 2009.

Hours

On-campus services will be closed on Friday and Sunday, but online tutorial help in writing will be available. Tutors wil be cheking the Online Writing Lab Web site to help WLAC students who have enrolled in SLA 1T #8978 and would like help with WLAC writing assignments by way of the Internet.

Follow this link http://www.wlac.edu/online/owl.asp for more information about how to enroll in the free WLAC Online Writing Lab (SLA 1T section #8978), or send us an email onlineowl@wlac.edu if there are any questions.

If students need help at times besides this schedule, please enroll in section 8978 SLA/1T online tutoring. It will take one to two business days before they can access online help.

Jobs

Part-time tutoring jobs are available on flexible schedules to work with your academic schedule. Tutor Qualifications:

• enrollment in 12 undergraduate units or 6 graduate units of college classes
• submitted application
• passing grade in a written grammar test and oral interview
• submitted transcript indicating completion of English 101 or equivalent with a “B” or an “A”
• written recommendation from a teacher for tutoring position

Contact

Please call (310) 287-4420 to make an appointment for testing and an interview.