1. Where is The Writing Center located and what are the hours?
The Writing Center is located in Humanities 100 and 102. For the fall 2011, we are open:

Monday and Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday: 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

2. Appointments?
Tutoring times are offered on a walk-in basis.

3. How do I arrange a tutor session?
Come into The Writing Center during any of our open hours of operation.

4. Is there a charge for using The Writing Center?
No, all services in The Writing Center are absolutely free of charge to any student currently enrolled in Los Angeles Valley College.

5. What do I need to bring with me to the Writing Center?
To use our services at The Writing Center and our Computer Lab you need to bring your student I.D. (LAVC Monarch Card). Also, we encourage you to have your in-class notes, textbooks, and syllabus.

6. What does a tutor session consist of?
First, the tutor goes over the Pink Sheet that each student fills out prior to the session; next, the student clarifies what the assignment is; then, the student asks main questions about ideas, grammar, and/or writing style, and the tutor gives a brief but effective explanation of the subject matter. When the session is over, students are welcome to continue working on their assignments on their own in The Writing Center, and they can use our large selection of writing references at the Center.

7. How long does a tutoring session last?
The duration of a one-to-one tutoring session is a maximum of 30 minutes. However, students can stay at The Writing Center after their tutoring session and continue working on their assignments.

8. What do tutors do?
Tutors help students with ideas: understanding assignments, brainstorming for a topic, turning a vague idea into a thesis or topic sentence, making main ideas stand out, filling out each main idea with persuasive details. Tutors also help with grammar and style: eliminating run-ons and fragments, composing strong, fluent sentences that stress the most important ideas, sorting out verb-tenses, finding strong verbs, getting subjects and verbs to agree, using pronouns well. Moreover, tutors help with general academic skills: improving spelling, reading and remembering, summarizing, documenting research, writing essay tests, reading fiction and poetry.

9. What don't tutors do?
Tutors DON'T proofread your compositions. However, tutors will help you develop strategies for proofreading and editing.

10. Who are the tutors?
Both graduate and undergraduate students at LAVC or others colleges, who have successfully completed English 101 and have an overall GPA 3.0 or better.

11. What's a Pink Sheet?
Students fill out the Pink Sheet each time they want a session with a tutor. The Pink Sheet has questions about the objectives of the student's visit. These questions should be answered as specifically as possible. Please remember that answering these questions will help us help you as well as help you recognize your own learning needs.

12. Will I have access to computers?
Once you have been logged in at The Writing Center, you are allowed to use computers. Note-if you want only to use a computer and do not need any tutoring assistance, you can go directly to the Computer Lab H102, which is right next to The Writing Center, and present your student I.D. You can use these computers for writing and/or for Internet research. Printing is ten cents a page.

13. What are the benefits of visiting The Writing Center?
The most important factor is that students get individual help and have an opportunity to discuss their writing with writing consultants. While at the Center, students can use our various writing reference books equivalent to their class level and academic skills. Also, students get a copy of their conference form, which they may keep for their own records.

14. Who is The Writing Center designed for?
For LAVC students who are actively enrolled in any course(s). The Writing Center is an interdisciplinary service, and tutors work with students on their writing and/or reading for any class, not just English courses.

15. Can I get help online?
Yes. The Writing Center offers online tutoring and many self-instructional resources available on this website. To access online tutoring, click on the Virtual Online Writing Center link in the left menu. For self-instructional resources, click on the Self-Instructional Resources link in the left menu.

16. What is group tutoring?
When there are more than one student in the same class, students can have group tutoring sessions. The process takes place the same as in one-to-one tutoring, except that students can discuss their assignment with their classmates along with the tutor. We encourage students to come with their classmates because collaborative tutoring is more effective in terms of comparing notes and ideas.

17. Does The Writing Center offer any courses?
The Writing Center offers three self-paced individual laboratory courses, which are taken for credit/non-credit. English 67: Writing Laboratory - .5 units. Participate in regular Writing Center activities such as tutoring conferences, writing workshops or computerized instruction. English 68: Reading/Writing Laboratory - .5 units. Read a book, keep a reading journal, meet with a tutor, and discuss what you have read. English 69: Writing and Revising on the Computer.-1.0 units. Learn how to edit and format your papers in our H102 Computer Center. See how easy writing and revising can be when you get help using computer technology.

18. What are Roundtable Workshops?
The Roundtable Workshops, held throughout the semester in The Writing Center, offer students the opportunity to focus on a particular aspect of the writing process in a group environment. Workshops are one hour long and are led by one or two of the Writing Consultants. This is an excellent opportunity for students to discuss and practice the major grammatical and stylistic problems that college students struggle with. Handouts summarizing the workshop topic are distributed at the workshop and are also available at any time in The Writing Center. All LAVC students are welcome to attend these sessions. English 67, 68 and 69 students get class credit for attending. Workshops are held in H100 and H102. All students must present their LAVC student ID to attend Roundtable Workshops. All students who attend workshops receive a certificate of participation.