As many at the University of Alabama prepare for success in the new year, the University Writing Center acts as a resource to all students on campus. At the Writing Center, students can bring in their work at any stage to receive feedback, advice and assistance.
The center employs tutors from various disciplines and assists students studying in all areas. Aside from Amy Dayton, director of the Writing Center and an associate professor of English, all employees are students, whether undergraduate or graduate.
“We serve students at every level from early college students all the way up to graduate students, international students and multilingual speakers of English,” Dayton said.
The University Writing Center is located in Lloyd Hall, Room 322. Appointments and drop-ins are available Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In addition, the Writing Center offers drop-in hours at Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library Sunday through Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.
The Writing Center also offers for students to bring in papers in a language other than English and have it reviewed by a tutor who also speaks that language. This option varies from year to year based on staff availability.
“We have tutors in the sciences and math, English, creative writing, but lots of other fields as well, including psychology or statistics,” Dayton said.
Grace Poynter, an assistant director at the Writing Center and Ph.D. student in the English Department, has been working at the Writing Center for nearly three years. Before becoming an assistant director, Poynter worked as a tutor while earning her master’s.
Poynter said that the Writing Center’s motto is “every stage of the page,” and that students are welcome to come to the Writing Center at any stage of their work.
“You can bring in a blank sheet of paper, basically, and we’ll help you from square one,” Poynter said.
Emma Collier, a junior majoring in biology on the pre-dental track, recently met with a tutor at the Writing Center for assistance with her pre-application paper for dental school. Collier came in for her first visit to the Writing Center with a mere outline, but she left with much more.
“Reading it aloud to someone will help you realize ideas you hadn’t thought of before and give you a new perspective, and I think that can be very helpful in getting to a final product that you’re happy with,” Collier said.
Collier said that she will definitely use the Writing Center again and that she recommends other students to do so as well.
Another tutor at the Writing Center, senior English major Lewis Jones, advises students to try to worry less about what they’re bringing to the table when they show up for their tutoring appointment.
“You shouldn’t feel bad for any type of work that you bring in. We’re supposed to be here to relieve that anxiety,” Jones said.