The Tupper Writing Center

We all experience a moment of pause when we open an assignment on Canvas and see a list of things we need to do. After that moment of pause, we then assess how we can complete each of these things to the best of our ability in order to both finish the assignment on time and ultimately earn a good grade. Because of these things, understanding writing assignment guidelines can sometimes be the hardest part of the entire process. If you read through the guidelines multiple times, speak with your fellow classmates, and still are unsure of what is being asked of you, we want you to come to the Tupper Writing Center. When you schedule an appointment with us, or decide to drop in, one of our tutors will be happy to listen to your questions and help puzzle out a portion or the entirety of the instructions. Having another set of eyes to read through your assignment is extremely helpful, and feeling confident in this first step will set you up for greater success across the other areas of your assignment.

Text by Emilee Claffey

Beginning to brainstorm and decide on the direction and content of your paper can be challenging, but this is nevertheless a vital part of the process that you should take time to think through by yourself and with someone else. What brainstorming looks like specifically can change multiple times as you think about what you want to say, and that is perfectly okay. If you are feeling unsure or completely lost in terms of the direction you want to go, we want you to come to the Tupper Writing Center. Any of our tutors can partner with you to create a solid idea with which you can then launch into the rest of the writing process confidently.

Text by Emilee Claffey

Planning and outlining are the phases when you finalize which sources and materials you will use, gather quotes, and lay out the structure of your paper/project. Outlining can take different forms such as mind maps, freewriting, listing your claims and their support, or formal outlining. It is important to remember that these various styles work better for certain assignments and for certain people. The planning and outlining phase is your time to record your thoughts before the sentence-by-sentence writing begins. If you find yourself struggling to compile your thoughts and materials in a cohesive way, we want you to come to the Tupper Writing Center. Settling on a plan or outline can be hard work, but it will make the remaining tasks easier. We want to be an encouragement to you.

Text by Emilee Claffey

To use sources well, first, make sure to follow the assignment guidelines for the types of sources required. After you know what kind of sources to look for in order to start your research, compile a list of quotes that will strengthen as well as support your claims. Since citations are a necessity while writing, in addition to responsibly finding sources, your task is to responsibly record and implement each source through your in-text citations, endnotes, bibliographies, or works cited. This should be done according to each individual format's rules as well as the professor’s expectations. When implemented effectively, sources can act as a great asset to your writing but we acknowledge that this takes time and practice. Usually, it means starting your research earlier than you expect in order to thoroughly look through the material before sitting down to write. Because this step incorporates a couple of different factors, if you ever have questions or need someone to walk you through the research and citation process, the Tupper Writing Center remains a resource. All our tutors would be happy to help you.

Text by Emilee Claffey

The words refining and revising are related but significantly different. “Refining” refers to improving something over time by making small incremental changes; “revising” means to re-examine or editing in light of comments or suggestions. These are small but hopefully, helpful distinctions when trying to figure out what to do next with your assignments. The Tupper Writing Center can come alongside you in either of these tasks. It is beneficial to think about the refining process as bookends to the revising process. Refining therefore can take place as you write and as you make your final edits before submitting the assignment. Being attuned to the refining process of your own work and being able to take comments and implement them effectively are lifelong skills. Sometimes these two steps are easier on certain assignments and more difficult on others, so if you experience any confusion, please come see one of our tutors.

Text by Emilee Claffey