university writing center

Hello all you Turkeys,

Thanksgiving is known for family festivities like gorging yourself on dry turkey and getting into heated political debates with distant relatives. But what it is not known for is the ample amount of time open for writing. There are many topics to write about, you can prepare a speech about climate change, you can reflect on your first semester, you can write thank you cards to all your lovely relatives, and most importantly you can leave positive comments on the writing center blog. Wishing you all a happy last week of classes!

P.S. With finals coming up, our hours will be changing, but we will still be around to help you with any final papers.

Howdy folks, Lauryn here.

This just in: be on the lookout for some bright orange pumpkin eggs scattered about campus! We tutors have placed eggs all over campus for you to find!

When you locate an egg, crack it open and bring it to the Writing Center to redeem a cool prize!

Happy hunting!

Hi readers, Lauryn here. I am bringing to you exclusive book recommendations from your favorite blog writers: Jake Long and Lauryn Everly.

Lauryn’s Book Recommendation: The House on Mango Street

A deeply poetic and moving kind-of-sort-of YA memoir, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros follows a young girl by the name of Esperanza, as she grows up in a shabby house on shabby Mango Street. Young Esperanza faces a plethora of trials and tribulations as she hopes and dreams of someday having a real house of her own, far away from her rundown town. Mango Street offers poignant, poetic snapshot chapters of what it’s like to come of age as a young girl–the good, the bad, and the ugly.

 

Jake’s Book Recommendation: The Count of Monte Cristo

In “one of the best revenge books ever written” (-Jake), we follow the protagonist, Edmund Dantes, through false imprisonment and a journey for treasure. The book is incredibly raw and never holds back. Dantes, something of a Robin-Hood figure, is an extremely well-written character, and the entire book makes for an overall extremely exciting read.

 

We hope you enjoy our books! Comment down below if you love these books.

Stay frosty, cool cats.

-Laur

There are many ways to say goodbye but the variety doesn’t make the goodbye any easier. Here at the writing center, we would like to inform our readers that our fellow Tutor, Carson Bolash, has recently left his position as tutor. I know that some of you may be worried that his writing expertise will be put to waste, but do not fear, he is pursuing a English teaching degree and plans on continuing his pursuit of english excellence in a classroom of his own, where he hopes to find the next Hemingway or Poe. Carson’s contributions to the writing center have not gone unnoticed, his Tiktoks always put a smile on the faces of viewers and his advice always soothed the hearts of his students. And we as a whole would like to say thank you for all you have done for the Writing Center.

“I don’t know what to write.”

“I don’t know how to get started.”

Hey all, Lauryn here. Even as a fourth-year English major, I, just like you all, experience bouts of writer’s block. Additionally, writer’s block is something that we are very often asked about at the Writing Center.

So… what can we do about it? Well, there are a few different things you can try. And I’m going to name a few, just for you! Let’s get started.

1. Change Your Environment

Sometimes, a change of scenery can do wonders for your mindset. New sights and sounds can spark fresh ideas. Personally, I like to write in the library; the environment always makes me feel more productive.

2. STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS WRITING

Whether you’re writing creatively, or don’t know where to start with your research paper, writing down your stream of consciousness can be a great way to spark some ideas. Set a timer for a few minutes and write down everything you’re thinking about. Every single thing. It might help you think of something new!

3. Read for Inspiration

I am a firm believer in learning by example. Finding a mentor text to use as a model for your own paper can be incredibly useful, especially if you’re stuck on formatting. Remember to use mentor texts responsibly! Always cite information you find elsewhere.

4. Talk It Out

If you’re stuck, try discussing your ideas with a friend, a classmate, or… a Writing Center tutor! Talking through your thoughts can sometimes help you figure out where you’re headed. A fresh perspective could be exactly what you need to get on the right track.

5. Set Small Goals

We get it, sometimes you end up writing a whole paper in one night. But that stress might be what’s holding you back and blocking you! Instead of forcing yourself to write a whole lengthy paper in one sitting, give yourself the time to do it in chunks. Plan accordingly and try for a paragraph a day. Taking breaks and pacing yourself can help when you really aren’t feeling a whole paper.

So… did that help? I hope it did!

Remember, you aren’t alone in the writing process. Schedule your appointment at the Writing Center today and talk through your writing struggles.

That’s all for now!

-Lauryn

Hello all you Writing Center Blog Lovers. Don’t we all just love writing essays. Some turn out great others not so much, but if you’ve consistently fallen into the latter, then you’ve come to the right place. When it comes to writing a solid essay, the emphasis is on content, a well-rounded argument, and clear diction. However, for these dreams to become reality, a consistent, firm paragraph structure is necessary for readers to grasp what it is you are trying to say. A consistent paragraph structure also makes it easier for you, as a writer, to formulate your thoughts because you no longer must worry about what order you must structure your paragraphs in, giving you more time to formulate strong arguments.

The first step to writing a well-structured paragraph is to write a topic sentence. Yes, you heard me right, topic sentences are necessary outside of the introductory paragraph. The topic sentence gives your audience an idea of what to expect from the proceeding writing. Are you going to write about Julius Caesar’s love life or his conquests, the dark or light side of the moon, or igneous or sedimentary rocks? That’s for you to decide, but the introductory paragraph gives your audience an idea of what will come next.

After the topic sentence, you want to dedicate 3-4 sentences to bolstering your topic sentence. In these sentences, you are writing about what you know for certain, based on research or observation. Typically, each sentence ties back to the topic sentence, with the same or similar subjects being used for each sentence. Let’s say you were writing about the properties of igneous and sedimentary rocks. In the topic sentence you would establish which rock form you are writing about, then each sentence would begin with that rock. Or, these sentences can follow a linear progression, meaning that each sentence introduces a new subject which is the topic of the next sentence. For Julius Caesar’s love life, one paragraph may be dedicated to a particular lover and progress using the many traits that made them appealing to him.

The final sentence is what you’ve been leading it up to. It is when you can offer a grand explanation as to why Julius Caesar’s first lover was perfect for him or why igneous rocks are the prettiest rocks for a windowsill. This is when facts and information reach the tip of the dropper and a drop falls into the bucket full of other small drops, each one with their own reason for being in the bucket.

I hope you now feel more confident approaching your essays with a paragraph format at your disposal.

 

 

Good afternoon readers!

This is Lauryn back again to give you some information on some English-related resources on campus.

The Writing Center is not the only place on campus you can go to find individuals that are well versed in writing and reading! Here are some other English-loving orgs & institutions on the Millersville campus:

1. English Club

The English Club meets regularly to do English-related activities! Join the English clubbers to experience all things English and meet many writing & literature lovers!

2. Librarians

The librarians can help you brainstorm ideas, research topics, and find good, credible sources! Check the library website to learn more information about what they can do for you.

3. The Snapper

The Snapper meets regularly to write on and report all the happenings in the world and on campus! The Snapper is great for students interested in news writing.

4. Sigma Tau Delta National Honor Society

S.T.Delta is a nationally recognized English Honor Society. The university’s chapter invites eligible English majors annually. S.T.Delta’s members are invested in literary endeavors, as well as philanthropy.

5. Professors

Make valuable connections with your English professors; they are great resources! Make sure to introduce yourself and make an effort to visit their office hours so that they can best serve you as your instructors.

 

Those are just a few great English-related orgs and resources on campus. Involve yourself in the English community!

Hello everyone, welcome to another blog post written by yours truly, Jake Long. Today we will talking about the elusive perfect thesis statement because now is the time when we get our first speeches of the year. According to UNC Writing Center, a thesis statement is a roadmap for the paper that tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. At times, it is appropriate to write your thesis statement after writing the body sections of your paper because you may not be ready to refine your main ideas until after exploring what you have to say. A thesis statement should give a reader a one sentence synopsis that they can refer to if questions arise as to how certain points relate to your topic. Let’s say you’re writing a paper on the effectiveness of the University bus system and your thesis reads, “The University bus system offers a beneficial service for students who need to get from one end of campus to the other in a short amount of time.” If later in the paper you wrote, the bus drivers are reckless and put students walking calmly to class at risk of getting hit in order to deliver their passengers on time, then a reader can reflect back on the goal of your paper and recognize your dedication to staying on theme is lacking. A better secondary topic would be a personal anecdote of a time when the bus system got you to class on time. This idea would be both clarify and support your thesis statement, and your reader will appreciate being prepped for what is to come in your writing.

Howdy readers,

This is Lauryn, your brand new blog writer speaking. With October coming up swiftly, this is an excellent time to start discussing the spookiest thing of all: the comma splice.

The comma splice is an age-old horror–but do not fret; the comma splice is completely avoidable, as long as you have the right information.

So… what is a comma splice, you ask? A comma splice is the joining of two independent clauses with a comma. Independent clauses can stand on their own, and commas should only be used to join an independent clause with a phrase that cannot stand on its own.

For example, take into account the following statement:

I went to the store, they didn’t have apples.

“I went to the store” and “They didn’t have apples” are both complete thoughts. They can stand alone and function without more information, therefore making them independent clauses. These two clauses cannot be separated by a comma. The above statement is an example of a comma splice.

How can we fix this? I’m glad you ask. It’s nothing too complex! With practice, you too can avoid comma splices. Let’s take a look at two foolproof methods for taking down those pesky comma splices.

1. A Period

Using a period to separate two independent thoughts can sometimes be a solid move.

I went to the store. They didn’t have apples.

The example from before is now grammatically correct. However, this kind of writing can end up looking choppy and having a funky, stop-and-go flow that doesn’t always read very well. In college writing, we should look to have more complex, robust sentences.

So, here’s what I suggest:

2. A Semicolon

A semicolon is the perfect way to combine two independent clauses in a professional, smooth manner. A semicolon can and should be a frequently used resource in every writer’s toolbox.

The semicolon can replace your pesky comma splice in a jiffy. See below:

I went to the store; they didn’t have apples.

Good as new. The semicolon functions just the same as a period, but provides you with a smooth flow and look that mirrors the comma.

Don’t put up with terrifying comma splices any longer.

Use a semicolon today; it might just save your grade.

This is your blog writer speaking, Jacob Long, in my second year as a writing tutor and second year as a blog writer. We have a new blog writer on board with us this year, Lauryn Everly, who has ample experience as both a writer and a blogger. In the past, she blogged the progress of her pumpkin patch back in 2018, a particularly good year for the harvest. She was aiming to grow the largest pumpkin in the tri-state area for the Tri-State Tractor and Trade Festival. She spent months caring for her puny pumpkins, only to see them stay at typical pumpkin size, about the mass of a full fishbowl. So, one day, she made the decision to add plant food to her fertilizer, an illegal move in the contest, and from that moment on her pumpkins grew to the size of boulders. Sadly, an investigation was launched into her pumpkin procedures, as their size far exceeded natural limits, and she was disqualified from the contest. Her embarrassment was palpable, but she has since learned that cheating, especially in an academic context, is unacceptable and now lives a life dedicated to teaching others the same thing.

This story is totally fictitious, Lauryn never grew pumpkins, no less participated in the fictional Tri-State Tractor and Trade Festival, but the moral of the story is important: cheaters never prosper. So let’s make a commitment to each other to practice absolute academic integrity this year, and if we can succeed in that venture you’ll hear the story of my own run in with the Tri-State Tractor and Trade Festival law.