Writing Center

What is the Writing Center?

The Writing Center is a service coordinated by the English Department to help students (and staff!) with texts they write in English.  Each semester, one student works as writing tutor to help other students with their written English, whether for academic or other purposes.

What does the Writing Tutor do, exactly?

The Writing Center can help you with all types of English-language texts, including (but not limited to) writing assignments; portfolio works, such as book or course reflections; application letters; CVs and term papers.  The tutor can help with your writing at any phase of the work, from generating ideas to developing arguments and finding just the right turn of phrase to express what you mean.  When you send your work to the tutor, she reads it with your questions in mind and replies with her feedback as soon as possible.

Please note that the Writing Center does not offer general proofreading or correction work since its main objective is to create students’ self awareness and subsequent improvement of their own writing by giving thoughtful feedback.

How does it work?

If you need help with a particular text or document, send an email to the writing tutor at writingcenter310(at)gmail.com.  Your email should include:

(A) your general query about English writing or documents, for example:

  • What’s the difference between a German Lebenslauf, a US resume, and a British CV?
  • How do I cite a documentary film in APA style for my Zula?
  • I want to say Moeglichkeit; should Iuse possibility or opportunity?

OR

(B) the document you’re working on (usually in Word), attached, and your specific query about that document.  Examples might include:

  • Does this thesis make sense?
  • Do I need to provide more evidence here?
  • Which of these two possible introductions is better?
  • Am I using quotations correctly?  I have 13.  Is that too many?
  • My sentences are too long and complicated and I can’t figure out how to simplify them.  Can you look at this paragraph as an example and tell me how I can fix it?

OR both!

Contact the Writing Center

Contact the tutor via email (writingcenter310(at)gmail.com) and await her reply. Fixed office hours have proven to be rather inefficient, but if appropriate, a personal appointment can be arranged.

What else can you do?

Please sign up for the Writing Center via stud.ip (under Veranstaltungen > English Department Writing Center SoSe 2011-unbegrenzt). There you will find a lot of useful advice and information, such as our Wiki featuring literature tips, web links, and much more; an indispensable FAQ section; a download section with valuable documents on grammar exercises, applications, APA style; as well as a forum where you can exchange ideas with your peers, and much more… Sign up today: stud.ip – English Department Writing Center.

If you’re looking for creative ways to actively improve your English grammar and writing skills in general, visit the PH’s Selbstlernzentrum für Sprachen (SLZ).