The Writing Center
Personalized help and feedback that helps you develop confidence in your research and writing skills.
The Writing Center is an inclusive and open learning environment where all Coppin students can get writing and research help—regardless of ability. We provide support through personal tutoring, assignment consultations, and community workshops. We also work with you to get access to the tools and resources you need to feel confident about your writing and research skills in the classroom and beyond.
How can the Writing Center help me?
We provide a range of services. Our tutors support students with:
- academic writing, including critical analyses, essays, rhetorical criticisms, and research papers
- creative writing, including short stories, poems, biographies, and memoirs
- business writing, including abstracts, case studies, and personal statements
- professional writing, including resumes, cover letters, formal memos, proposals
- oral presentations, including prepared speeches, PowerPoint presentations, and group projects
- scholarship and employment applications
Do I need an appointment to get help from the Writing Center?
Nope! You don't need an appointment before coming to the Center. But we do encourage you to schedule some time with us when we get busy, like around midterms and finals. You do need to plan accordingly to make sure you meet your assignment deadlines. We recommend you give us at least 24 hours to review your work, and up to 48 hours during busy periods.
Do I have to pay for any of the Writing Center's services?
Nope! All Writing Center resources and services are free to students.
What should I bring to my sessions at the Writing Center?
Be sure to have digital copies of all your drafts, project requirements, and working documents (i.e. research notes, grading rubric, instructions etc.). We also encourage you to bring a paper copy of your draft, if possible.
What happens when I arrive at the Center?
Please sign in when you arrive and let a tutor know how we can help.
What can I expect from my Writing Center tutor?
Our tutors are here to help you become more confident about your writing and research skills. This means we're available to:
- provide feedback on your work for organization, clarity, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
- offer personalized student consultations - support your ability to look more critically at your work
- recommend tips on critical thinking, research, and various citation styles (i.e. MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.)
- point out error patterns in grammar, sentences, and organization
We aren't your instructors, so we cannot tell you the grade we think you may receive on a completed assignment.
Who has access to my Writing Center work?
Unless specifically requested by a student, we do not release any working documents to your instructors.
How does the Writing Center handle plagiarism?
We will not make your edits or do your work for you—that is plagiarism. We report any evidence of intentional plagiarism to the Writing Center Director for review and potential action. Intentional plagiarism is when you use someone else's ideas and/or words and purposely call them your own.
Video Tutorials
Even the best writers need help sometimes. Check out our library of video tutorials on grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and citation styles to keep you writing with confidence. Don’t see a video that answers your question? Come see us! We love this stuff.
Using Zotero to Manage Academic Sources
This video is an overview of using the online citation tool Zotero (https://www.zotero.org) to manage sources for academic research.
The Writing Center is open to all students. The Center is part of the Eagle Achievement Center (EAC).