by Jenna Currie
When writing, especially essays, the stress levels are high, and it also takes a great amount of time. The writing center is there for everyone, but few students bother to use it even though they are open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Rarely does anyone come in on Tuesdays, two to three people come in on Wednesdays, and they only get one or two people on Thursdays on average.
Eighth grader Adrian Pozernick in one of the few that uses the writing center. She uses it to help her with all the new essays she has been given this year, since she is still new to the SPAPAPA concept in writing. “They can help with anything to get your grades up,” Pozernick says.
She started using it after she wrote an essay for English that she failed, since it’s her first year using ‘SPAPAPA’. She went to the writing center, and they helped her with her second essay and she did a lot better on it. “It was worth it,” Pozernick says.
She stays after school in room T101, and she gets help until 3:15 when the late bus picks her up to go home. It’s helpful because “you can find better and more help in the writing center than you do at home,” Pozernick says.
The writing center uses the writer to edit the essay. They sit down with the student and look over the pieces that need revision. The student sits down next to the editor, and they are always active in the editing process. The editors ask questions to the students on why they think a revision is necessary and how they should revise it.
Editor Nicole Alzapiedi uses this exact process when editing an essay. “If they are really stuck I may give them some ideas about how to fix what they have, but I never write the essay for them. I think it is important that they are understanding why something should be fixed in a piece of writing and the ways that they can go about fixing it,” Alzapiedi says.
Once she uses the writing center, she feels more confident about her writing. “People who are really good writers are looking over my essays and putting in their advice,” Pozernick says.
The writing center has decided to give students a chance during the day in classes to get help from tutors. Teachers can sign up for a student to come to their class during a designated block to come and help students with their writing.
At first the students won’t ask for help from anyone, but once they come up to them and ask to read over their essay, it becomes easier and productive, according to senior Lorrayne Agostinho, a writing center tutor.
She enjoys working in the writing center since she like to write and to help people. She is also one of the first members to participate in the ‘Mobile Writing Center,’ and she really enjoyed herself. She says that it was hard at first since she had to go around to the whole class, but she thinks it will be a success because it comes to the students.
Pozernick also agrees because “I do not enjoy staying after school. Also this way people can get more help than teachers can give you.”
The writing center is there for anyone to use; students just have to take advantage of this opportunity.
