At the Writing Center, we strive to create a space that is safe for all writers. This means accommodating each appointment to the individual writer we are…

As tutors at a Writing Center, we have duties to work toward anti-racism at the University Center for Writing-based Learning (UCWbL). Historically, writing centers have been founded…

As we wrap up our third consecutive quarter of remote operations, I’m sure many of us are counting down the days until we can get back to…

One of the things I’ve noticed about my job as generalist writing tutor is that it often requires difficult explanations. Most often, these will be grammatical or…

A Brief Overview Scaffolding is a teaching technique that supports the learner by gradually building their independence that can take a variety of different forms. Motivational scaffolding…

Twine is an open-source software originally developed by Chris Klimas for interactive storytelling. Though projects can be expanded through code, users need not have such background in…

“Cognitive and motivational scaffolding” is a term that pops up quite often in Writing Center scholarship, but its definition is a bit elusive and hard to pin…

I like to blame my chronic lateness on “Gay Time,” or as the professors at JaCob University would define it, the extra ten or fifteen minutes that…

By Alayne T., Anastasia K., and Koko T. What is Cognitive Scaffolding? Cognitive scaffolding is a teaching and tutoring method in which the tutor controls elements of…

In my first quarter as a peer writing tutor, many of the writers I’ve worked with have asked for help with papers written in APA format. As…

The Chicago Literacy Alliance, a non-profit organization located in the West Loop, seeks to meet the literacy needs of people all over the city of Chicago. Comprised…

It is that time in the quarter where everyone is scrambling to piece together that final research paper (myself included). The UCWbL will soon be very busy…

It’s not groundbreaking to say this past year has been hard. Our routines, social lives, and work lives have been fundamentally altered. I have noticed a lot…

At a past University Center for Writing-based Learning (UCWbL) Winter Retreat, an interesting dilemma was posed to fellow tutors: how can we spread representation among the UCWbL…

During the last couple quarters, the research team has participated in many assessment projects, aimed at assessing the current state of our writing center and our various…

Summers without courses seem to lose their structure entirely for me, and, when I heard the news of classes going online this spring, I immediately began anticipating…

I remember being in high school when my English teachers would toss out the phrase “the human condition” as we discussed the dystopian nightmare of Orwell’s 1984, or…

So now that you’ve decided to send in an application for law schools, here comes the gritty stuff: the actual writing process aspects of the application that…

By: Izzy Rothberg and Nawaal Farooq There are a lot of common misconceptions about those who have dyslexia and this is especially perpetuated by how people with…

A writer’s voice is essentially how the writer incorporates their own imprint or beliefs into their writing. It allows the writer to institute their own perception and…

Holden Caufield—a good character. Humbert Humbert—another good character. Problematic, but regardless—a good character. Yet, this is essentially evaluative language; we can often come to the conclusion that…

As a long-time member of the The Collaborative For Multilingual Writing & Research(CMWR) here at DePaul’s University Center for Writing-based Learning (UCWbL), it’s easy for me to…

Before diving into the process of teaching peer writers about argument development, we must first make sure that we fully understand these concepts ourselves! By doing so,…

Why Cover Letters and Resumes? The topic that I chose for my WRD 395 presentation is how to tutor career writing, more specifically cover letters and resumes….

While reflecting on my own experiences at DePaul from the various perspectives as a student, elevator, and Chicago Quarter Mentor, it became clear to me that in…

So before I answer this post’s eponymous question, I’d appreciate it if you could answer these two questions before continuing: How do you personally define flow? What’s…

Becoming a student leader can mean a lot of things depending on the university that you’re at and the specific program that you get into. Are you…

You may have heard about Restorative Justice (RJ) on your Twitter or Instagram feed lately along with calls to defund and abolish police departments across the United…

Making a content and style guide that is both rhetorically effective while also comprehensive can be a challenge, namely because picking a place to start isn’t as…

DAVID SIPRESS As I’m sure is the norm with many students who find their academic year coming to a close during this unfortunate and unpredictable time, it…

What would a story be without a hero, villain, or trusty sidekick? Arguably the most important aspect of a great piece of writing, characters act as vehicles…

I come from a line of revolutionary Black women, both known and unknown to me. This letter and my actions over the past few weeks are dedicated…

The University Center for Writing-based Learning was excited to sponsor its second Flash Fiction Contest. The DePaul community, including the students, alumni, faculty, and staff, were invited…

Code-switching is a hot topic on university campuses these days. Not only are educators and writing tutors talking about it, but people are also examining how they…

Years ago, if you would have asked me about seeing a tutor I might have cringed and said “I don’t need help from a tutor!” In grade…

In the process of redesigning some resources for DePaul’s First-Year Writing Faculty, I reread the Meaningful Writing Project by Michele Eodice, Anne Ellen Geller, and Neal Lerner….

Before I began working at the Writing Center, I studied at the theatre school where I had a different sort of experience with reading, writing, and analysis….

After several years living away from where I grew up, I never imagined I’d be finishing my first year of grad school in my childhood bedroom. I…

I’ve long been a fan of working from home when it comes to any project that requires extensive, sustained focus and solitude. Which was sometimes the case…

According to Matsuda and Cox, EAL writers often struggle with cohesion and coherence because they also struggle with signposting, with using “the transitional words and sentences that…

My nearly three years at the Writing Center have reached their conclusion at the end of winter quarter, and I have since received my diploma and advanced…

Emily graduated from DePaul’s WRD program with a Bachelor’s in 2016 and a Master’s in 2018. She worked at the UCWBL from Autumn 2014 until she graduated…

In undergrad, I attended an open mic night at the library where people could share a reading from their favorite writer. After hearing a few of the…

When I decided to submit a proposal to the International Writing Centers Association (IWCA) conference last year, I knew that I was not just stepping, but leaping,…

If you’ve ever seen a table in Arts & Letters, the Stu, the hallway outside the library, or the 11th floor of the DePaul Center in the Loop…

I’m sure many of us have dreamed of working from home at some point during our time at the UCWbL. “Why can’t I do this from home…

Hello UCWbLers, and happy start to the spring quarter! We know it’s a weird one, but hang in there! We’re all going to get through this.  While…

Header courtesy of Tim Foster, Unsplash Dungeons and Dragons and Tutoring, on first glance, such a sentence sounds like nonsense. Even on a second glance, okay, maybe the same….

My childhood bedroom has become my main office this past month! Although it isn’t great for my back, I usually do most of my UCWbL work and…

Mental Health and COVID-19 Currently, for our safety, millions of Americans are being ordered to stay at home in order to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19. With…

Hi DePaul University writers, the writing center is here for you this Spring Quarter! Our tutors are available Sunday through Friday to collaborate with you via an…

Growing up, I was insecure about how fast I could read. I have always taken my time to read books, assignments, letters, etc. This has always been…

Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott is a book on how to write and how to live life. From how to beat feeling overwhelmed when there’s a…

Lauren R. is a 2019 graduate of the MA in English program at DePaul. She worked at the UCWbL from 2018 – 2019 as a graduate assistant,…

Photo courtesy of Daniel Hjalmarsson, Unsplash. One of the most awkward challenges I face as a peer writing tutor is the moment when a writer asks my…

On February 21, 2020, the 10th Peer Tutor and Mentor Summit was held at the Lincoln Park Student Center. Celebrating the theme of “Spotlight on Collaboration”, students…

What is the morning pages method!? Struggling with finding “the idea” for your research paper? Too uninspired to write? Feeling stuck during your writing process? The solution:…

Lisa is a class of 2019 graduate who earned an MA in English and a TESOL certification. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in American Studies in…

One of the first appointments I had as a new UCWbL tutor involved a writer who came in with a paper that needed to be done in…

Background & Context: Why Nonlinear? When first given the opportunity to research writing, I knew that I wanted to choose something that related to not only my…

Like many of you, much of my love of writing comes from using writing and language in fun and interesting ways. Whether it’s been journaling, poetry, short…

When I was brainstorming what I wanted my goals to be for this year would be, I kept coming back to the idea of resumes. Growing up…

Have you heard about the UCWbL’s social justice team? We’re a brand new group started by our very own Erin H., and we have some great plans…

The unexpected parallels between being a peer writing tutor and UX designer. At the heart of it all is having empathy for the client.

While reflecting on my own experiences at DePaul as both a student and a Chicago Quarter Mentor, it became clear to me that students often struggle with…

APA style is used in most scientific and research writing. Because these areas can cover very complex and complicated topics, it is important to provide as much…

When prompted to create, to compose, in something other than alphanumeric writing, I’ve found that I and other students tend to balk at the suggestion. Why would…

I have never been good at active vs passive voice. In high school, my teacher decided that to teach us a lesson about being judicious in our…

Working at the UCWbL, we tend to become focused on certain common types of writing assignments, such as essays or short homework assignments, like discussion posts and…

The School of Athens by Raphael. While crafting an argument, one might consult ancient rhetorical appeals such as ethos, logos, and pathos. These appeals, once mastered, can…

Heather is a class of 2010 graduate who studied creative writing during her time at DePaul. She worked at the UCWbL during her senior year as a…

Accessibility within writing centers is extremely important. As a part of the university, a space where students come for support, we have a responsibility as tutors to…

Andrew is a recent graduate of the MA in Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse program at DePaul University (2019). He simultaneously earned a graduate level TESOL certification. Andrew…

The University Center for Writing-based Learning hosted its inaugural flash fiction contest during the 2019 autumn quarter. All DePaul students, faculty, staff, and alumni were invited to…

Screenplays are tricky. Not only are they expected to evoke strong emotion and entertainment in a reader, but they require a multitude of specific formatting conventions. Because…

One day, me and this businessman got into a conversation about ADHD. I was working as a cashier at the time — it was a slow day…

by Vee Hall Journalists adhere to an incredibly structured form of writing. The purpose of journalistic writing is to convey information to a reader, in the most…

I was only 10 when the 2008 recession hit, so I don’t remember exactly what happened. I do remember the confusion and strife around the stock market’s crash….

You were assigned a paper in one of your classes. It was nothing new to you; the length assigned by your instructor was about ten pages. You…

Although it is arguably the most important stage of the writing process, revision is often misunderstood or avoided altogether. Revision means thinking critically about the choices we’ve…

Hello Scrawl Nation! In this week’s episode, we explore Queer writing to celebrate Pride Month! This episode will set you up with some recommendations of good queer…

Greetings! Greetings? What does it mean to ‘greet’ people?  Does it mean to simply introduce yourself by name to whoever you are greeting?  To make them feel…

In the past few weeks, I have had a surprising (and slightly overwhelming) amount of conversation partner appointments. Some have been wholesome and wonderful, some have been…

I talked about getting the writing process started with some prewriting strategies in my last post, so now we get to put the products of those strategies…

Hey Scrawl Nation! We hope you’re all feeling the warmth of the sun on your beautiful faces as June approaches! We here at Scrawl are celebrating all…

Last week, I talked about the writing process from a very broad perspective: prewriting, drafting, and revising. With a holistic view of the steps that go into…

Hey Scrawl Nation!! While you’re sitting on that big plot twist in that show you just binged, feel free to give this episode a listen; we’re talking…

Discussing burnout and self-care is absolutely crucial for peer writing tutors. These issues affect tutors and writers. If tutors don’t know how to deal with burnout, they…

Hey there Scrawl Nation! You might want to fix a little snack for this episode because it might make you hungry—we’re talking about food writing. This radio…

When I was just starting out as a writing tutor, I was always concerned with whether I was giving the writers I worked with the “right” or…

Hi Scrawl Nation!! We got a little something special for you this episode: we’re talkin’ fantasy and world building! We couldn’t get J.K. Rowling (on vacation) or…

The Writing Center offers five types of appointments: Face-to-Face, Written Feedback, Online Realtime, Screencast Video Feedback, and Conversation Partners. While all five appointment types are versatile and…

When taking the lead in a conversation partner appointment, it’s just as important as in any other appointment type to set an appointment agenda so that both…

I’ve encountered a slew of rhetorical analysis appointments here at the UCWbL. Often times, the students come in confused about what a “rhetorical analysis” even entails and…

Hiiii Scrawl nation; we hope May is treating each and every one of you well! This week’s episode is about journaling. That’s right: we’re talkin’ diaries, letters,…

Helloooo ScrawlNation! This week’s episode was a continuation of our celebration of National Poetry Month! We focused on writing poetry instead of reading it this week, and…

I am probably behind the curve with my recent peaked interest in podcasts, but I am always behind the curve. So what’s new? I recently started listening…

What is multimodality? While there might be some confusion about what the term multimodal means, most writers know what it is and how to use it. To…

If you’re like me and you got to college relying on the EasyBib gods for your MLA Works Cited page, you were probably shaken to your very…

Publication is an exciting opportunity that allows a writer to share their work with a broader audience and to establish themselves in their field. When I finished…