Cedars, August 2019

August 2019 4 FRESHMAN ISSUE Improve Your Essays with the Writing Center Important Places and Where to Find Them by Paolo Carrion J ust got your essay prompt? Have a final draft but want to push it to perfection? Have literally no idea how to even begin? The Writing Center is here to help. Whether you have difficulty forming cohesive sentences or fancy yourself as a master wordsmith, an appointment at the Writing Center is sure to help you bring your writing to the next level. Cedarville’s Writing Center is a free resource that many students, and even some professors, often misunderstand. The Writing Center is not here to take your paper, mark it up with red ink, and throw it back at you. They aren’t your high school English teacher. Tutors are here to work with you to improve your writing habits; expect to be an active participant during your session. Think of the tutors as “Guardians of the Writing Toolbox.” Their goal isn’t to write a better essay for you; it’s to equip you with the tools you need to become a better writer. They won’t “just fix the grammar” for you — we have autocorrect for that now. A few pointers before you show up for your first appointment: Bring two printed copies of your assignment, even if it’s still a mess of ideas and disjointed phrases. Or at the very least one printed copy so that your tutor doesn’t have to awkwardly read over your shoulder. Remember to bring an assignment sheet or instructions your professor gave you. Every professor has a different idea of what counts as “good writing.” You and your tutor will want to tailor your paper to those expectations. No matter your writing skill level, it will always be helpful to talk it out and get an outside perspective on your essay — whether it’s your roommate, your mom, or your roommate’s mom. You can make appointments online at https://www.cedarville.edu/Offices/ Writing-Center. Paolo Carrion is a senior Journalism major and the Editor-in-Chief for Cedars. He is not very good at Tetris, but he is practicing a lot. by Madeleine Mosher O nce school starts, or even before it does, you are going to have to deal with some unpredictable situations. Maybe you split your head open during your first ultimate Frisbee practice. Uni- versity Medical Services (UMS) can fix you up. Maybe you find out that Intro to Composi- tion really isn’t for you when you fail the summary and response paper. The Cove can tutor you. Maybe you really need to drop Intro to Composition. You can do that at the Office of the Registrar. Maybe you lose your phone. You’ll need to stop by campus safety in your frantic search. But where do you find those places? Well, you consult this list: n UMS is adjacent to the Callan Athletic Center, on the left side of the building n The Cove is in the upper level of the Center for Biblical and Theological Studies n The Office of the Registrar is in the lower level of the Stevens Student Center n Campus Safety is in the upper level of the Stevens Student Center Madeleine Mosher is a junior Journalismmajor and an Arts and Entertainment Co-editor for Cedars. When she’s not complaining about homework or having a snack, she enjoys coffee, words, and rock ‘n’ roll. Illustration by Abigail Wisser