SBCC WRITING CENTER

The Santa Barbara City College Writing Center, located in the Cartwright Learning Resources Center, is a valuable academic support service that is available to all SBCC students in all subject areas. Professional, trained tutors work one-on-one with students in all stages of the writing process in order to complement classroom writing instruction and assist students in meeting the reading and writing demands of their courses. By working with tutors, students are able to expand their critical thinking and problem solving skills through interaction and student-centered dialogue, which requires active student involvement and mutual, concentrated analysis of the students' work. Tutors will not "correct" or "edit" student papers, but will utilize leading questions, print and web resources, relevant examples, and follow-up sessions to support students in planning, outlining, revising, or finalizing their writing assignments.

Be prepared for your tutoring session:

Instructors: Print and complete this quick and easy Referral Form to send with your student to the Writing Center so the tutor will know with which writing issues your student needs assistance.

Students: Get the most from your Writing center tutoring session by first printing and completing this short Learning Activity to bring to your tutor. See additional instructions below on what else to bring your session.

Location
The Writing Center is located in the Cartwright Learning Resources Center, the building on the West Campus closest to the footbridge. Walk into the building and enter the CLRC to the left.

SERVICES

Students may come to the Writing Center and work with a professional trained tutor during any stage of their writing process: prewriting, writing, revising, or finalizing. Writing Center tutorial sessions last approximately 30 minutes. During that time, a tutor will work one-on-one with a student on one writing assignment for any SBCC course. Tutors will not correct or edit student work, but instead work with student to improve their ability to understand writing assignments, to focus their writing and writing process, and to utilize print and web resources. Students may visit the Writing Center a maximum of 3 times each week, and no more than once a day.

To be prepared for a Writing Center tutorial session, please bring:

• a valid SBCC student ID (required)
• the writing assignment,
• current and prior drafts of your work, and
• any texts that may assist the tutor in understanding the essay content.

Students may access Writing Center tutors in two ways.

Drop In:
Services are on a first come, first served basis. Upon arrival at the Center, students sign up on a waiting list for the next available tutor and must remain in the waiting area so they will not lose their place in line. Average wait times vary from 5-35 minutes, depending on how many students are waiting.

Appointments:
In order to avoid excessive wait times, students may make an appointment at least one day in advance to see a tutor in the Writing Center by signing up at the Center on the appointment sheet. Student may also request a particular tutor who is scheduled to work during the appointment time. Students must arrive on time for their appointment or they will be asked to use the drop-in option. Appointments may be phoned in 24 hours in advance between 10 am and 2 pm only. Please call or come by the Writing Center if you need to cancel your appointment.

Click here OWL - Online Writing Library to access our valuable collection of online writing resources.

Writing Center Tutor Schedule

Writing Across the Curriculum Guidebook - download pdf - download Word doc

Employment Opportunity: If you have a minimum of a Bachelors Degree and previous tutoring or teaching experience, and would like to apply to become a Writing Center tutor at SBCC, read this Job Description and see if you are a good match for us. You may forward a resume or CV of your educational and employment history to writingcenter@sbcc.edu to request to take a pre-interview skills assessment test Applications are accepted year-round and placed into a pool for consideration for future openings; interviews by invitation only.

Contact information:
For general inquiries, email Writing Center LTAs Lisa Danhi and Nicole Biergiel at writingcenter@sbcc.edu, or call 805-965-0581 x-2663.