The Writing Center is here to help you handle some of the stress of the writing process
– from brainstorming to the finished document – whether or not it's for a class or
an application requirement. The Writing Center is staffed by professional writing
consultants and the co-directors. The Center is located in the Teaching and Learning
Center, Room 2308 (right above the Library Café). Follow us on Instagram.
The Writing Center is open for Spring semester with hours available Sunday evenings
through Fridays. You may make appointments to work with Nora Streed (online) or with
Hadis Ghaedi (online or in person in the Writing Center). Follow current Community Health Standards for in-person meetings.
The Writing Center is available to all UNCSA students, staff, and faculty to help
with any writing questions at all, whether or not it is for a class assignment – including
papers/essays, grant proposals, screenplays, fellowship/internship/college/job applications,
thesis and/or your personal writings, such as novels, poetry. We can help you get
started or get unstuck in the middle or your work, as well as help you learn to proofread
your work effectively.
Writing is stressful for many people, and we’re here to help you tell your story with
skill and confidence. More information, including current hours, writing resources,
and easy instructions for making appointments, is available on our LibGuide page:
https://library.uncsa.edu/writingcenter-esl
FAQs About the Writing Center
What kinds of writing can you help me with?
Anything you are working on: essays, class assignments, research papers, grant proposals,
summaries, manuscripts, fellowship/internship/college/job applications (e.g., resume,
CV, cover letter, diversity statement, artist statement, personal statements), graduate
thesis work, screenplays, and creative writing. You can bring your work at any stages of the writing process. Whether you're just brainstorming ideas, crafting your thesis statement, working on
an introductory paragraph, polishing a complete first draft, or working on the citations,
our experienced tutors are here to assist you. We understand that writing is a dynamic
and evolving process, and seeking guidance early on can lead to more polished and
impactful final submissions.
What happens in a typical Writing Center tutoring session?
The tutor will spend time talking with you about your writing work, and will ask you
to clarify where you are in the writing process and where you need help. For example,
they may ask to see a copy of the assignment or the paper guidelines. Then you will
work together, reading through the paper, discussing areas to develop, and ways to
make the work stronger. Specifics will depend on the session and your concerns and
needs. They can also help you with citation and correct forms of documentation.
How long is a tutoring session?
It depends. Some sessions are short and some may take up to an hour. A typical session
lasts about 30 minutes.
What do I need for a tutoring session?
If you are meeting online, you'll need the current draft of your paper (at any stages
of the process) as well as the assignment/guidelines or course syllabus (if applicable)
from your instructor. You can send us a file or simply use the screen-sharing function
in Zoom.
If you are meeting in person, a printout of your current draft, or a digital copy
of it on your device. You can also email a copy of it before attending the session.
There is a printer available in the Writing Center if necessary.
Will my teacher get notification that I have been to the Writing Center?
Yes. With your permission, we will email your instructor with a brief overview of
the tutor session. Most instructors are happy to learn that their students have made
use of the Writing Center, and some even offer grading incentives to visit.
My teacher has told me I need to visit the Writing Center – why?
Discuss this with your instructor. Most instructors have specific recommendations
about how to strengthen your writing, and you can share these with the tutor.
Who can use the Writing Center?
Writing Center is open to all members of the UNCSA community including high school,
undergraduate and graduate students, as well as the alumni, staff and faculty.
What other services does the Writing Center provide?
Writing Mentorship: If you’re working on multiple papers, an MFA thesis, or another extended writing
project, a Writing Mentorship may be a good fit for you. This allows you to work with
the same tutor/instructor on a regular basis (e.g., on a weekly or biweekly basis)
throughout the semester. You’ll have the option to have an in-person mentorship in
the Writing Center office or an online writing mentorship via Zoom. If you have any
questions about Writing Mentorships, please email Hadis Ghaedi (ghaedih@uncsa.edu)
ESL Services: UNCSA ESL Services provides tutoring in English as a Second Language (ESL) for admitted
students who want or need support. In addition to language instruction, we also offer
help and support for any international students experiencing culture shock or struggling
to adjust to life on campus, in North Carolina, and/or in the US. There are currently
no ESL courses offered. For a one-on-one (online or in-person) meeting with us, make
appointments via the Writing Center/ESL Services link: https://uncsa.libcal.com/appointments/writingcenter-esl (opens in new tab).
Where are you located?
The Writing Center is located in the Teaching and Learning Center (opens in new tab) above the Library Café, Room 2308. Enter through the outside door at the top of the
concrete steps between the Library and the Library Annex buildings off Ehle Drive.
Do I have to make an appointment?
Hours will vary by semester and may change without notice.
In-person appoitnments with Hadis Ghaedi: You are not required to make an appointment at this time, but it is recommended to
do so using the link below. Walk-in visits are welcome on a first-come, first-served
basis. Hours are shown above.
Zoom appointment with Nora Streed or Hadis Ghaedi: You must make an appointment online for a Zoom meeting.
Hadis Ghaedi is the co-director of the Writing Center/ESL program at UNCSA. She has
been working and teaching ESL/EFL and academic writing courses in higher education
for more than a decade. She holds a PhD in the Second Language Acquisition Program
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research interests include discourse analysis,
English academic writing, learners' perceptions, and second language acquisition. She
has lived in the US for eight years and is personally familiar with the difficulties
faced by international students and English Language Learners. She is on campus weekdays
and can meet with you in-person or via Zoom.
Nora Streed
Nora Streed has been with the UNCSA Writing Center since 2015. She has degrees in
both theoretical and applied linguistics as well as Teaching English as a Second Language
(University of Minnesota and Winston-Salem State University). She also has many years
of experience as a writer, researcher, reporter, tutor, writing coach, and editor.
She shares with Hadis an interest in discourse analysis and second language acquisition;
and in addition to storytelling, communication, and language, Nora’s interests include
art, design, gardening, music, science, and transportation policy. She currently lives
in rural Missouri and can meet with you online via Zoom.
Hadis Ghaedi is the co-director of the Writing Center/ESL program at UNCSA. She has
been working and teaching ESL/EFL and academic writing courses in higher education
for more than a decade. She holds a PhD in the Second Language Acquisition Program
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research interests include discourse analysis,
English academic writing, learners' perceptions, and second language acquisition. She
has lived in the US for eight years and is personally familiar with the difficulties
faced by international students and English Language Learners. She is on campus weekdays
and can meet with you in-person or via Zoom.
Nora Streed has been with the UNCSA Writing Center since 2015. She has degrees in
both theoretical and applied linguistics as well as Teaching English as a Second Language
(University of Minnesota and Winston-Salem State University). She also has many years
of experience as a writer, researcher, reporter, tutor, writing coach, and editor.
She shares with Hadis an interest in discourse analysis and second language acquisition;
and in addition to storytelling, communication, and language, Nora’s interests include
art, design, gardening, music, science, and transportation policy. She currently lives
in rural Missouri and can meet with you online via Zoom.