Writing Center

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notebook with writing, pencil, and textbook on a table

Welcome to the Writing Center, part of the Learning Commons at College of Western Idaho. We are here to support your academic, professional, and creative writing projects. From research papers and essays to resumes and personal statements, our writing tutors can help at any stage of the writing process. 

Connect With Us

writing@cwi.edu
208.562.2516
Locations & Hours

Connect With a Tutor Send Us Your Writing

Our Services

While our writing tutors do not edit or proofread papers, we work alongside you to: 

  • offer strategies for revision and help identify errors
  • foster critical thinking and inquiry
  • create more meaningful, well-constructed writing
  • and teach you skills applicable to any writing situation.

Let's connect! We offer in-person and online appointments. You can also send us your writing to receive written feedback. 

  • Writing Resources

    Writing Center handouts are a great resource for anyone with a writing assignment. Access this robust collection of handouts for assistance with: 

    • APA, MLA, and Chicago formatting
    • the writing process from brainstorming and paragraph structure to how to write a thesis statement or integrate a quote
    • writing an essay
    • character development and settings for creative writing
    • selecting a topic, researching, and how to create effective note cards and visual aids for speeches
    • grammar
    • ... and more!

    Writing Center Handouts

    • Revisions

      Revisions are a key component to good writing.

      • Leave yourself plenty of time to revise.
      • Feedback provided to you through the Writing Center are merely suggestions. Since this is your writing, you must decide how best to use the feedback. 
      • Feedback may not cover all potential areas for revisions or corrections. Rather, our tutors will engage with your work to guide you through revisions in ways that keep you in charge of your writing.
      • After making changes to your work, consider submitting a revised draft, or schedule an appointment for follow-up feedback.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • What can the Writing Center help with?

      Our tutors are experienced readers and writers who can work with a variety of writing from all across the disciplines. This includes academic and creative writing, personal statements for graduate or professional schools, applications for internships, and scholarships. We can also help with reports or writing from your workplace.

      Writing Center services do not include proofreading. That said, our tutors will help you find patterns of error and work with you on how you can learn to fix those errors yourself.

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    • What if I don't have anything written yet?

      While a draft is helpful, it is not necessary to receive support from the Writing Center. Our team is happy to help brainstorm ideas to get you started.

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    • How often may I schedule an appointment?

      To ensure you have time to work on your writing between visits to the Writing Center, appointments are limited to: 

      • 1 appointment per day, either 30- or 60-minute sessions
      • 2 hours per week, Monday through Saturday
      • 1 assignment per session
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    • What should I bring to my appointment?

      The most important thing to bring to your Writing Center appointment is an openness to work on your writing! Other things that help make a session successful are the assignment sheet, class notes, or course materials that pertain to the assignment and any written work you have completed so far.

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    • How many pages can we review during my appointment?

      To receive a thorough review of your writing, seven (7) pages is the maximum amount for one appointment. Please schedule additional appointments for writing more than seven (7) pages long.

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    • Does my writing have to be printed?

      While our team is happy to review your writing on any medium, please consider a printed copy gives you something to make notes on and may help you see the paper in a new way and get a sense of how your reader will see it. If you do not have a printed copy available, please be prepared with a digital version.

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    • How do I obtain verification for my visit?

      Upon request, the Writing Center can email you an appointment verification of your visit.  

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    • What is the cancelation policy?

      • Appointments are marked as completed 10 minutes into an appointment block.
      • Students who arrive after the 10-minute mark will be asked to reschedule.
      • If you make an effort to communicate with us within 24 hours of your missed appointment, missed / no-show will be removed from your account.
      • Three missed / no-shows with no communication will result in being blocked from scheduling future appointments for the rest of the semester. Students may still utilize the Writing Center via a drop-in or email consultation. 
      • If we happen to miss an email or phone call to cancel your appointment and the appointment is marked as missed / no-show, our team will correct the error.
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    Locations

    ADA COUNTY CENTER

    Pintail Building (APIN), Room 1304

    1360 S. Eagle Flight Way, Boise, ID 83709
    208.562.2516

    NAMPA CAMPUS

    Academic Building (NCAB), Room 209

    5500 E. Opportunity Dr., Nampa, ID 83687
    208.562.2233

    Hours

    Day Hours
    Monday - Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
    Friday - Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    Tutoring Services and the Writing Center will be closed for the following during the Summer 2024 semester:

    • Break between semesters: May 12 - June 3
    • Juneteenth National Independence Day: June 19
    • Independence Day: July 4

    Meet Our Staff

    Photo of Gigi Smith
    Assistant Director, Writing Center
    • Writing Center Director