New library writing center provides resources, opportunities

The Bearden library has recently created a writing center, an area where students are able to get assistance with their writing techniques from either a librarian or a tutor.

The writing center is aimed toward students becoming better writers and working on the necessary skills for writing.

“Writing Centers are common in college libraries, where students go to get free help on everything from how to cite to how to write a thesis statement,” librarian Mrs. Kristen Heffern said.

“(Principal) Dr. (John) Bartlett’s vision was to offer that at the high school level, in response to some recurring problems that teachers see in students and also questions students themselves ask for help with.”

The writing center can provide assistance with topics such as citations (MLA and APA), plagiarism (how to avoid doing it), writing thesis statements, the difference between active/passive voice, help with research, and paper formatting and outline problems. Students will be able to make an appointment with a peer tutor or an adult volunteer in order to sit down and work on these skills.

Students will have the opportunity to learn how to improve and how to maximize their writing potential. Bearden is bringing this opportunity, that is usually found at colleges, to a high school level; students are going to be able to receive help on current writing assignments or review past ones to see what could have been done differently.

The writing center provides an area where students will have the opportunity for one-on-one time and constructive criticism on their work.

“This is a place a student can go and get direct, purposeful, and high quality feedback on their papers before they turn them in for a grade,” principal Dr. John Bartlett said.

The new area will allow students to become better communicators as well as better writers. The writing center provides an environment where people of all grades can focus and center in on their writing.

“I think it will provide a designated area focused on writing that students haven’t really had before,” sophomore Katie Bailes said. “It seems like a calm and quiet place to improve composition and writing skills.”