by: Michelle Barnhart
Struggling with an English paper? Unsure what to write for a scholarship essay? Need an extra pencil? Parkland College’s Writing Lab, located in the Center for Academic Success, provides all of these services, among many others.
Perhaps the Writing Lab’s most-known service is assistance with academic-based writing. Students can visit the lab for help with writing assignments for any subject—English, history, sociology and more.
“We’ll help with any stage of the process,” says Lauren O’Connor, Writing Lab faculty member and English professor here at Parkland. “From brainstorming ideas, to organizing ideas, and editing.” Amber Landis, another Writing Lab faculty member and English professor at Parkland adds, “We don’t only check papers; we provide help from beginning to end.” Students can come in simply to brainstorm, or they can bring in pre-written excerpts for faculty to read. They can also use the lab to write and work with faculty as questions arise. As an added bonus, the lab provides assistance with citations.
The Writing Lab also aids with scholarship and transfer essays. In addition to proofreading, faculty can help students figure out what to write for a prompt. O’Connor’s advice is to be creative. “Know your unique point of difference and emphasize that,” she said. In other words, students should identify a quality of theirs that makes them stand out and write about it to spice up their essays.
Landis adds that, when it comes to scholarship and transfer essays, the lab is particularly beneficial in helping students shape their writing for specific audiences. “Some people aren’t sure how to appeal to a dean or admissions office,” she said. “We can help with that.”
A lesser known service of the Writing Lab is helping students with financial aid appeal letters. If a student is denied financial aid, they can write to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee explaining why they feel they should receive assistance. According to O’Connor, the Writing Lab has helped many students with these letters.
Services provided by the Writing Lab are not limited to writing, however. According to Landis, the lab also helps students with computers. If students need help figuring out where to save a file or how to submit to a dropbox, the lab is a great place to learn those things.
Additionally, the Writing Lab has a school supplies pantry. Writing utensils, notebooks, folders, etc. are available for free. Students who leave something at home can drop by the pantry to get what they need at no cost.
“It is always helpful to get a second opinion of one’s work, especially in such a welcoming environment”
Overall, the Writing Lab is a great resource for the Parkland community. O’Connor says one of the most helpful things about it is that students are able to bounce ideas off each other and faculty members for ideas. This feeling of solidarity helps to build confidence. Landis says it is always helpful to get a second opinion of one’s work, especially in such a welcoming environment. She says that the Writing Lab is a place where students do not have to worry about being judged.
Valentina Grant, a current Parkland student, has visited the Writing Lab and finds it to be very beneficial.
“Last semester, I went to the writing lab in order to get help and feedback for my papers when I was taking English 102,” she said. “For me, it was a difficult class to take, so I wanted to have someone to look over my papers to see if I had any errors or how I could improve it.” Grant says that the Writing Lab provided great feedback, including notes on how to enhance her writing skills.
“I definitely recommend this for other people who need help with their writing or papers,” she said.
The Writing Lab is located in D-120, and is open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.– 4:50 p.m, and on Friday’s from 9 a.m.–1:50 p.m.
