The Stanford Writing Center

The Stanford Writing Center, located on the lower level of Margaret Jacks Hall, opened in October 2001 with a mission to build and sustain a rich culture of writing at Stanford. In the Center, students can work at a computer cluster, use a wireless laptop computer, or engage in conversations around a conference table or lounging on cushioned chairs and a sofa. A work station with a large plasma screen, video monitors and decks, and a sound system allows students to work on group projects or to practice oral and multimedia presentations. The Writing Center library includes books and journals about writing and rhetoric for a range of disciplines.

In 2005-06, its fifth year of operation, the Stanford Writing Center will continue serving first- and second-year students while expanding services to advanced undergraduates and graduate students. The Center is located in the basement of Margaret Jacks Hall and is open M-Th 10-6 and F 10-4.  Students can make appointments with PWR lecturers or graduate student tutors for individual consultations about any aspect of any writing project.  Walk-in consultations are possible if tutors have no scheduled appointments.  Undergraduate peer writing tutors are also available for walk-in consultations in the Center and at alternative locations, including Green Library, the Arrillaga Center, residence halls, and cultural centers.  Students can make appointments by phone (at 650-723-0045) or through the website (at http://swc.stanford.edu). The website also has a complete schedule of drop-in hours at the Center and in remote locations; writing and research workshops for PWR, IHUM, and other classes; and special events including readings, performances, and celebrations of writing by the Stanford community.

Writing Center director Clyde Moneyhun and assistant directors Wendy Goldberg and John Tinker work with PWR, IHUM, and other faculty to prepare a range of workshops for writers. Topics include getting started on your research project; finding, evaluating, and using research sources; organizing your research paper; drawing on various points of view; and completing assignments effectively. The Writing Center also offers seminars for rhetorical analysis, contextual analysis projects, and oral presentations, and is looking forward to presenting workshops on multimedia rhetoric.

Another important element of the Center’s mission is to celebrate writing at Stanford. In this spirit, the Writing Center invites students to attend and participate in special events hosted throughout the year, including poetry, drama and fiction readings, “Spoken Word” events, interviews with faculty in the “How I Write” series, and film screenings. If you have ideas for a special event, please suggest them to the Writing Center staff.