The Writing Center, located in Room G17 of NJIT’s Central King Building (CKB), offers students a variety of student-provided services ranging from writing assistance for English classes to public speaking and resume writing workshops — the possibilities are simply endless.
Dr. Catherine Siemann is a senior university lecturer and the director of The Writing Center, currently in her twelfth year here at NJIT. She has a doctorate in Victorian Literature from Columbia University, and while writing her dissertation she began to work as a tutor and adjunct professor at Cooper Union’s Writing Center in New York City. Here is my interview with her:
Siemann shared that her friend invited her to join the Writing Center at Columbia University, and she fell in love with the work. She really enjoys working one-on-one with students and meeting each student’s writing needs. She feels that the Writing Center can draw students out in conversation so she could find out what their needs and questions are. This allows her to educate students differently from when she teaches in a classroom.
When the time came to look for jobs, she kept her options open, not only looking for jobs under Victorian literature but also for writing centers. When asked about the services the center provides, she said that the primary service is one-on-one consultations, and they sometimes work with small groups as well. However, a notable shift is occurring at the Writing Center.
When Dr. Siemann came into the Writing Center, most of the staff were professional tutors, some of whom were also adjunct instructors. In the last couple of years, she hired peer tutors alongside professional tutors. Students who may feel uncomfortable around professionals seem to be more comfortable with their peers. Many of the peer tutors were previously in a similar situation as the students coming into the center for help, so they can relate on a more personal level and facilitate a more comfortable dynamic. She believes that bringing in peer tutors gives better insights into what NJIT students really need.
One aspect of the Writing Center that Dr. Siemann enjoys is that it is a safe space where people can come to work on assignments as well as attend in-class workshops that cover various topics. However, one thing that she has noticed is that sometimes the atmosphere of the Center slows down; during these downtimes, she notices that there is a lot of laughter in tutoring sessions. That is the message she wants the student body to know — the Writing Center is not a scary or glum place. Most people do come in for writing help, but it is also a positive space.
A key point that Dr. Siemann wants to convey is that the Writing Center is there to help. The Center is a place for writers of any level, from those looking to develop their writing skills to ones just wanting another set of eyes to look through their work. Just hearing people realize just how much The Writing Center has to offer to students is what she loves to hear.
In addition to the interview with Dr. Siemann, I was also fortunate enough to interview a few of the peer mentors: Aneri Shethji, a second-year pre-medical Biology major; Jonathan Morse, a third-year Computer Science major; and Marlene Muhammad, a third-year Forensic Science student with a concentration in Biology.
Shethji explained that she has always loved writing, from participating in short story contests to simply writing what her heart desired. Once admitted into NJIT, she wanted to continue her interest in writing. She remembers her enjoyment in editing a bunch of her friends’ college essays, so the Writing Center seems like the perfect place to continue helping others edit their work.
Morse struggled with literary analysis during high school and sought out a tutor for help, so he knows the struggle. He obtained great insights from his high school’s international baccalaureate (IB) program and his first-year writing teacher, Professor Ciccolo, and wants to share what he learned with others. This attracted him to the Center, but what really sold it to him was the emphasis on helping other students. “We are not here to dictate how an answer is derived, like other subjects’ tutoring. We are here to guide and bring out the writing processes within everyone!”
Muhammad, just like Shethji, grew to love writing and wanted to help other students with whatever writing issues they may have, as well as help them develop a love for literature.
Shethji describes working at the center for six hours a week, divided into 45-minute sessions, as “very exciting.” She enjoys interacting with new students and getting to know their individual writing styles. She feels that it helps her improve and grow as a writer as well.
Morse describes his work as “[v]ery complex in a good way.” He will have a session about the same assignment with two different students and never comes up with a similar response because everyone has their own approach. He loves to see how the students light up when their writing starts to take shape during their sessions and when students return for another session. Although tutors often help first-year students, he likes to see what challenges the upper-level courses bring to the table since the content is different.
Muhammad describes her days at the center as “wonderful.” She enjoys getting to know people through their writing and communication skills.
Shethji wants people to recognize that NJIT is mostly a technology-based university, and most majors that students take here seem to push writing down the barrel. However, she believes no job is complete without being able to express ideas in a clear and effective manner. The Writing Center’s goal is to help students become well-rounded future employees with writing skills.
Morse has a love for history and historical analysis. His “guilty pleasure” sessions are the rare times when he can help students with their history papers because it combines his appreciation for history and the fun of guiding others through their analysis.
Muhammad’s goal is to help students gain confidence in their writing and develop their writing skills in a safe and comfortable environment.
Shethji would like everyone to know that the Writing Center is a wonderful option to improve writing skills in general, and not just for class assignments!
Morse says that they don’t just focus on first-year writing. The Writing Center can help with writing assignments, oral presentations, job interviews, resumes, and personal statements. They are happy to help with anything that involves communication even if they are not experts on all subjects. From his own experience, he encourages people not to be discouraged from seeking help in any sort of way.
Muhammad wants to spread the word on such a wonderful resource, mentioning that the Writing Center can help with any stage of the writing process.
